South Asian food as "white people friendly"
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Globalization of South Asian food, particularly focusing on its impact on British society. Buettner delves into the increasing popularity of South Asian cuisine in Britain since the 1960s and how it has been embraced as a significant aspect of British cultural identity. The narrative highlights the evolution of attitudes towards Indian food among the British populace, from initial disregard to gradual acceptance and eventual celebration of curry houses.
However, what I found quite interesting was the question of the authenticity of South Asian food. Buettner talks about increasing British taste for so-called Indian food. Asian restaurants, particularly curry houses, faced criticism for offering standardized, inauthentic dishes catering to a white clientele. I have first-hand experience with dealing with such debates concerning non-authentic food. Growing up I was a person who was used to "authentic" food from Pakistan and then from restaurants in Toronto. However, when I moved to a majority-white city in Quebec (Quebec City) for the first time I experienced South Asian food that did not taste the same, which we can label "non-authentic" food. My Bangladeshi family friends have family-a owned Indian restaurant called "Saveur de l'Inde". As a supportive friend, I have often visited my friend's restaurant. Unfortunately, my family and I only liked the Seekh Kababs at her restaurant and avoided all the other meals. However, our Guinean friend loves every single meal and always gets takeout for her entire family. My friend told me she has always received bad reviews from Indian or South Asian folks, not due to their service but simply due to the question of the authenticity of the food. Concerning this issue, I can understand the reasons for these reviews. I believe that good food has a sense of melancholia, it that reminds us of back home is what brings our South Asian communities living abroad together. But if the authenticity of the food is lost, you lose that sense of belonging with your identity and your community. When the food is catered to the British taste, obviously it loses its originality. Food is an important part of South Asian culture, and when the culture is altered it reminds us of the remains of colonization that is still relevant today. When it comes to these small businesses in majority white populations, the customers are mainly white. In order, for these restaurants to successfully run their businesses, they must cater to them.
Now concerning the question of authenticity, my friend has noticed a great divide amongst the South Asian community due to the "white-washed" Indian food her restaurant served. Her family sometimes are disappointed by the reviews because it's usually their own South Asian community that leaves the worst feedback on their restaurant. However, the Quebecois love their food and leave the best reviews, which is quite understandable considering the majority clientele. This ties back to Buettner's reasoning of divisions between the South Asian community based on food. These establishments' stereotypical image and lack of authenticity led to ridicule and disdain, contrasting with newer, upscale Indian restaurants aimed at a more affluent and discerning clientele. This trend highlighted a growing divide within the South Asian restaurant scene, with affluent establishments distancing themselves from the traditional curry houses associated with working-class origins (like my friend's restaurant). The emergence of elite Indian eateries sought to redefine Indian cuisine for a sophisticated audience while denigrating the cheaper, neighbourhood curry restaurants run by Bangladeshis and Pakistanis as inferior and inauthentic.