In the Chosun Ilbo, US food expert John Nihoff warms Korean hearts by going that extra ri — not only did he praise Korean food, he also dissed Japanese and Chinese food.
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80 Comments
Well one question.
Is it really Mr. Nihoff who is dissing Chinese and Japanese food or is it the editor of the Chosun Ilbo?
Business as usual?
Nihoff is wrong: The best Korean product is my daughter Min-joo.
I had a Beavis & Butthead moment with his name once I remembered the nickname for John.
Carr: You playing favorites? Don’t you have two kids? Google Cache may come back to haunt you.
Next week in the Chosun: A feature article about Steamy McDouche, a US car expert who praises Hyundais as the best automobiles in the world. And who also believes that Toyotas are piles of worthless shit, and that whenever China gets around to making a famous car, it will also suck balls.
The Chosun would also like you to know that Steamy’s opinion — like that of food expert John Nihoff — has not been influenced in any way, shape, or form by his Korean wife.
Not at all.
#3. Johnny Hof…isn’t that the name of a ‘Western bar’ in Dongdaemun?
His wife is Korean, so of course he’s going to say he likes Korean food.
PS.
http://www.ratemyprofessors.co.....tid=726419
I’d like the several readers/posters with Chosun Ilbo editing and translating experience to tell us WHY the the proud Chosun’s English language web site sees fit to run this type of jingoist pseudo story — the ones that gush about Korean athletes, food, musicians or beautiful women. These crap pieces are no less an embarassment to Koreans than the Kim Jong-il propaganda issued by North Korea and their only value is as fodder for the all-too-scarce Party Pooper pieces. Maybe Koreans (or Korean journalists) NEED such ego massages, but what is the point of putting out such universally cringe-inducing stuff for outsiders?
Has anyone noticed that although Nampyeon Nihoff is @ the CIA (no, not THAT one), he’s in the dept. of information science? Since when is a computer geek a certified culinary expert? Maybe he needs to stick to his knitting.
Slim, I think it might be for the same reasons that it doesn’t mention all the sex scandals, murders, serial killers, and other such nasty stuff…
Next up, honorary citizenship.
Gosh I love Marmot’s Hole. It’s a cess pool for Americans who have XYZ bachelor’s degrees from equally unremarkable ABC universities, who, in their vulnerable states (”should I go teach English in Korea or should I work for $9/hr at Starbucks?”) come to Korea only to sarcastically vent their spleens and make smart ass remarks against Korea and Koreans on a daily basis in cyberspace.
Yeah, Korean forms of nationalism may seem hokey and odd to most of you fellas, but no matter how virluent and pretentious it may appear, Korea is a nation that has never started an unprovoked war non-civil in nature (i.e. Iraq), use massive bombing of civilian targets as a standard method of war (i.e. bombing of North Vietnam, Japan and Germany) was an imperalistic superpower with possible ties to institutionalizing the slave trade (i.e. Britain), or an oppressive colonial power (i.e Japan, although many other countries would be guilty of this as well). It may be helful (and fair) to put things in perspective. Although you expats think Korean nationalism is funny, just ask the standard Arab or Latin American about U.S. nationalism, eh? I bet you that the word “funny” is not the first adjective that comes out of their mouth.
Yeah, I know I’ll be subject to the standard smart ass remarks and such. In other words you bellyaching expats will crucify me. I don’t care. I said my peace. If I don’t reply, don’t mind it too much. I’m just too busy to respond.
See? Shoddy journalism helps produce shoddy thinking that makes Korea look bad. I rest my case with #11.
# 12,
Shoddy interpretation from a shoddy head creates shoddy conclusions.
Slim,
You totally missed my point to where I’m asking if you even read it all, let alone understood it.
Korean food is great when the adjummas go easy on the salt and sugar. Somebody should tell Nihoff that sesame oil gave Indian and Chinese food its “distinct flavor” for hundreds of years before it went into Korean food.
“Japanese dishes are too focused on artistic packaging and Chinese food is so various that it is difficult to find a single identity.” Oh no, not artistic packaging and variety!
Two of the reasons I love that kind of food too.
Wang — When you responds to specific criticims about a specific issue with a wild rant about British imperialism, Dresden, Iraq yadyada, you don’t have a point, you don’t deserve a reply and you don’t look anything but stupid. Look up the term “shoddy hinking” and you will find a photo of yourself posing with YoungRocco with your arms in a heart shape over your heads.
Plus, I though you already spoke your “peace” and was too busy to reply. I’d stick to teasing people with “Hundi accents.”
“shoddy thinking” that was…
#16 was incoherent ranting as well. Now who looks the fool?
I will admit that I was venting some heat in #11. It’s just funny watching people on here with their superiority complexes deride how Koreans express their nationalism when they are from countries that have done more damage to the world then Korea ever will or can. It’s absolutely hilarious, as well as hypocritical.
WangKon936, it’s true, Koreans mostly damage themselves with the silly, unfounded nationalist claims that come from the media (and government) here.
Maybe try to refrain from stereotypes and bigoted observations in the guise of setting everyone straight, and the “whatever Koreans do the Americans are worse,” routine, since this is a blog about KOREA and you’re the umpteenth gyopo to make that non sequitur argument.
“you’re the umpteenth gyopo to make that non sequitur argument.”
Maybe those gyopos have a point.
At that same time, I think you expats have a point also. It’s just sad that many (but not all) expats choose to express it through sarcasm and arrogance.
But once someone else, who is just as well versed in the English language, turns the tables, then it becomes a “stereotyped and bigoted observation…”
Now ain’t that precious?
When the straw man fights back, it ain’t so funny anymore, huh?
That’s a good line. I need to remember that one.
Do you even know what “non sequitur” means?
uh… yes.
Do you know what a straw man is?
Wasn’t he the charcter in the Wizard of Oz who sang “If I only had a brain”?
[giggles]… if you say so… Rob gets it, not so sure if you do.
This thread is hilarious.
Now dubu kimchi; there’s nothing funny about that. It is probably the tastiest thing that has been produced on the planet.
Has anyone else developed a taste for ‘muk’? When I first came here, I couldn’t believe that people were actually putting it into their mouths, and now I look at it kind of like a slimy fine wine.
Thanks Wang. Rocco, jives, and pawi were getting lonely. I hate running out of fish for my barrel.
Exactly! Now you know why whitey is so perplexed by hokey Korean nationalism….because they haven’t accomplished shit to be nationalistic about! Watching a historical doormat behave like they were the Roman Empire is perplexing, to put it mildly.
I won’t speak for any other Starbucks Employees of the Month, but I’d personally like to see Korea reunify, arm themselves to the teeth, and start steamrolling the rest of Asia like Rommel through North Africa.
Hell, at least then they’d have something to brag about and might quit demanding endless apologies for their “tragic” past and demanding sympathy for their “special circumstances” at every turn.
Hey, by the way, did you know Korea is the only remaining divided country on earth? I cry every time I think about that. And then I cry some more. But I still haven’t cried enough to get my Han black belt.
I don’t find you terribly well-versed in the language and you’ve fallen into the tu quoque trap again and again.
Maybe sarcasm hurts to people who don’t use it or don’t get it — but you must know enough about the culture that surrounds you to expect it and not let it rile you or distract you from the issues at hand.
Now, a harmless puff piece on Korean food being good is not something that troubles me at all. I merely wondered why the Chosun bothers to do those things in English and why noone tries to stop it.
But damage gets done when the media KoolAid flows unchecked. I wouldn’t call his approach tough love, but Iheartblueballs does Korea a favor with the reality check medicine he administers, bitter as it tastes.
–Would the singer Rain have trashed his reputation (if not his career prospects) in the wider world had he received objective info instead of years of having smoke blown up his ass?
–Would PyeongChang have done better last week had they been more attuned to the folly of dragging inter-Korean relations into the bid?
–Would Roh & company have deep-sixed the ROK’s relationship with the United States and the related regional influence that flows from it if more outlets had told him how silly the balancer idea was?
–Would FDI in Korea be showing such a troubling downturn if the economic dailies were more than jingoistic cheerleaders for overreaching financial authorities in cases like LoneStar?
IHBB, how touching it is to hear your testimony. Why, just yesterday I heard a Korean halmoni will not get to see her son who lives in North Korea because the evil foreigners who always conspire against Dae Han Minguk didn’t let Pyongchang host the Winter Olympics, and the tears burst forth from my eyes like a firehose. And I’m still crying days later. Aigo.
Aigo. Aigo. Aigo.
WangKon936,
“Gosh I love Marmot’s Hole. It’s a cess pool for Americans who have XYZ bachelor’s degrees from equally unremarkable ABC universities, who, in their vulnerable states (”should I go teach English in Korea or should I work for $9/hr at Starbucks?”) come to Korea only to sarcastically vent their spleens and make smart ass remarks against Korea and Koreans on a daily basis in cyberspace.”
One doesn’t need to have attended a prestigious university to know that you’re trying to pass off ignorance for erudition.
PS. I’m not American and I did my graduate studies at an excellent university, one of the top in my field of study.
First off, let me just express how incredibly offended I am by that statement. A cesspool for Americans? That’s so unfair — it’s a cesspool for Canadians, too. And the occasional Aussie.
BTW, as far as sarcastically venting their spleens and making smart ass remarks against Korea and Koreans on a daily basis in cyberspace is concerned, that just shows that expats have adapted to local culture better than they’re usually given credit for. And I say that only half-jokingly.
‘He was in the news in December after he used his long arms to save two dolphins by pulling plastic out of their stomachs.’
Of course - that Bao.
Sorry - wrong thread.
“I’d like the several readers/posters with Chosun Ilbo editing and translating experience to tell us WHY the the proud Chosun’s English language web site sees fit to run this type of jingoist pseudo story”
–Slim
Slim, haven’t you ever heard of free speech? I know six years of the Bush regime have taken a heavy toll on free speech in your country, but that doesn’t mean you should forget that free speech is a right.
“These crap pieces are no less an embarassment to Koreans than the Kim Jong-il propaganda ”
–Slim
You’re comparing a puff piece on chefs to Kim Jong Il? Talk about hyperbole! I guess the word “subtlety” isn’t in your dictionary.
You’re like those teenagers on AIM who think that invoking the name “Hitler” automatically makes their argument unassailable. Only you substitute the name “Kim Jong Il” for “Hitler.”
Cute.
#35 Invoking Goldwin’s Law?
#32 Ever heard of Formosa’s Law? I’ll keep it in mind next time he posts something.
I think Korean food is generally great, but I don’t understand the apparent necessity of having to compare other foods to it in a negative light. The same goes with athletes, cars, or whatever else. If some Koreans feel the need to do this, that’s their problem - I’m used to it. When foreigners here do it, it tends to annoy me. For example, I’ve met the several teachers over the years who have gone out of their way to slam other countries - not suprisingly, Japan and the United States are the main targets - in class, just to get a favorable reaction from students.
In this case, the Chosun may have been selective in their translation, or perhaps Nihoff knowing what buttons to push, decided to kiss some local butt. Maybe both. Anyway, you can speak glowingly - and sincerely - about many things Korean, without throwing in the cheap shots.
“Now dubu kimchi; there’s nothing funny about that. It is probably the tastiest thing that has been produced on the planet.”
Agreed. I could eat that three or four times a week. I think it would work well as a main course, but it only seems to be available as “안주”.
Wait, didn’t this guy go to USC?
I’m comparing South Korean media propaganda to North Korean media propaganda and implying that this embarassing crap should be beneath the leading daily newspaper in the modern, free, successful, wealthy and democratic South. I expect the Rodong Sinmun to piss down my back and tell me it’s Rain; I hope for better from the Chosun. And I’m genuinely and publicly wondering, on a forum where at least 2 contributors have worked for the on-line Chosun as translators or polishers, why the Chosun feels the need to put stuff like this out in English for an audience that can only cringe.
I would spike that whole section of the Chosun website or replace it with articles that actually teach readers about Korean food, sport, music, film … whatever. Hell, run an actual interview with Rain for his fans, instead of the usual KCNA-style hagiographic piece telling the world how much the world adores him with no reporting beyond publicists’ copy.
I met Chef Nihoff last November and ate a Korean meal prepared by him for a large group. He seemed like a nice enough fellow with enough class to make me quite certain that the Chosun inserted that dig against the more famous cuisines of Japan and China.
#39: You may be right in your last paragraph. Either way, I think the cuisines of Japan and China are capable of surviving an article in the Chosun. Besides, what would this blog be without transparently nationalistic material to make fun of?
The Chosun didn’t have nearly this much Arirang-level BS when the Marmot was translating, mostly it had good old tabloid trash, and some business news I never read
“Exactly! Now you know why whitey is so perplexed by hokey Korean nationalism…because they haven’t accomplished shit to be nationalistic about.”
–blueballs
Exactly! This is why most Gyopos to this forum are perplexed by your hokey arrogance, blueballs. You haven’t accomplished shit to be arrogant about!
P.S. Hey, how’s your eye feeling? Hope that billygoat didn’t hurt you too much.
#37, bingo bango bongo.
With a Korean wife, inlaws, and likely loads of experience with Korean insecurity, I’d guess Nihoff’s additional shots at Japanese and Chinese food likely had a purpose. Surely he learned the same lesson that all foreigners do when dealing with with the Korean psyche: Praising something Korean is good. Criticizing something Japanese or American is better. Doing both is best.
It’s possible that Slim is right and that it was the Chosun doing some creative editing. But I’ve met plenty of foreigners who would willingly take shots at Japan, America, or whoever the Korean enemy of the moment was, because they knew it would get them a pat on the head and promote the right environment for
to flourish. And most of them had Korean girlfriends or wives, which makes me think Nihoff isn’t above it.
i don’t think the dude was dissing Japanese and Chinese food in particular.
I thought he was just saying Korean food can hold its own demand with something unique.
I still run into people from time to time who think Korean food is the same as Chinese food.
There are people who think Chinese food is a little bit greasy overall, and there are people who think General Tso’s Chicken is a popular elegant Chinese dish.
There are people who think all Japanese restaurants are owned by Japanese people. For some reason a lot of the sushi buffets are owned by Koreans, offering less quality sushi than what you would get paying more money.
I used to think Korean food was way over priced to invite a non Korean to consume. Chinese food is usually cheaper. Japanese food is also expensive.
Usually, non Koreans are only interested in all you can eat meat, if they’re dudes, and bibimbap if they’re girls.
Sorry for the thoughtless chain of thoughts, but I recently came to the conclusion that Korean food isn’t way overpriced, but priced appropriately, given that I paid 7 dollars for an Italian sub sandwich with potato chips and soda. This sandwich shop being held in high esteem by the locals and the owner being an Italian immigrant who is famous for his sandwiches.
my last word here is, avoid Korean restaurants that remove the ban chan’s very, very, very carefully. After you’re done eating.
I heard a rumor that they re-use’em. Confront the person who does this in front of all the customers, to teach them a lesson. That’s straight out wrong and disgusting.
Also, I noticed the recent trend among many Chinese restaurants is offering the China buffet. All you can eat Chinese food, awful sushi, and even a knock off version of Korean galbi at 10 to 15 dollars. I think it further cheapens the image of the Chinese cuisine.
Stupid Foreigner Tricks and photos of old buildings.
during a period in which I went to Panda Express almost everyday to fill my meal, I noticed that almost every non-East Asian who was ordering was having Panda’s version of General Tso’s chicken.
Orange chicken.
I looked up what makes up this cuisine on their website, and it stands head to head with a hamburger patty in energy.
Not sure what this fascination is with General Tso’s chicken.
To be honest, I think it has a better taste than the Korean Chinese version of it, tang soo yuk, which is usually of beef or pork.
Orange chicken always takes up the most space on Panda’s serving tray.
I wish somebody would be brave enough to try a US chain offering jja jjang myun, jam pong, and gyoza. And nothing else. Except soft drinks.
Accomplished? On a blog comments section? I must’ve missed the Marmot’s Hole Forum Olympics. Tell me Rocco, did you capture the gold in the Protecting Korean Women from White Cock Decathlon? Or was it the Bitter Gyopo Knee-Jerk Slalom?
many of the big shot newspaper firms in South Korea have a long history of serving the executive branch of office.
thus, writing up articles to sway nationlism is nothing new to them.
however, there has been a lot of change. The big 3 have found themselves writing in opposition to the President in the last 10 years.
Netizens in Korea know and recognize BS articles when they see it. They’ll note that the article fudged here and there to make it sound like Americans are preferring to buy Hyundais or something like that.
I used to look down on Panda Express and now I’d kill for some of that…. Cantonese, Hunan, Szechuan–that’s the problem with Chinese food, it’s “so various that it is difficult to find a single identity,” unlike Korean food which has a single identity called gochujang
It’s truly Friday the 13th for a couple of guys here who’re getting slashed to bits by IHBB, even though they’re too dense to realize it.
“In this case, the Chosun may have been selective in their translation, or perhaps Nihoff knowing what buttons to push, decided to kiss some local butt.”
No, man. His wife is Korean. He probably truly likes Korean food, as I do, and if he doesn’t he’s smart enough to know that he wouldn’t be a good husband if he trashed it in the press. You might want to wonder instead if the Chosun knew about this before they asked him about Korean food because that would be pretty pathetic.
“Gosh I love Marmot’s Hole. It’s a cess pool for Americans who have XYZ bachelor’s degrees from equally unremarkable ABC universities, who, in their vulnerable states (”should I go teach English in Korea or should I work for $9/hr at Starbucks?”) come to Korea only to sarcastically vent their spleens and make smart ass remarks against Korea and Koreans on a daily basis in cyberspace.”
-Wang
…not only to sarcastically vent, but also to have sex (a LOT of sex) with your minjok sisters. Can’t let you forget about that one.
Also, regarding your comment about unremarkable universities in the USA, have you seen world rankings of Universities? You should check that out this weekend. When you do, be sure to see where SNU sits. I’ll give you a head start–don’t look anywhere near the top. If you do, you’ll see mostly American and British schools there (oh, and University of Tokyo too). Face it, the “unremarkable” universities are in Korea. I would send my kids to a solid state university in the US before I’d send them to SNU, because I want them to get a better education. This isn’t sarcastic venting.
http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/200.....00list.htm
some more on that
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.....anizations
“Not sure what this fascination is with General Tso’s chicken.”
It’s one of those ‘Asian’ trends that people in North America are suckers for. Suduku is another example of that.
“I must’ve missed the Marmot’s Hole Forum Olympics.”
I think it was held in an obscure Kangwon Province podunk.
“Exactly! This is why most Gyopos to this forum are perplexed by your hokey arrogance, blueballs. You haven’t accomplished shit to be arrogant about!”
–YoungRocco
“Accomplished? On a blog comments section?”
–blueballs.
Oh, I see you’ve misunderstood…for the billionth time.
Let me make it very clear:
“Exactly! This is why most Gyopos to this forum are perplexed by your hokey arrogance, blueballs. You haven’t accomplished shit[In your personal life] to be arrogant about!”
How do I know? You came to Korea and left with a chip on your shoulder–typical for a guy who didn’t get money or play while in Korea.
But seriously, dude. Why do you spend so much time bellyaching over a country you already left? Do you have that much time on your hands?
What’s the matter, blueballs? Evil hagwon owner jip you out of a couple grand? Did your distinct body odor and John Mark Karr charm scare the K-girls away? Awww…I feel so much “Han” for you.
Funny how a thread about Asian food degenerated into a flame war…
Hummm… I go to sleep for 8 hours stateside and this topic goes flaming…
No way to address all issues here other then to say that I didn’t mean to offend all expats just the smart ass ones.
Other then that, I do respect many expats and appreciate the input they provide on Korea. I do find value in it. That’s why I’m on this site and contribute to it. However, some of you guys are total dicks about it and honestly, to the non-insider in your community it sounds like a bunch of crybabies bellyaching and whining. It’s pathetic.
See what happens when you doze off? This is all YOUR fault.
No worries. We appreciate sweeping generalizations around here.
“this is all your fault”
Damn… certain comments here are like shooting an electron gun at a kilo of U-235.
Wait? Will someone here find a way to turn my latest comments into a rant against the North Korean nuclear program?
“Funny how a thread about Asian food degenerated into a flame war…”
Yea…Not just this thread but most of subjects maybe except on “the photos of old buildings”. The more time I spend in the hole, I must say I become much more defensive even though I know that Korea sucks in many ways. It also irritates me when most of the commentators on the hole do nothing than complaining about Korea.
So I guess the flame naturally starts when the norm “No matter what, Korea sucks” meets the others side. Well maybe it is same to every blogs when the focus is on certain country. I just hope that the mission statement of the Marmot’s hole is not changed.
“There are people who think all Japanese restaurants are owned by Japanese people. For some reason a lot of the sushi buffets are owned by Koreans…”
That is exactly how the situation is in Germany, as well. Practically ALL restaurants which are advertised as “Japanese” by their owners are actually under Korean management. However, for whatever reason, they would never openly admit this fact to their German customers. Korean restaurant owners should be more confident about the reputation of Korean food in Europe, which is actually quite good - the reputation I mean, and the food, as well. A Korean friend of mine thinks about opening the first “openly” Korean restaurant in our city…
It is now after 11 pm in Germany (on Friday evening)- I have to collect my wife from a friend’s house and am off for the week-end.
I wish I could post pictures on the comment section, but in my neighborhood (Fullerton, CA) there is this one Korean business with the sign “Japanese resturant consulting” in both english and hangul.
I think Koreans open up Japanese resturants for several reasons.
Number one: Demand with no sizeable Japanese community to meet that demand. Let’s face it. In the international arena, Japanese food is just more popular and well known then Korean food. Also, Japanese expatriate communities tend to integrate faster then Korean communities. I know this is true in Southern California where there are not enough Japanese to meet the demand of Sushi and stuff. So, Koreans fill the void. Hence you have entrepreneurial Koreans who literally set-up schools to teach other Koreans how to roll-up sushi.
Number two: Profitability. Sushi is considered a premium food with higher then average profit margins. You think about it from an entreprenuer’s standpoint. You know how to make Korean food, but who the hell knows anything about Korean food in Germany or some of the more urbane, less ethnic communities in America? Nobody. You have capital at risk. What are you gonna use that capital for? Something with less risk and better upside.
Number three: Experience. Lots of Koreans go to culunary school in Japan. Probably a few learn the sushi trade. Let’s say that cousin Jae Su was a sushi chief in Tokyo and you want to open up a resturant with high profit margins and less risk. Give Cousin Jae Su a call or better yet make him a partner!
BTW… Sasha Issenberg’s “The Sushi Economy” is an excellent book for anyone who wants to know how all this stuff works in the global economy.
“Also, Japanese expatriate communities tend to integrate faster then Korean communities. “
I don’t think this is true. Japanese-Americans are more assimilated because nearly all are second, third, and fourth generation Americans. I believe the period of peak immigration from Japan was during the first two decades of the twentieth century, in contrast to the large number of Koreans who have settled in the US since the 1965 immigration reform eased restrictive laws put in place in the twenties. By the time America opened its doors again to Asian immigrants, Japan’s rapidly growing economy kept people at home.
“You came to Korea and left with a chip on your shoulder–typical for a guy who didn’t get money or play while in Korea.”
There are plenty of foreigners who’ve been ripped off by their employers, but I never met a Western male of any sexual orientation who couldn’t get some play.
#61.
True, there is money to be made, but when I was in Korea around 1986-1991 as a child, I hardly ever had sushi or Japanese food that I remember of. U-don from boon shik restaurants and pojang macha food don’t really count, I think. Although the pj macha and the U-don is undeniably from Japan. I thought my father had a lot of sashimi mainly from hwae shik.
I’ve been harboring the thought that Korean Americans are Japanophiles regarding this subject. If I may use the term, Japanophile.
The Chinese Americans could have easily stepped in to fill that sushi demand. So could the Thais or Vietnamese. They probably boast in numbers greater or equal to the Korean American population, each measured on their own, not all together.
But, no, it was the people who were subjects of the Japanese and close neighbors of them who are opening Japanese restaurants which are in my opinion of lower quality and of more quantity in food.
There is a difference that I notice when I go to Japanese-Japanese restaurants in New York City, where Japanese expats stay for their E-2’s and leave after several years to their country. They don’t integrate at all. My childhood friend’s family was one of these, and their parents spoke Japanese at home, so did he, and they left after 5 years.
Koreans on the other hand, come to stay.
sushi, shabu shabu, donkatsu. These aren’t totally unrecognizable names, are they?
I’d wager that Americans don’t go looking for hangul store signs to eat shabu shabu and donkatsu.
They walk into all you can eat sushi buffets called Minado, Todai, etc.
I’m not sure if Todai is Korean. Minado is.
LDP Japan deserves backlashes from Koreans from time to time, but I never understood why we Koreans embrace their ways without viewing it quite schizophrenically like me. It’s very odd, and I think the Japanese from Japan know this very well as well.
Korea and Japan can get along together very well. Potentially.
Well, it wouldn’t be much of a flame war if it didn’t.
Seriously, though, don’t take the bitching too seriously, either a) ignore it and comment as usual or b) bitch back. The worst that will happen is Oranckay will delete the entire thread.
Of course, you or Wangon, seeing as you’re both experienced bloggers, could always help set the agenda, if you will, by blogging here if you liked. All you need to do is shoot me an email and I’ll set you up.
#64,
Todai is Korean American and so is another chain called Kabuki.
Links:
http://www.kabukirestaurants.com/
http://www.todai.com/
Funny, but Todai, the harbinger of faux Japanese buffet style also owns faux Italian Yogurt shop CeFiore. Not to be outdown by faux Korean French pasteries. Wow, subject for a new blog entry?
wjk,
I don’t think we stateside KAs are closet japanophiles. Some of my Chinese friends asked me the same question and I just told them that we love money more then we hate the Japanese… hahaha.
Personally, I think there is a lot of respect and curiosity on both sides of the East Sea/Sea of Japan. If we can get over this history thing (which will take a lot of effort from BOTH nations).
All this food talk is getting me hungry. Anyone up for some yakiniku?
#63,
The bottom line is there is virtually no Japanese American community in the continental United States anymore. The assimilation question is irrelevant to the topic at hand. There is demand for sushi in the states, not enough knowledgeable Japanese to fill that demand so Koreans (as well as others) have come to fill the void.
“The assimilation question is irrelevant to the topic at hand. There is demand for sushi in the states, not enough knowledgeable Japanese to fill that demand so Koreans (as well as others) have come to fill the void.”
The assimilation question is relevant to the topic at hand. Owners and employees of Japanese restaurants I’ve been to were mostly first generation Korean immigrants or the children of immigrant owners. There’s no shortage of Chinese immigrants to work in Chinese restaurants - all of the cliche-named China Jade-Peking Garden-Golden Dragon restaurants serving up Americanized Chinese food in my town are staffed by Chinese immigrants.
# 69,
Huh? I thought the topic was Sushi restaurants? I suppose you can make anything relevant by widening the scope. Anyways, if we assume that assimilation rates happen fairly equally for all ethnicities (which I would tend to disagree with, but for the purposes of this conversation I’ll go along with it).
In #62 you state that it’s the low level of Japanese immigration that contributes to the virtually nonexistant Japanese community here in the states. Fair enough. I think my response was agreeing with you. If all ethnicities assimilate at fairly even rates, then the only other variable is the actual rate or pace of immigration, is it not?
Thus it’s the flow of immigration not so much assimilation as that’s the constant and the flow of immigration is the variable in our little example.
Do you like to bring up arguments just for the sake of arguing?
“Huh? I thought the topic was Sushi restaurants?”
Then why did you say this?
“Also, Japanese expatriate communities tend to integrate faster then Korean communities”
You made this comment in the context of explaining why Japanese restaurants are frequently owned by Koreans. I disagreed with that comment.
“I suppose you can make anything relevant by widening the scope.”
You had already widened the scope by enumerating your reasons as to why Koreans run sushi restaurants in comment #61. I merely disagreed with a claim made as part of the first reason. You then dragged out the argument by accusing me in comments #68 and #70 of going off topic when you’re the one who first posted a long comment about why Koreans run sushi restaurants. If you check the OP, there is no mention of sushi restaurants. The OP is about a Korean media story on an American culinary professor who was quoted as praising Korean food over Japanese and Chinese food.
“Do you like to bring up arguments just for the sake of arguing?”
No, I disagree when I think people are wrong. A perfect example of someone who argues for the sake of arguing can be found in comments #68 and #70.
Back on topic, read this so-called quote from American John Nihoff:
“…Chinese food is so various that it is difficult to find a single identity.”
A native English speaker would say “varied” not “various,” which is used only as an attributive adjective, not a predicative adjective (varied can be both). Most Koreans are unfamiliar with “varied” and use “various” both before the noun and in the predicate. The quote was probably fabricated.
Another problem is that “various” is used only with countable nouns while “varied” is used with any noun.
Sonagi,
Hummm…. So topics morph into different discussions in a non-virulent environment. So what? I answer questions and provide explanations in the flow of a thread. I like adding to the body of knowledge. So what? Everybody does that. Big fat hairy deal. Obviously you are upset or bothered about something so take a deep breath and get it out of your system.
So the thousands of Japanese people I used to see walking around Scarsdale were actually not Japanese? Wow!
“A native English speaker would say “varied” not “various,” which is used only as an attributive adjective, not a predicative adjective (varied can be both). Most Koreans are unfamiliar with “varied” and use “various” both before the noun and in the predicate. The quote was probably fabricated.”
Good call, Sonagi.
Comments like these are just thinly veiled racism. Shall we now talk about Korean dry cleaners or hookers? Or what motivates Koreans to leave their country on a permanent basis? To do so would be considered racist, so it is not OK to do the same thing to Americans, especially implying that the Americans in Korea are just scum.
For the record, I neither live in Korea, am not and never have been a teacher of any type, nor am I American.
“Hummm…. So topics morph into different discussions in a non-virulent environment. So what? I answer questions and provide explanations in the flow of a thread. I like adding to the body of knowledge. So what? Everybody does that. Big fat hairy deal. Obviously you are upset or bothered about something so take a deep breath and get it out of your system.”
Yes, you did try to add to the body of knowledge. Your comments were interesting albeit off-topic. I merely questioned the factuality of one statement. I’m not bothered at all, and I certainly hope you aren’t, friend.
# 75,
There is no denying that there is a sizable population of Japanese in the states. But how many are here to stay and how many actually identify with their culture is another matter.
# 77,
I am not racist since America is an idea, not a race. Nor I’m an an anti-American in the general sense. I’m more like anti-crybaby American. But, then again I’m against anyone who needlessly whines, including Koreans.
# 78,
Cool deal. Rock on bro.
“Cool deal. Rock on bro.
“
You can call me “sis.”
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