How often do we hear self-proclaimed foodies talk about how they’ve tried authentic cuisines from all around the world? The adventures these people speak of certainly sound exciting, and Instagram-filtered pictures they share are just as provocative (food-wise). But let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Is it really important to travel all the way to these countries in order to taste these cuisines? And what does it mean for a cuisine to be truly authentic?
Authenticity Is About Subtlety
There are thousands of different pizza joints in America, but do they all properly represent Italian culture? There are nearly just as many sushi spots, but are you experiencing a Japanese lifestyle if you eat there? We used the words “lifestyle” and “culture” because it illustrates our point of what makes food authentic. It’s about the little things you don’t necessarily see.
We don’t want to take any credit away from the amazing restaurants that you can find locally. They’re all delicious in their own way, but many of them lack the subtlety necessary for the food to be called authentic to its place of origin. It’s the kind of thing you need to taste to understand—and when you do, it’s pure bliss.
