I have no idea if this is a true story, but i definitely hope it is. Unfortunately, as with most American cultural products, eventually Europe starts to import them (as we did with American culture war bullshit), and this toxic “hustle culture” is now slowly also becoming more normalized in some places in Europe, particularly in Germany. It’s definitely not the norm as it is in the US, and for the time being we still have laws against it (though with Blackrock Merz in charge who knows for how long…), but i am seeing signs of it popping up more and more.
Unfortunately true. The most interesting Dutch food is Indonesian. So-called “Hollandaise” sauce isn’t even from Holland, it’s from France. And even the cheese, which they are mildly famous for, is still better in Belgium. I mean Limburger is ok but Leerdammer, Edammer and Gouda are all incredibly bland and boring, quite possibly the most “standard” cheeses i can think of other than maybe Cheddar. Belgium also has better beer and cooler architecture, it’s overall just a better version of the Netherlands (minus the fact that it includes the den of demons that is Brussels).
However, i will say this for the Dutch, on all three counts, weather, food and people, they still rank higher than the British.
I had a recipe that called for so-called Holland peppers, which sounded wack so I looked it up and of course they were actually stolen from Indonesia.
Yup. And the most interesting British food is curry. Funny how that goes. But i suppose you can’t really fault them for it. On the whole, the further north a country is the more bland and boring their food is. Scandinavian food is also terrible. German food is passable but mainly because of southern Germany. Russia kind of straddles the line between Nordic style blandness and some more interesting and complex flavors, mostly thanks to the wonderful Slavic pickling culture and some southern influences from the Caucasus.
agreed. having freezing winters and a climate that many fruits and vegetables can’t grow has not only inspired blandness in food, but general resentment and coveting of anything of taste and distinction. No wonder Europes history has been primarily of invasion, occupation and looting.
Let’s not jump straight to blaming Europe’s warmongering tendencies on climate. The Romans were pretty warmongering too and they came from a very mild climate where they have generally quite good food these days.
Though the demand for spices was an important part of the initial driving motivation of European colonialism it’s not the full picture.
Food is one thing - it can be quite logically connected to climate and what you can grow where - but i think that applying this same geographic determinism to macro-historic trends is a bit too simplistic.
You are right, I waa being hyperbolic and leaning into some anti western sentiments i’ve heard. I should have considered examples like the Romans, as well as the Aztecs, who practiced conquering and slavery to expand their empire, also in mild climates.
Bullshit, gouda is delicious
Taste is totally subjective so you are absolutely entitled to that opinion. I will concede however that an aged Gouda can be decent.
Smoked
Smoked is good too.