Our Own Ethnic Eating Tour

For some reason, I receive Louisville magazine, and it named the twenty best ethnic dishes (yes, I know people don't like the term, but I don't know a better one) in the city. Spurred by that, we took an eating tour this past week, and here are the results. I'd love to hear others shout out their favorites too.

Tacos at La Rosita: tounge was super-tender, chorizo was lightly spicy without too much fat, and both were wrapped in wonderful tortillas with just the right thickness to hold all that goodness in. They certainly don't skimp on the portions here.

Pho at Vietnam Kitchen. The broth has an incredible depth of flavor for something so simple looking. I ordered it with beef and beef tendon, both sliced to a perfect thinness. The toppings were fresh and crisp, including hot peppers that were actually hot.

Calamari Ceviche at Mayan Cafe. So very good. How they keep the calamari at this wonderful consistency I don't know; I suppose they toss it with the marinade at the last moment, but however they do it, it's perfect. I also had some wonderful black beans on the side, spiced without being spicy.

If you are a public radio member, the magazine subscription is a perk to your PRP membership!

I love the Calamari Ceviche at Mayan Cafe!

it named the twenty best ethnic dishes (yes, I know people don't like the term, but I don't know a better one)
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Maybe I am missing something, but what is wrong with the term "ethnic dishes"?

Steve,

I don't find anything wrong with the term - we all know what it means. There are people on a New York food website, however, who are rabidly against it, and I didn't want to make anyone upset if people here had the same opinion.

I'd rather talk about the food. La Rosita is better than anything I had on 5th Ave in Brooklyn, whether you call their food ethnic or just good.

- Liz

[Robin Garr]

I don't find anything wrong with the term - we all know what it means. There are people on a New York food website, however, who are rabidly against it, and I didn't want to make anyone upset if people here had the same opinion.

Just for the record, I can't imagine a problem with "ethnic" either, and I'm certainly good with it on the forum. We also have an annual "Ethnic Edition" of Food & Dining, and nobody has complained yet.

It sounds to me like someone in NY has too much time on their hands.

I think the problem with ethnic arises out of a belief that its use assumes a dominant, neutral culture with minority "ethnic" cultures--and a belief that such a designation inherently marginalizes the ethnic as not mainstream.

But I use it . . .

[Robin Garr]

I think the problem with ethnic arises out of a belief that its use assumes a dominant, neutral culture with minority "ethnic" cultures--and a belief that such a designation inherently marginalizes the ethnic as not mainstream.

I wondered if it was something like that, Charles. Same principle as "Oriental," which did get some discussion on this forum a while back in connection with Oriental House restaurant.

Personally, although I'm probably politically to the left of 90 percent of the general public and half of this forum , "ethnic" goes a little too far for me. I'm all for political correctness when it rises from the members of group that considers a term demeaning. But it goes a little far for me when people, usually in academe, make a paternalistic decision about language without consulting the people involved.

By this standard, "black" for "negro" and then "African-American" for "black" are appropriate; likewise "Ms." for "Mrs." or "Miss" and "disabled" for "handicapped" or "crippled," because all those came from the affected groups. It's simply rude for the rest of us not to go along.

But terms like "differently abled" or "special" for disabled, or "Native American" for "Indian," are a lot more dubious because activists in those communities not only didn't ask for them but don't particularly like them.

It's not always easy to know the difference - sometimes it helps to ask. But I'm pretty comfortable in saying that I'll stick with "ethnic" despite the outrage of a few Columbia profs, unless or until somebody "ethnic" asks me to reconsider.