I want to provide you with my gastronomical background so that you may better understand the motivation in what I've written. At the moment, I'll only list my influences. I'll provide details as time allows.
Texas
The Gulf Coast, halfway between Houston and Galveston, is the confluence of many food cultures. I had easy access to Cajun, Mexican — primarily its Anglified Tex-Mex variant, but also cuisine from the Yucatan region — Barbeque of several varieties — Southern US, Central European, and Mexican — and even Vietnamese from the large population of relocated boat people. And the reason why they settled our area was for the fresh seafood. There was a commercial fishing port not 5 minutes from my house. Alas, I did not truly appreciate the bounty I had at hand until I moved away.
My Father
When I was a kid, my father took great pride in consuming incredibly spicy things. He predated Adam Richman by decades. My father would down whole, fresh jalapeños on a dare. This affinity led us to many a Mexican restaurant. The unusual or the different was not something to be avoided. For that, I am grateful.
Argentina
This country opened my epicurean eyes. As a Texan, I thought I knew beef. Ha! It was with great joy that I discovered the Argentine meat culture and equally great anger at the crap that passed for quality back home. I also discovered coffee and wine, broadening my horizons during dawn and dusk. However, it was a simple event that triggered an epiphany: Chinese food is not what I thought it was. I ordered what I usually do at such establishments. I don't even remember what, just that I wasn't yet adventurous. I thought I was served the incorrect dish. No, this was Chinese food in the Argentine context. Wasn't really all that much to write home about, but made me think what I had in the States probably was not what folks in China ate.
My Wife
I was a man who'd been places, done interesting things, and believed he knew what good food was. The person to whom I would profess undying love quickly demonstrated that I didn't know jack. First, she turned me on to Korean food, a completely alien cuisine to me at the time (the late 80s). Then she held my hand as I ventured forth into deeper, uncharted waters: sushi, African, and real French food (not the frou-frou stuff, but what people normally ate). Little did she know that she was creating a monster. It is I who now tries to coax her into trying new things. "Babe, do you want to share the pork intestine and blood soup with me?" I'm having less success with the passage of time.
Paris
There is so much to see and do in this city, but I'd forsake it all just for the opportunity to eat. And I'm not just talking about French cuisine. You can find excellent Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, African, and a whole variety of Middle Eastern options here, and they are usually not adjusted for local taste. Heck, even a hotdog or a crêpe with Nutella from a street vendor is amazingly good. The thing is, though, you have to put some thought into it, not only because of the numerous options but because the quality is not uniform. There is a lot of crap here, especially near the touristy stuff. However, do your home- and leg-work and you will not be disappointed. And don't look to just the restaurants. This city taught me what a great meal a loaf of bread, a hunk of cheese, and a cheap bottle of wine can be.
Of Possible Interest
- My dad: Bill Lenoir
- The Vietnamese boat people
- Adam Richman and Man vs. Food