Should we stop calling food EXOTIC?

[Jingthing]

I've definitely done that over the years.

But I've used the word ethnic much more. 

In Thailand, what's exotic and what's ethnic?
Are Big Macs "exotic" to Thais?

Should anyone really care?

I do predict that over the years using the words ethnic and exotic for foods in the west at least will probably fade away, similarly to how the word Oriental has done.

 

Washington Post food critic says calling food 'exotic' is xenophobic and reinforces racism | Washington Examiner

 

Quote

 

A food critic wants people to stop using the word “exotic” to describe foods because it “reinforces xenophobia and racism.”

In a perspective piece published on Wednesday, Washington Post food critic G. Daniela Galarza argued that the word connotes non-European origins and diminishes other cultures.

“The first problem with the word is that, probably within the past two decades, it has lost its essential meaning,” she wrote.

 

Stop using ‘exotic’ to describe food - The Washington Post

 

Quote

“One of the nicest things about Afghan restaurants is that they appeal to even the most timid of diners,” Mark and Gail Barnett wrote in the May 16, 1993, edition of The Post. “Your visiting aunt from Spokane, Wash., can enjoy the adventure of an exotic cuisine with the reassurance of familiar-looking food.”

 

Edited July 8, 2021 by Jingthing

[ezzra]

The use of the word Exotic it is just a marketing tool to play on people's imaginations and to drew them to these places be it food, entertainment, clothing and places to visit...

[sirineou]

50 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I do predict that over the years using the words ethnic and exotic for foods in the west at least will probably fade away, similarly to how the word Oriental has done

A feature we can only dream of  for now.  but who knows , If we all work hard and be nice to each other, It could happen.  , .  LOL

[faraday]

Racist food - whatever next....?

 

 

[bkk6060]

Another example of WOKE taking over the U.S.

[faraday]

They'll be telling us that Black Sausage - no, I mean the one that is a food, will now have to be called:

 

"Sausage of colour"

 

*Fed up there's no emojis, emoji*

 

 

Edited July 8, 2021 by faraday
Syntax...or summary.

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

The use of the word Exotic it is just a marketing tool to play on people's imaginations and to drew them to these places be it food, entertainment, clothing and places to visit...

Yup.

 

Actually I was watching an old Mock the Week, one of the "contestants" of East Asian extraction noted that "When my parents came to the UK in the 60s they found you could stick 'authentic' in front of the name and the Brits would buy any old sh!t".

 

[Airalee]

Exotic doesn’t just mean “foreign” as much as it means “rare, unique or different”    There can be common foods from foreign cultures and there can be exotic foods that use uncommon or rare ingredients.

 

If exotic denotes some sort of racism, then that turns the common misconception that you can’t be racist towards white people on its head, because the only exotic cars I know (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Koenigsegg, McLaren, Ford GT40) come from predominantly white countries.

 

In France, they still eat horse.  I find that to be quite exotic.

 

In Thailand, Pad Thai would be common.  Larb Mot Daeng (red ant salad) would be exotic.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Airalee

[BE88]

27 minutes ago, Airalee said:

Exotic doesn’t just mean “foreign” as much as it means “rare, unique or different”    There can be common foods from foreign cultures and there can be exotic foods that use uncommon or rare ingredients.

 

If exotic denotes some sort of racism, then that turns the common misconception that you can’t be racist towards white people on its head, because the only exotic cars I know (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Koenigsegg, McLaren, Ford GT40) come from predominantly white countries.

 

In France, they still eat horse.  I find that to be quite exotic.

 

In Thailand, Pad Thai would be common.  Larb Mot Daeng (red ant salad) would be exotic.

 

Thailand is an exotic country.

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

exotic fusion food - a local fusion restaurant takes farang food and covers it in extremely spicey Thai sauces... 

 

my version of Fusion is to take Thai food and melt cheese on it.. 

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Daniela Galarza argued that the word connotes non-European origins

What's wrong with having non-European origins?  Why do these people always sound like the reason they don't like a word is because they have negative views about the race/ethnicity/place in question?

 

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

and diminishes other cultures.

I don't think it does.  How could it?  "This food is exotic."  How does that diminish it?

 

As soon as there is another word for this food, that will then become negative after a while, because these people think negatively about these places.

[worgeordie]

Anything I can eat ....I just call food, got a Madras curry on the stove now,

it's not exotic, been eating stuff like that for 50 years, so no longer "Exotic",

Foreign ladies will always be exotic though.

regards Worgeordie

 

[Mutt Daeng]

@Jingthing I think you should stop reading/taking notice of such silly "news" articles.

[Crossy]

4 minutes ago, Mutt Daeng said:

@Jingthing I think you should stop reading/taking notice of such silly "news" articles.

I must admit the whole woke, PC, cultural appropriation etc. etc. thing I find ... (I'm looking for a suitable word here, must be getting old).

 

 

[Jingthing]

I disagree with characterizing this topic as woke vs. not woke though I knew people would.

 

That's overly simplistic and a too easy way to dismiss this discussion.

 

I think its more about globalization and exposure.

 

In the U.S. salsa is more popular than ketchup now and sushi and Pho are typical American foods.

 

I think its ultimately about the lines of exotic and ethnic being melted away by practical realities making those terms simple passe over time.

Edited July 9, 2021 by Jingthing

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

I think its ultimately about the lines of exotic and ethnic being melted away by practical realities making those terms simple passe over time.

I agree, but simply let them fall out of use as they surely will rather than trying to force them out in a NewSpeak manner.

[lazygourmet]

Nowadays even French cuisine is racist :

French food is now racist according to professor who studies food whiteness and food privileges.

[caughtintheact]

Eventually, starting in the west there will be a dictionary of allowed words...yes three bags full sir. 'No' will have been  deemed insubordinate, and anything else will be cause for re-indoctrination. 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Should we stop calling food EXOTIC?

Yes, I think so.

Furthermore, it should be reserved for dancers only.

[ChrisKC]

When it comes to selling food, exotic can mean anything the seller wants it to mean - with 20% added to the price.

 

The best and most likely to give the distinct impression of potential happy endings is the sign, "EXOTIC Massage"

Edited July 10, 2021 by ChrisKC
Typo

[jomtienisgood]

On 7/9/2021 at 5:35 AM, ezzra said:

The use of the word Exotic it is just a marketing tool to play on people's imaginations and to drew them to these places be it food, entertainment, clothing and places to visit...

Other places call it Erotic.. 55555

[jomtienisgood]

On 7/9/2021 at 9:40 AM, Jingthing said:

I disagree with characterizing this topic as woke vs. not woke though I knew people would.

 

That's overly simplistic and a too easy way to dismiss this discussion.

 

I think its more about globalization and exposure.

 

In the U.S. salsa is more popular than ketchup now and sushi and Pho are typical American foods.

 

I think its ultimately about the lines of exotic and ethnic being melted away by practical realities making those terms simple passe over time.

Other typical original American dishes would be Spaghetti, Pizza, Tacos, etc.....55555

[Jingthing]

On 7/9/2021 at 7:47 AM, BE88 said:

 

Thailand is an exotic country.

 

 

Not to Thais.

The Thai baht is an exotic currency.

Could have fooled me.

It doesn't smell of fish sauce. 

Usually. 

 

 

Edited July 10, 2021 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, jomtienisgood said:

Other typical original American dishes would be Spaghetti, Pizza, Tacos, etc.....55555

Yes and don't forget the exotic deep fried Snickers bars.

[tifino]

if it's a little too oily, call it exopec 

[Jingthing]

22 hours ago, lazygourmet said:

Nowadays even French cuisine is racist :

French food is now racist according to professor who studies food whiteness and food privileges.

I kind of get that.

White bread and mayonnaise ain't white for nothing.

[BE88]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Not to Thais.

The Thai baht is an exotic currency.

Could have fooled me.

It doesn't smell of fish sauce. 

Usually. 

 

 

When I look at my wife I see an exotic sexy lady. LOL

 

[Saltire]

I agree it will change.

 

Look at Vesta Chow Mein, packet food from the 70's used to be called exotic.

 

Now, not so much.

 

Don't give up the 'silly' posts, I have had it with doom and gloom posts.

 

 

[tifino]

there's a simple way of making all the so called eXOtic foods taste the same... 

 

 

 

 

[SomchaiCNX]

Washington post, Americans and food ?????????? Except for fast food and a lot of unhealthy stuff what do they know about quality food ????? With less than 5 % of their population having passports what do they know about exotic?