'Indian food is terrible' tweet sparks hot debate

[dalvash]

Chinese and Indian food is a bit disgusting. If that makes me racist than so be it.

Chinese food in Pakistan is the best. In America, Chinese food isn't that great.

 

[Sky Gazer]

'Indian food is terrible' tweet sparks hot debate

A tweet from a US academic calling Indian food "terrible" has sparked a hot debate about cultural intolerance and racism in international cuisine.

"Indian food is terrible and we pretend it isn't," said international affairs professor Tom Nichols.

Critics called his comment a tasteless generalisation.

The remark led to a wider discussion of the immigrant experience and how many in the US have experienced racism in relation to food.

Mr Nichols - who teaches at the US Naval War College in Rhode Island - posted his opinion after another Twitter user had asked for "controversial food opinions".

Critics were quick to respond. "Do you not have taste buds?" asked celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi.

"Imagine going through life this flavourless," wrote another commenter.

Preet Bharara, a former prosecutor from New York, tweeted: "Tom, I'll take you to a place. We need to bring the country together. #ButterChickenSummit."

• The surprising truth about Indian food

Others said Mr Nichols had probably tried "less than 1%" of all Indian dishes, which come from a hugely diverse country. Mr Nichols later admitted that he had only ever eaten at Indian restaurants in the US and UK.

Mr Nichols' initial tweet led to a wider discussion about the way food plays into the immigrant experience.

Some noted that in the US, international food - sometimes called "ethnic food" - is often marketed as "cheap eats". Therefore many people are more familiar with pared-down, "Americanised" street dishes that lack authentic ingredients.

"There is no 'Indian' food'," wrote one commenter.

"Also there is no curry flavour. There is no chai tea," she added, referring to the fact that chai is simply a word meaning "tea" in Hindi, and "curry" is a style of dish, rather than a flavouring.

Others pointed out how smell and flavour have long been prevalent in racist comments towards minorities, and accused Mr Nichols of intolerance.

First-generation American Saira Rao wrote: "Having white people trash Indian food is extremely triggering as an Indian who has been told that I smell weird, that my food smells weird and that Indians [expletive] on the street which is why everything we are smells bad."

As the story drew attention in Indian media, the hashtag #MyFavoriteIndianFood started trending.

US presidential candidate Kamala Harris, whose mother's family hails from south India, shared a teaser for a cooking video with comedian Mindy Kaling using the hashtag.

But some foodies dismissed the row outright saying simply: "I see someone on twitter has racist views on Indian food. Well, more for me then."

From korma to coconuts – the evolution of Indian cuisine in the UK
Others took similar issue with a "controversial food" tweet from ABC senior reporter Terry Moran, who said: "Chinese food is tired. It's boring, gloppy, over-salted and utterly forgettable."

One person replied to his tweet: "Oh Lord here we go again with bubble-inhabiting white guy, announcing his pathetic ignorance of an entire cuisine and its myriad regional varieties".

Asian food lovers rounded on Moran, accusing him of having only eaten at takeout restaurants and never tasted authentic cuisine from the most populated country on Earth.

Europeans can't appreciate our foods

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Isn't Pakistanis here hating Indian food (Mughlai cuisine as you say) just because it is Indian hypocritical as well? I think Pakistanis like to associate with Mughals right? So when they say Indian food is disgusting, they are also saying Mughlai cuisine is disgusting.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that Indian cuisine is not just Mughlai cuisine. You will be surprised with the variety of Indian food in different states.

Indians deserve the hate because of the toxicity they spread on this forum for years on end without consequence. Personally, I feel hatred is too time consuming and a waste of energy, but I can understand the feelings of some of the Pakistani members here. Years ago this forum was filled with toxic Indians and Pakistanis were never as hostile as they are now.

If you continuously beat a puppy, it will end up becoming vicious. I’m sure you can see my point.

 

[Attila the Hun]

Europeans can't appreciate our foods

It's all disgusting. Kofta is Turkic and many other dishes of Mughal.
Just accept this and try make some good dishes for the world

Indians hate Muslims in general but claim Muglai cuisine as their own which is pretty hypocritical.

I recognise many of the 'Indian' dishes because of it bro.

Indians deserve the hate because of the toxicity they spread on this forum for years on end without consequence. Personally, I feel hatred is too time consuming and a waste of energy, but I can understand the feelings of some of the Pakistani members here. Years ago this forum was filled with toxic Indians and Pakistanis were never as hostile as they are now.

If you continuously beat a puppy, it will end up becoming vicious. I’m sure you can see my point.

Dog food taste better

 

[Sky Gazer]

It's all disgusting. Kofta is Turkic and many other dishes of Mughal.
Just accept this and try make some good dishes for the world

Dude why the hate?

Secondly, no other part of the world has such flavorful dishes like those from the Indian subcontinent.

Yes, there are many dishes of Turkish origin which we enhanced and improved with our local flavors.

I have tasted Arab and Turkish foods and although they are unique in their own way they taste bland. At first I assumed this was because my south Asian taste buds were used to our desi spices but even non-south asians like my white and black friends have confirmed that desi foods have more unique and flavorful dishes compared to food from any other part of the world.

 

[TheGreatMaratha]

Indians deserve the hate because of the toxicity they spread on this forum for years on end without consequence. Personally, I feel hatred is too time consuming and a waste of energy, but I can understand the feelings of some of the Pakistani members here. Years ago this forum was filled with toxic Indians and Pakistanis were never as hostile as they are now.

If you continuously beat a puppy, it will end up becoming vicious. I’m sure you can see my point.

So hating gives you peace of mind? Keep going. I won't stop you

 

[maximuswarrior]

Indians hate Muslims in general but claim Muglai cuisine as their own which is pretty hypocritical.

That is an Indian trait. Falsely hijack all the good and positives.

 

[dalvash]

I have tasted Arab and Turkish foods and although they are unique in their own way they taste bland.

Best Arab food is Lebanese.

 

[maximuswarrior]

Pakistanis are just waay too tolerant of these gandu Indians. That's our main weakness. We need to view these disgusting indian creatures with the same contempt as they view us.

Worse. We need to view them worse because they are truly nasty.

 

[dalvash]

That is an Indian trait. Falsely hijack all the good and positives.

It's also typical jew behavior

 

[maximuswarrior]

It's also typical jew behavior

Explains why Jews and Hindus get along nicely.

 

[W.11]

Indians hate Muslims in general but claim Muglai cuisine as their own which is pretty hypocritical.

It's all disgusting. Kofta is Turkic and many other dishes of Mughal.
Just accept this and try make some good dishes for the world


I recognise many of the 'Indian' dishes because of it bro.


Dog food taste better

kofta is actually a persian word not turkic word

persian word for meatball called ''kofta'' became adopted in various cuisines, it doesnt mean iranians invented meatball dishes in the region, the italian eat meat balls too. calling meatball dishes as ''turkic'' just goes to show how blind ationalist you are.

some idiots calling mughal cuisine as non indian/south asian need some deep research in the topic.

the turkic cuisine mostly consists of horse meat in central asia, do turkish cuisine contain horse meat friend?

few barbarians calling indian food as disgusting know nothing about where their ''pilafs'' came from, and where their spices come from as well, your saj bread has indian origins, the aboriginal turkic cuisine contains nothing other than horse meat and boiled soup. the rest is all imported foreign influence.

Next time you eat desserts remember india for its granulated sugar, otherwise you would be adding honey in your desserts if not for indian discovery of sugar.

regards

regards

 

[Attila the Hun]

kofta is actually a persian word not turkic word

persian word for meatball called ''kofta'' became adopted in various cuisines, it doesnt mean iranians invented meatball dishes in the region, the italian eat meat balls too. calling meatball dishes as ''turkic'' just goes to show how blind ationalist you are.

some idiots calling mughal cuisine as non indian/south asian need some deep research in the topic.

the turkic cuisine mostly consists of horse meat in central asia, do turkish cuisine contain horse meat friend?

few barbarians calling indian food as disgusting know nothing about where their ''pilafs'' came from, and where their spices come from as well, your saj bread has indian origins, the aboriginal turkic cuisine contains nothing other than horse meat and boiled soup. the rest is all imported foreign influence.

Next time you eat desserts remember india for its granulated sugar, otherwise you would be adding honey in your desserts if not for indian discovery of sugar.

regards

regards

Please do not compare Indian and Persian cuisine to TURKIC. Jealousy will not improve your food.
KOFTE IS TURKIC!! Persians have sh**

 

[The_Showstopper]

Indian/Pakistani food does produce a strong BO and correct me if I am wrong, does it also make people fat? Because most I see from this region here in Germany are sadly out of shape but I think most of it is thanks to food.

Making fat? Well that depends on how active lifestyle a person has. Some dishes are low on fat, some high. And this phenomena is universal. I've read somewhere that a large population in USA are obese and I don't think they consume Indian food.

 

[Attila the Hun]

Please do not compare Indian and Persian cuisine to TURKIC. Jealousy will not improve your food.
KOFTE IS TURKIC!! Persians have sh**

Please also name me one famous Persian dish??

Dude why the hate?

Secondly, no other part of the world has such flavorful dishes like those from the Indian subcontinent.

Yes, there are many dishes of Turkish origin which we enhanced and improved with our local flavors.

I have tasted Arab and Turkish foods and although they are unique in their own way they taste bland. At first I assumed this was because my south Asian taste buds were used to our desi spices but even non-south asians like my white and black friends have confirmed that desi foods have more unique and flavorful dishes compared to food from any other part of the world.

So, it's fine to call Turkish food as bland, and thats fine. But i cannot dislike Indian food?