Wednesday, May 1, 2013
European and American cuisines typically fall under the category of Western food, although, at times, Western cooking also includes meals of other countries in Oceania like Australia. And what do food lovers instantly think about when they hear Western food? Steaks, burgers, huge servings of fries, sausages, and ribs are just some.
There are usual characteristics that differentiate Western food from other cuisines. First is the quantity of the serving. Compared with the traditional Asian cuisine, serving size of Western cuisine is essentially bigger. What is considered “jumbo” or super size in Asian food is only a regular size in Western cuisine. That’s generally speaking, of course.
In Western cooking, meat is also used in huge proportions. If in Asian cooking, meat is only part and parcel of the meal, in Western cooking, meat is the main star. Think of steaks. Thick slabs of meat are the main star of the meal. There are other players on the plate, such as mashed potato and steamed vegetables, but the meat is the only reason why the plate is readied in the first place.
The use of rice also differentiates Western from Eastern cooking. In Western cuisine, rice is rarely served and is only treated a side dish, usually to an Eastern-inspired Western food. Rice is given a similar treatment like that of steamed greens, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, fries and corn on the cob. In contrast, Asian meal is not complete without rice. It is a staple. Noodles can be a take the place of rice although both rice and noodles can be presented in a meal at the same time.
But just like Asian cooking, Western food also puts great emphasis on the use of condiments and seasonings. You can find catsup, mustard, gravy, and other sauces and condiments easily available in eateries specialising in Western dishes.
In Singapore, Western foods are now everywhere unlike before. Fast food restaurants serving Western food are now easy to come by. Western foods are also typically found in hawker centres, or al fresco complexes that house food stalls, so you can have access to a burger or fries should you crave for them.
The great thing about dining is that the confluence of cultural orientations has made it possible for Westerners to find Asian cooking satisfying and for Asians to find Western food a big treat. This inter-relation of tastes and preferences has given more dining establishments sufficient reason to present both kinds of meals. Thus, where west meets east, you can definitely find great food.
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