ETHNIC FOOD - NOT SO DIFFERENT

While in NY I made a rather simple meal for a group of people at my brother's home.  I love to place my food out on platters.  No paper plates in my home, except when eating on the patio.

A guest asked me if the meal was Mexican or Spanish.  The question reflected an ignorance about cuisine.  

I said pork is universal all over the world.  I then mentioned that rice is a universal grain all over the world.

I then said different countries all over the world have some form of bean.

I then noted that depending where you live in Mexico or Spain the food is different.

Southern Spain has more in common with the cuisine of Italy than northern Spain.

Southern Mexican cuisine is closer to Central American cuisine than northern Mexican cuisine.

So, I asked, is the pork simmered with white onion, bell pepper and tomato not universal?  Does adding fresh garlic change anything?  Does a red tint seasoning change anything?

The rice was in a fresh chicken broth with white onion and bell pepper.  I squirt in some tomato paste to give it extra flavor and color.

Okay the beans were fresh Nicaraguan beans.  Does that make the meal Nicaraguan?  No

UNIVERAL FOODS

Unleavened bread is universal, whether made from flour or corn. In Mexico meat is wrapped in unleavened bread. This was standard practice in Europe, especially after the Mores occupied southern Spain and Italy from 711-1492.  Unleavened bread is standard fare in Muslim countries.

All over the world, cultures place meat in a flour tort whether made from rice, wheat flour or corn. 

Can we imagine a dumpling, wonton, pierogi or a Mexican torta?

Food is basic and a need-to-know which culture influenced a food before you eat it, denies you the wonderful flavors of the world.  

Our basic ethnicity is all the same.  We all begin with the basics.  We differ in how we spice up our ethnicity.