Your two favourite Cuisines.

[Meklown]

54 minutes ago, VKUTT said:

Soup noodles...as in Xiao Long Bao? 

Xiao Long Bao are little dumplings made such that there is soup inside the dumpling. A small puncture will scald your lips if you are not careful .. 

Asian variations of soup noodles could include -

Vietnamese Pho

Japanese Ramen

Japanese Udon in clear soup

Prawn noodles

Laksa (many different varieties between Singapore/Malaysia)

Chinese "La Mian" (literally translated, pulled noodles)

 

These are just some examples of what I love, but there are many more as you can imagine. I could easily classify all of them as comfort food to me.

[99call]

Shocked Italian is doing so well, it's less of a cuisine and more just good produce arranged on a plate. Within Europe, Spain and France have just as good produce, but they actually have recipes!!.  Sometimes simplicity is admirable, but there is definitely a gulf between how good Italians think their food is, and how it actually stacks up against Countries like Spain

[Ken Gargett]

4 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I am amazed how high Mexican is on the list.  We certainly get lousy Mexican in this country. 

agreed.

went spanish and indian but there are plenty there i'd be very happy with. mexican not high based on experiences here. 

[Human Jukebox]

Need to add Creole and Cajun to the list....talk about missing out on great cuisine

[Ken Gargett]

45 minutes ago, 99call said:

Shocked Italian is doing so well, it's less of a cuisine and more just good produce arranged on a plate. Within Europe, Spain and France have just as good produce, but they actually have recipes!!.  Sometimes simplicity is admirable, but there is definitely a gulf between how good Italians think their food is, and how it actually stacks up against Countries like Spain

staggered you say that. as mentioned, i wernt spanish and indian but italian was a whisker away. think you are doing good italian a huge disservice. 

one of my italian mates, a very serious student of food and the only bloke i know who has managed 9 michelin stars in a single day, is rigid on this. for him, french is largely what they stole from the italians. swap butter for olive oil and for him, the french having been serving italian for decades. the french may not agree but i can't see italian cuisine as anywhere near as simple as you suggest. and i am someone who does not particularly like pizza. 

[99call]

30 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

staggered you say that. as mentioned, i wernt spanish and indian but italian was a whisker away. think you are doing good italian a huge disservice. 

one of my italian mates, a very serious student of food and the only bloke i know who has managed 9 michelin stars in a single day, is rigid on this. for him, french is largely what they stole from the italians. swap butter for olive oil and for him, the french having been serving italian for decades. the french may not agree but i can't see italian cuisine as anywhere near as simple as you suggest. and i am someone who does not particularly like pizza. 

Ken my oppinion is largely based on wanting to plug into and understand the hype, and time after time feeling underwhelmed. Particularly in my trip to Bologna (suposidly the epicentre for Italian food) I went to all the places. Both hyped, and off the beaten track, and the same thing always bore out. Wonderful produce, with a very light touch, but many countries offer this but with the added aspect of alchemy, i.e. simple isn't always the be all and end all.  I don't go in for taster menus and all that jazz, but equally with regards to Italian food, I find the person who is most impressed with it, is often the person that's dished it up.   It's yet to spark any wow moment for me. I won't give up, but again currently underwhelmed.

[Ken Gargett]

1 minute ago, 99call said:

Ken my oppinion is largely based on wanting to plug into and understand the hype, and time after time feeling underwhelmed. Particularly in my trip to Bologna (suposidly the epicentre for Italian food) I went to all the places. Both hyped, and off the beaten track, and the same thing always bore out. Wonderful produce, with a very light touch, but many countries offer this but with the added aspect of alchemy, i.e. simple isn't always the be all and end all.  I don't go in for taster menus and all that jazz, but equally with regards to Italian food, I find the person who is most impressed with it, is often the person that's dished it up.   It's yet to spark any wow moment for me. I won't give up, but again currently underwhelmed.

in a sense, no reason this should surprise. just look at the myriad of different opinions on cigars. and the number of people who have not had their wow moment with a cigar others adore. 

no reason it should be different with cuisines. 

[westg]

6 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I am amazed how high Mexican is on the list.  We certainly get lousy Mexican in this country. 

Not even close 

[westg]

I just love the boundless variety of Japanese food

I could eat Indian for lunch dinner and breakfast.  

[Meklown]

3 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

4 hours ago, 99call said:

Shocked Italian is doing so well, it's less of a cuisine and more just good produce arranged on a plate. Within Europe, Spain and France have just as good produce, but they actually have recipes!!.  Sometimes simplicity is admirable, but there is definitely a gulf between how good Italians think their food is, and how it actually stacks up against Countries like Spain

staggered you say that. as mentioned, i wernt spanish and indian but italian was a whisker away. think you are doing good italian a huge disservice. 

one of my italian mates, a very serious student of food and the only bloke i know who has managed 9 michelin stars in a single day, is rigid on this. for him, french is largely what they stole from the italians. swap butter for olive oil and for him, the french having been serving italian for decades. the french may not agree but i can't see italian cuisine as anywhere near as simple as you suggest. and i am someone who does not particularly like pizza

I actually seem to agree with @99call. Your statement on olive oil vs butter - I don't know how to / never made any before but I suppose butter undergoes more "processing" than olive oil. This in turn requires more skill to make as a chef rather than simply getting good quality olives to squeeze. 

Pizza and pasta in Italy as I've experienced is mainly getting simple but good quality toppings on top of well made carbs. However, the French bourguignon or even confit du canard requires more skill from the chef to cook. Good beef or duck will not make all the difference as opposed to Parma ham + melon. 

[Puros Y Vino]

I went with Italian and Indian., Italian is my number 1.  It's part of my heritage and I cannot ever break away from it. I am definitely biased towards it.    My second choice is Indian.  IMO the spice blends used are delicious and complex. One dish can impart 3 or more different flavour experiences with only one bite. And there are so many dishes.  Indian food is the only cuisine that makes the arguement for giving up meat. Some of the vegetarian dishes are so flavourful and pleasing texture wise that you can imagine yourself doing away with meat. But then you taste their dishes with meat/fish and you decide there's no need to do so.    

I've seen the familiar knock on Italian food "assembled ingredients vs prepared recipes". There is some truth to that but the end results are as good as any elaborate French recipe.  I also believe that Italian food has gone very mainstream and that a lot of the more complex recipes are not even touched by your local Italian restaurant.  I grew up with simple, farm style cooking.  With many visits to Italy, I learned that the various regions have their different takes and in some cases have complex recipes.  I've been exposed to many dishes I had no clue about.  My parents were both adept in the kitchen, but the crown went to my mother. She could whip up 5 different dishes at a time and had a few tricks she learned from people in her past that she kept secret.  My father was more of the assembly "chef" type.  With him, a meal would be about the charcuterie.  He'd grab a leg of prosciutto, Soppressata, various cheeses, pickled vegetables, fresh bread and we'd eat. 

[Buck14]

French and Spanish - easy choice

[The Squiggler]

3 hours ago, Meklown said:

I actually seem to agree with @99call. Your statement on olive oil vs butter - I don't know how to / never made any before but I suppose butter undergoes more "processing" than olive oil. This in turn requires more skill to make as a chef rather than simply getting good quality olives to squeeze. 

for olives:

or

for butter

or

...so butter is a little easier to DIY, but either way, I think the major difference between French and Italian (aside from the fat used) is the core sauces that serve as a foundational aspect of the cuisine.  The cooking methods may have a lot of overlap, and French cuisine may borrow a lot from Italian, but the character of the food is largely derived from the sauce methodology and the flavors these sauces bring. 

[SenorPerfecto]

The correct answer is Mexican and Japanese. Thank you for playing!

[CampDelta369]

Excellent Italian cuisine is almost an art form for me. It’s all in the red sauce (gravy) and starts with the tomatoes. And since I am not Italian I have no secrets on that, but I sure as hell know when I find it.

excellent sushi/sashimi is high on the list as well. 
 

of course it’s a tough call since every nation on that list has something excellent to offer, even that Turkish coffee

[joeypots]

Italian is first. (I have to say this because my wife is of Italian heritage) I'll say Chinese second. I've had some spectacular Chinese food in Toronto and New York. Tough too beat good Mexican as well. I think Mexican is the cuisine that will top the most lists in the USA.  I think though, that what ever is best in your neighbor hood is the best cuisine and USA isn't a choice for this thread. . I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Sea food is king here, duh. Lobsters, fin fish, and shellfish. OMG we got some good stuff from right here to eat. My town is known for oysters. What category do oysters on the half shell inhabit? I know, I'm talking ingredients. North Atlantic lobsters are good but if you've never had first class fried clams you don't know one of the great delicacies from the sea. We have all kinds of tuna here as well as  North Atlantic Swordfish. I think that what ever is best where you live is the best cuisine.

[Maestroso]

What's the point of the poll? Are you about to launch FOH Catering, global delivery included? And a daily 24:24 limited-supply email-Di selection?

[Maestroso]

[Bill Hayes]

5 hours ago, Buck14 said:

French and Spanish - easy choice

My choice too. Great wine and sherry matches. Although it was a difficult choice for me. Sometimes only Japanese will do and also love Malaysian and Korean. Being exposed to a lot of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Italian, I think of them more as staples and not special anymore unfortunately. I'm going to Mexico City over Christmas then on to Havana so might be able to get an appreciation for Mexican food but what I've experienced so far, especially in Australia, hasn't really impressed me.

[Str8BlkCoffee]

I voted French and Indian. Having a background in French cooking for me it is an automatic choice.

Indian because it is so deep with flavor. You have endless vegetarian dishes, meat dishes, spice levels from intense heat to gentle subtle flavors. 

I like Turkish food a lot, as well as the different types of Asian certainly the fresh noodles. Hispanic foods are all great too. Mexican, South/Central American, all different but similar, and just great.

I love bread. Any bread. I could eat my weight in bread given the chance. In the middle east it is used as a vehicle to eat with. Sheesh Tawook with fresh arugula, garlic sauce, and lemon wrapped in a chunk of warm pita. ? Nothing like seeing huge trays of freshly baked pita being ushered to your table all puffed up and steamy. Or Nice crisp, warm french baguette or Russian Black bread smothered in fresh butter. Fresh corn tortillas...? Garlic Naan ?

Now I am hungry, great.  

[cigcars]

        It's  because of the wonderful, WONDERFUL FOOD in Italy that I'm reluctant to go these days...I'm too afraid I'd end up as the next subject on "My 600lb Life"

[SmokyFontaine]

Thai for sure, then my second is close to Turkish and close to Greek, but I'd call it Middle Eastern. Shawarma, falafel, hummous, roasted eggplant, honey-laden deserts. 

But Thai is my go-to any time I'm in a big city. 

[Wookie]

French for sauces, technique and style...Escoffier was a genius...Chinese for the cool variety, but I add in French sauce techniques to bolster classics like Chinese brown sauce. Love all the other choices as well. 

[Lotusguy]

Picked Chinese because of the incredible diversity of food.

Picked Italian because I am a carb-whore

[BrightonCorgi]

My favorite cuisine isn't even listed!  Middle Eastern.  The Jews and Arabs need to speak up!