Let’s start with Asian. What does this mean? And what is Asian food? I live with two Filipinos—well, I would say I live with one Filipino and one American teenager. Marcus moved here when he was seven. He is now 18 and uses words like “bussin’” and “bruh.” Yeah, he’s an American teenager. His mother on the other hand? She’s the real deal. She is legit Filipina.
They both maintain “We’re Asian.” I reply “No, you’re not.” They respond to me like most people respond to me.
Asia is a continent (see blog post from Sep. 9, 2023). It includes everything from Israel and Lebanon all the way to Japan. I guess I include Japan as part of the Asian landmass, despite it being an island. But the Philippines? No. It is a South Pacific archipelago. I digress.
So, Asia includes Russia (most of it), Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kazakhstan, and India. When we say “That dude is Asian,” we mean he is from South Korea or China or Vietnam. We mean East Asia. Do we refer to the Haredi Jews in Israel as Asian? Do we refer to Saudis as Asian? We do not. They are. The Brits are slightly (slightly) better at this; they will refer to the guy from Pakistan or India as “Asian.” But, that’s about it.
What, may I ask, is Asian food? They eat the same thing in Jordan, Pakistan, and Mongolia? Even if we restrict “Asian food” to East Asia, do they eat the same thing in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia? Maybe this means “East Asian-style cuisine”; the term is still meaningless. “Asian food” means fried rice and glazed chicken you bought at the mall food court or in a microwave dinner. In which case “Asian food” means bad food of a particular variety.
Now for “Mediterranean food.” They eat the same “style” of food in Spain, France, Algeria, Libya, Sicily, Greece, Egypt, and Lebanon? This question doesn’t even deserve being dignified with a “no.”
“Mediterranean restaurant” typically means Arab restaurant. But, Arabs are hesitant to put “Arab” on the sign, because Americans either do not know what an Arab is, or they equate it with something scary. Thanks, CNN! But, if this is what it means—Arab—this is limited to cooking in Lebanon, Egypt, or the Gaza Strip. It really just means that they serve shawarma and stuffed grape leaves, and the restaurant is therefore labeled “Mediterranean.” [eye roll emoji]
The two terms are useless. I’m not being PC here. I’m just interested in C. We might come up with better labels than “Asian” and “Mediterranean.” The “Mediterranean” restaurants are Arab. We could just use that. And the fried rice and glazed-chicken mall food, we could just call it that. And if you’re eating microwave dinners, just call them what they are; there’s no need to invoke the name of a continent.
