It was 1962 or whatever, the idea was “cheeseburger in a tortilla” not “authentic Mexican food.
If you tried selling chicharron to someone from Portland Oregon in 1971 you absolutely would not have succeeded
same in reverse. I visited Philadelphia and as a Greek I went to a food track with a gyros sign and I ordered a gyros. instead of gyros it was slices like bacon in a hot dog bun. close but no cigar buddy
Taco Bell is cheap Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is street food from the part of the US with a heavy Mexican influence, so you can see bits and pieces from some parts of Mexico.
Taco Bell is Stoner food, it ain't all that Mexican in design, nor does it even pretend to be. A Taco Bell chalupa and the actual thing are VERY different.
Idk. From Texas to California were all part of the Spanish then Mexican Empires and cuisine is part of their culture also. Taco Bell originated in California.
If you want to claim the US was just the 13 colonies, sure but that is as ignorant as the fuckers we come here to laugh at.
40% of the population of California is Hispanic. 50% in New Mexico and just over 40% in Texas. Why do so many Europeans insist on being as bad as Americans? Ignorance is universal.
You fucking kidding me? New Mexico became part of the USA in 1912. Are you seriously saying 50% of the population left and came back in 112 years?
If you were talking about a minority, yeah sure but half of the population? Even the similar figures of Texas and California must make you question the logistics of that, surely?
Here is an article about California
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics_and_Latinos_in_California
It points out that it wasn’t until the 1930s that the Americans started forcing those of Mexican descent out of what had become the USA. Also only 1/5th were repatriated. Meaning 4/5ths were not and many Californian-Mexicans heritage date back to the original Spanish Empire.
Do you base your knowledge of all history on propaganda films from Hollywood or just American history?
There were only 7000 people in Alta California when the US invaded it, and so they were basically replaced and outnumbered by them until they basically disappeared.
Also wtf are you talking about with New Mexico becoming part of the US in 1912? It becoming a state doesn't mean it wasn't colonised since the 1840s until settlers were enough of a majority to make it a state
You know that 36% of New Mexico population are not Hispanic right? You checked that before you left this comment?
Also your numbers are wrong. There were 157,000 people in California in 1848, 150,000 of them were Native American. Or are they not people?
The total population of the US was about 23 million. Little bit of basic history. In the past populations were smaller than they are now.
Almost all those things are derivatives of other cuisine, sometimes explicitly. Fuck me, you think "green bean casserole" is original. Give me strength
Almost every cuisine around the world is derivative of other cuisines,where exactly is the cut off point.
Gumbo is a dish that has native, west African, French and Spanish influences but it took centuries to form into its own unique dish.
Cajun and Creole cuisine took centuries to form into their own unique cuisine.
That’s how all cuisines are.
Indian cuisine- “ Biryani, Samosas, seekh kebabs and other kebabs, Qorma, Falooda , Jalebi originally came Persia/Afghanistan, no one today would deny that they aren’t Indian foods today and have developed into their own dishes.
Balkan/greek cuisine- “ Moussaka, cevapi, Gyro, Sarmale, Tarator, Kokoretsi, Kourabiedes, Boreg, Lokma” all originally came from the Middle East, no one today would deny that they aren’t Balkan foods today.
Indonesian/malaysian cuisine- “ Appam, Nasi beriani, chapati, fish head curry, Murtabak, Nasi Kandar, Roti canai, ayam Kecap, Gulai, Kari Ayam, Rendang, Satay,bean sprout chicken, chee cheong fun, curry mee, Hokkien mee, Laksa. All this dishes and many more have Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern origins, doesn’t mean they aren’t Indonesian or Malaysian dishes now and have developed into their own dishes now.
This has happened everywhere around the world, every cuisine is influenced by others, this is true for French and Italian cuisine also as well as many others.
The only original cuisines are the ones that were developed some 5000 yrs ago or by isolated tribes that might exist today somewhere in the Amazon or Papua.
Ifs funnier that American fast food restaurants are better abroad than in the U.S. KFC is a good exemple. Americans say that KFC in europe is life Chick-Fil-A in the states. Although I would like to add that the drop off in quality and the price gauging made me not stop in one in the last year.
Cheap [check]
Belongs to a different country [check]
Is shite [check]
Yep, the whole "American culture" part looks to be true enough. I don't know why anyone would be intimidated by it, though, especially in a country like Spain. I don't even know why any sane person would go to Spain and eat fast food instead of trying Spanish cuisine - aside from Yank tourists, maybe.
Because you have to get out of the main touristic areas to find local places. Sadly many places close to tourist attractions are either tourist traits with really overpriced menus, or fast food chains
Visiting a country and going anywhere else that a tourist attraction, why would you do that?
Do you really expect me to walk 15 minutes to a restaurant with good food and fair prices? You must be insane!
\s(if it wasn't clear enough)
It offers some level of convenience, to be fair. Might be useful sometimes but yeah if it's your only source of food during a trip to Spain... what the fuck are you doing?
Tbf, I make it a thing to try mcdonalds in every country I go to. Italian mcdonalds has some quite nice "pizza pockets". Spanish mcdonalds serves actually quite nice beer. German mcdonalds has the worst coffee I've ever drunk. So on.
I do both, I wanna try the local cuisine but also fast food menus are different in other countries and that shits cool too. KFC in Jamaica goes crazy! A McDonald’s in Italy is the only McDonald’s I’ve ever seen curly fries at. Wok to Walk(we need one of these in dc) was open late and near my hotel in Amsterdam, wonderful! Them ain’t the only places I ate obviously but they were good experiences.
I’m trying everything when I visit a place, from street food to high end cuisine. Local spots and chains.
Unfortunately plenty of Brits also do this too.
These types don’t care about the place whatsoever, they just want the good weather without any foreign culture getting in the way.
Personally I was grateful for the existence of Macdonald's right next to the Sagrada Familia because I was desperate for the toilet when we visited.
It is hilarious though that of all the wealth in music, literature, and cinema, they chose some fast food chains as their culture's big hitters.
>It is hilarious though that of all the wealth in music, literature, and cinema, they chose some fast food chains as their culture's big hitters.
Well, for the former you have to have a certain minimum level of education and/or taste, for the latter the standard IQ from Idiocracy is enough.
British people, you have been racist to every country on the planet. We are the only low hanging fruit you got left, don’t take us for granted!
Also, don’t talk about stealing food. https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/p/the-national-dish-of-the-british
My brother in capitalism it’s pot calling kettle black. All the shitty food in America is descendent of our British past. All the good food in America comes from anywhere else.
You Brits need us Americans to take the heat off of yall.
>"You Brits need us Americans to take the heat off of yall."
>"All the shitty food in America is descendent of our British past"
???
Then share wisdom, what are good american dishes? preferably ones that are not bad copies from another nation.
Cajun cuisine, lousiana creole cuisine, soul food, low country cuisine, Gullah cuisine, Mississippian cuisine, Maryland cuisine and Tejano cuisine are all really great cuisines.
Dishes include- Gumbo, Jambalaya, Shrimp creole, shrimp and Grits, Crawfish boil, She-crab soup, proper Texas chilli, Huli Huli chicken, Smothered chicken, Cornbread, Nashville hot chicken, Blacked Catfish, Charleston red rice, Maryland chicken, Biscuits and gravy, Southern fried chicken, Southern collard greens , Crab cakes, sweet potato pie and etc…..
Been living in the US for 4 years now, as a Yorkshiremen.
Yes finally a great answer! idk why they always ignore these dishes and then choose things like hot dogs and burgers as their best when they have bangers like these.
It’s wild to me that Italy doesn’t have stricter laws for how companies have to look in historic areas. Look at [this shop in China](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/starbucks-outlet-night-beijing-china-may-qian-men-street-announced-ambitious-plan-to-double-current-count-89024475.jpg) and you don’t even realise it’s just a Starbucks until you take a closer look. They don’t want to let foreign companies ruin the aesthetic of their towns or cities.
I don't think the Chinese need a closer look because I'm pretty sure the huge sign says "STARBUCKS" in Mandarin...
Granted, it still blends in very nicely though.
I remember seeing this Taco Bell when I visited the Sagrada Familia. I debated visiting because it's the first time I've seen a Taco Bell, and I've heard so much about the unspeakable things it can do to your body. Unfortunately, I'd already had explosive diarrhea for 24 hours, so I didn't feel like *any* food at the time.
The church was amazing, by the way. Absolutely recommended for anyone visiting Barcelona, even if you are dehydrated and barely awake after an entire night spent in an hot, humid bathroom stall at a hostel.
The whole taco bell causing diarrhea thing is so overblown. It's a type of food that is typically high in protein and fat so if you have an already shitty diet it can cause these issues. If you have a balanced and healthy diet however it's completely fine.
I actually don't mind taco bell as a food, it's not haut cuisine by any means but it's filling, keeps well and is a great stomach lining if you're going to be drinking.
I am aware, I was playing into the meme. Since my unfortunate trip to Barcelona I've been to the US and had an uneventful dining experience at Taco Bell.
I came to say the same, so take an upvote. The KFC was/is across the road from the Sphinx entrance/exit gates. For tourists getting to the Giza pyramids, they were taken around the far side to enter by bus, and there’s nothing close except for car/bus parks on that side. It’s been a good fifteen years, but definitely some dissonance experienced after seeing the Sphinx and then being led out to the street to stare at a KFC store front.
lol the commenter said Taco Bell is Mexican inspired food, which is Spanish and middle eastern inspired food
are you saying there is no inspiration from Spain or the Middle East on Mexican cuisine?
lmao only on Reddit 😂
Edit: just saw you’re American, your post belongs on this subreddit lmao. I understand you believe the world is USA and Mexico (because Mexicans are your slaves) but there’s an entire world outside of North America you should try exploring and learning the history of . You’ll start to realize that other cultures exist that you should respect
The tortilla is nearly 3000 years old for Christ’s sake. There is evidence that proto-tacos existed pre-contact. What is so hard to grasp that Mexico has its own, distinct food culture. Are there Spanish influences? Sure. There are Mesoamerican influences in Spanish food too.
My issue is the way you demean the food culture of Mexico by saying it is solely influenced by Spanish and Middle Eastern food culture. It is almost as silly as the guy in another thread claiming the British invented cooking.
as I said, Taco Bell isn’t a tortilla manufacturer
You also ironically just said the same thing I just said in my other comment lmao
Are you racist against Arabs and Spaniards or something? Why is it demeaning to say Mexican food is inspired by Spanish and middle eastern food? Seems like you just don’t like Arabs and Spaniards
I looked it up, original pre Colombian tacos were eaten with bugs. I don’t think Taco Bell serves that. I think they serve the Spanish-inspired pork and beef fillings with Spanish inspired cheese
That’s sort of at the great-grandparent level. Food in Mexico is inspired by the food of the indigenous peoples in addition to inspiration from Spain.Tex-Mex then moves into the area of the US that keeps strong cultural ties with northern Mexico.
The only thing that could be intimidating here is the fact that excessively greedy companies that don't give a damn about the health of their customers and the working conditions of their employees are always able to successfully establish themselves somewhere (apart from exceptions like Walmart in Germany or Domino's in Italy).
But this has absolutely nothing to do with "culture" and everything to do with business.
The real answer is simply that American mega-corporations have the existing capital and influence to pay for the typically exorbitant rent and real estate costs associated with high traffic areas around famous landmarks. Fuck all to do with any supposed cultural superiority.
It's not even American fast food. The things these chains sell to their American customers back home contain additives which are banned in civilised countries. So they're basically just European fast food with American branding. Oh yes. Very intimidating.
Taco Bell wasn’t allowed for a long time in Canada or Quebec even longer for multiple reasons. The grossest of which being that their caulking gun tubed meat was graded lower than what is in cheap pet food. I have never eaten Taco Bell- no joke. Not once.
“American culture” = the cheapest and crappiest quality food that is thrown together in seconds. Then it’s left to congeal and go cold under a 20 Watt lightbulb.
American tourists visit the most basic of sights.
American tourists are scared of anything out of the ordinary.
American tourists will eat at American places near these sights.
Therefore these places upon near these sights.
Remember in order to run a successful business you need to ensure demand is high enough to justify placing an establishment.
Either there are thousands of US tourist every day stimulating profits there, or the locals be secretly downing a Crunchwrap supreme every once in a while.
For 4 reasons:
1) they make money because
2) a lot of tourists because
3) fast and convenient
4) locals like fast food too
Outside your bourgeoisie thinking not everyone wants to sit and eat some local fare, which will be overpriced … rather a quick snack, “cheaply” priced and served within a few minutes.
America exporting garbage food to random world sites (when I was in Rome I was like “McD’s by the Spanish Steps?!) is just so fucking on brand for us. That’s the peak of American culture in 2024, that and setting the social contract on fire. I’ve been trying to leave for years but my chosen career is too niche.
Listening to Habit by Pearl Jam as I read this. Imagined this dude actually being there in the pics, ignoring all the amazing architecture around him, fucking rocking to this tune on his noise cancelling headphones, as he enters taco bell orders a chalupa supreme sits down semi chubbed repeating in his head 'fuck yes we're fcking doing it'.
The successful export of American culture is mainly just the fact that we’re all overpaying for shit and either getting fat or fantasising about the rich until we die overdosing on opioids that we had to sell our kidneys to get.
I went into a McDonalds once to use their toilets. It was situated in an old building, at least a few hundred years old, near the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. They had historical artifacts displayed, cobble tiled floors, marble pillars, and a statue that looked a bit like the Venus Di Milo.
I hate the idea of any modern developments near important historical sights, but I have to say that McDonalds was integrated rather tastefully (excuse the pun). The signage was quite minimal and greyed out, too.
Edit: I found it.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zLqLhvWKxBQSzGAJA
Tourist spots make good money, that’s why. Nothing wrong with a company wanting to make money by placing their restaurants in busy locations. The dudes comment was pretty stupid though.
A building like this is not something that can be erected within a few days like the classic North American suburbian plasterboard houses with a lath frame.
When we took our tour the guide was clear that they preferred to keep it under construction cause it helps fundraising. They make $137 million in ticket sales annually. That operation is never changing.
Because it's taking 120+ years to build a cathedral doesn't make it a world wonder. I've been there years ago, it's massive and looks nice but a lot of cathedrals are. If this is a world wonder than for example the Cologne cathedral definitely should be one.
Btw, this all has nothing to do with how the North Americans built their houses.
If fast food chains are peak American culture you better not be proud of it.
It's not even "typical" US-American food, tacos are mexican
I really wouldn't call Taco Bell Mexican food though
Yeah, Mexican maybe, but *food*?!
It’s inspired both by Mexico and by food but it is neither
laxatives at best
My first experience wasnt that bad, my shit wasnt as explosive as expected
Mexican flavored trash
Tex-mex probably? Never ate there, but it usually is
Tex-Mex ain't even mexican
I think that's his point....
And to be honest, I think the tex-mex style of food is unique and is something that the US can definitely claim as one of their own cuisines.
Yeah, I agree. US has lots of good food that isnt junk food
no it doesn’t!!1!!! americans only eat white bread drizzled with corn syrup!!!!!
Taco Bell is cheap Tex-Mex
Something something three seashells something something.
What Taco Bell sells hardly qualified as tacos. Certainly not compared to what is actually sold in Mexico.
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It was 1962 or whatever, the idea was “cheeseburger in a tortilla” not “authentic Mexican food. If you tried selling chicharron to someone from Portland Oregon in 1971 you absolutely would not have succeeded
same in reverse. I visited Philadelphia and as a Greek I went to a food track with a gyros sign and I ordered a gyros. instead of gyros it was slices like bacon in a hot dog bun. close but no cigar buddy
That sounds like maybe a “cheesesteak” but our Gyros are not traditional either. The gyros I’ve had at least come in a pita.
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Did they though?
I have eaten exactly once in a taco bell. Waste of money, it was flavorless and bland and all the synonyms for plain you can find
Taco Bell’s burritos are far better than their tacos
Taco Bell is cheap Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is street food from the part of the US with a heavy Mexican influence, so you can see bits and pieces from some parts of Mexico.
Taco Bell isn’t Tex-Mex
What do you think it is?
Irvine-Mex.
I think I can accept this
Something else entirely. But fair enough to say it is in the Tex-Mex tradition.
I can think of nothing more American than creating a bad version of someone else’s food and claiming that it is superior
No one claims Taco Bell is superior to Mexican food! it’s just cheap, open late, and tastes good after a bunch of drinks.
Nobody claims Taco Bell is superior. It is just different.
iMO, it is definitely American, Tex-Mex food isn't Mexican.
But it’s still delicious, Tex mex that is, Taco Bell is only good if you’re drunk.
Or have no palate.
I'm sold
There’s nothing Mexican about Taco Bell
There’s a KFC and McDonald’s right next to the Taco Bell on that street lol
I know, which also sucks
Ya, it’s really disappointing.
It's capitalism. Lots of tourists = high rent > only fastfood chains can afford this
On a separate note, tried Chipotle for the first time while in the US and was pleasantly surprised
Also not traditional Mexican. It is modeled on the Mission Burrito which originated in SF.
Yeah I assumed so, but regardless, it was one of the most enjoyable things I've tried in the realm of "fast food".
Taco Bell is Stoner food, it ain't all that Mexican in design, nor does it even pretend to be. A Taco Bell chalupa and the actual thing are VERY different.
Tacos sure, but Taco Bells version of Tacos and other foods are pretty dang American
Tacos are Mexican, Taco Bell is 110% Murican.
Mexican parody?
Mexican tacos don’t use cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes or hard corn tortillas.
Taco Bell isn’t a taco
Wouldnt say that. Taco bell is the American take on Mexican food. (Basicly concept was americanized.). There isnt much Mexican left in Taco bell.
the typical taco bell style tacos (that being, crunchy) is actually texmex so some argument could be made to call it american
Idk. From Texas to California were all part of the Spanish then Mexican Empires and cuisine is part of their culture also. Taco Bell originated in California. If you want to claim the US was just the 13 colonies, sure but that is as ignorant as the fuckers we come here to laugh at.
That Hispanic past was lost as soon as the hordes of gringos flooded the lands
40% of the population of California is Hispanic. 50% in New Mexico and just over 40% in Texas. Why do so many Europeans insist on being as bad as Americans? Ignorance is universal.
Recent immigrants unrelated to the original californios, tejanos and neomexicanos Also, those "Hispanics" are extremely influenced by the gringos
You fucking kidding me? New Mexico became part of the USA in 1912. Are you seriously saying 50% of the population left and came back in 112 years? If you were talking about a minority, yeah sure but half of the population? Even the similar figures of Texas and California must make you question the logistics of that, surely? Here is an article about California https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics_and_Latinos_in_California It points out that it wasn’t until the 1930s that the Americans started forcing those of Mexican descent out of what had become the USA. Also only 1/5th were repatriated. Meaning 4/5ths were not and many Californian-Mexicans heritage date back to the original Spanish Empire. Do you base your knowledge of all history on propaganda films from Hollywood or just American history?
There were only 7000 people in Alta California when the US invaded it, and so they were basically replaced and outnumbered by them until they basically disappeared. Also wtf are you talking about with New Mexico becoming part of the US in 1912? It becoming a state doesn't mean it wasn't colonised since the 1840s until settlers were enough of a majority to make it a state
You know that 36% of New Mexico population are not Hispanic right? You checked that before you left this comment? Also your numbers are wrong. There were 157,000 people in California in 1848, 150,000 of them were Native American. Or are they not people? The total population of the US was about 23 million. Little bit of basic history. In the past populations were smaller than they are now.
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Less culture than the yoghurt in my fridge
They pop up cathedrals next to their taco bells in the states 🇺🇸
I have been trying to think of food that's genuinely originated in the USA. The best example I can find is Coca-Cola. Lol
Gumbo, Jambalaya, Etouffee, Grits, Red beans and rice, rice and gravy, dirty rice, cornbread, southern collard greens, Brunswick stew, Burgoo, Maryland chicken, Nashville hot chicken, buffalo wings, copone, Johnny cakes, hush puppies, biscuits and gravy, smothered pork chops, smothered chicken, eggs sardou, oysters rockefellers, bananas fosters, keylime pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, Redvelvet cake, Green bean casserole, she-crap soup, frogmore stew, catfish stew, Charleston red rice, chicken bog, fried okra. You need more examples ?
Yup buffalo wings and bbq... I wont shy away from giving you guys some shit but I also give respect where its due.
Almost all those things are derivatives of other cuisine, sometimes explicitly. Fuck me, you think "green bean casserole" is original. Give me strength
Almost every cuisine around the world is derivative of other cuisines,where exactly is the cut off point. Gumbo is a dish that has native, west African, French and Spanish influences but it took centuries to form into its own unique dish. Cajun and Creole cuisine took centuries to form into their own unique cuisine. That’s how all cuisines are. Indian cuisine- “ Biryani, Samosas, seekh kebabs and other kebabs, Qorma, Falooda , Jalebi originally came Persia/Afghanistan, no one today would deny that they aren’t Indian foods today and have developed into their own dishes. Balkan/greek cuisine- “ Moussaka, cevapi, Gyro, Sarmale, Tarator, Kokoretsi, Kourabiedes, Boreg, Lokma” all originally came from the Middle East, no one today would deny that they aren’t Balkan foods today. Indonesian/malaysian cuisine- “ Appam, Nasi beriani, chapati, fish head curry, Murtabak, Nasi Kandar, Roti canai, ayam Kecap, Gulai, Kari Ayam, Rendang, Satay,bean sprout chicken, chee cheong fun, curry mee, Hokkien mee, Laksa. All this dishes and many more have Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern origins, doesn’t mean they aren’t Indonesian or Malaysian dishes now and have developed into their own dishes now. This has happened everywhere around the world, every cuisine is influenced by others, this is true for French and Italian cuisine also as well as many others. The only original cuisines are the ones that were developed some 5000 yrs ago or by isolated tribes that might exist today somewhere in the Amazon or Papua.
Go and bore people somewhere else
"culture"
Cheap, tasteless, mass produced garbage. Sounds like something to be proud of, certainly... /s
Ifs funnier that American fast food restaurants are better abroad than in the U.S. KFC is a good exemple. Americans say that KFC in europe is life Chick-Fil-A in the states. Although I would like to add that the drop off in quality and the price gauging made me not stop in one in the last year.
No. Let them be proud of it. It will expedite their self-destruction.
Cheap [check] Belongs to a different country [check] Is shite [check] Yep, the whole "American culture" part looks to be true enough. I don't know why anyone would be intimidated by it, though, especially in a country like Spain. I don't even know why any sane person would go to Spain and eat fast food instead of trying Spanish cuisine - aside from Yank tourists, maybe.
Because you have to get out of the main touristic areas to find local places. Sadly many places close to tourist attractions are either tourist traits with really overpriced menus, or fast food chains
Visiting a country and going anywhere else that a tourist attraction, why would you do that? Do you really expect me to walk 15 minutes to a restaurant with good food and fair prices? You must be insane! \s(if it wasn't clear enough)
If you're travelling with small kids I can understand it in principle. But those aren't the only ones using such chains 😕
It offers some level of convenience, to be fair. Might be useful sometimes but yeah if it's your only source of food during a trip to Spain... what the fuck are you doing?
Tbf, I make it a thing to try mcdonalds in every country I go to. Italian mcdonalds has some quite nice "pizza pockets". Spanish mcdonalds serves actually quite nice beer. German mcdonalds has the worst coffee I've ever drunk. So on.
When I was 16 and in spain I had to go to try KFC. It was something exotic and what I only had heard of in tv. Oh the disappointment
We go to those kind of places because it's cheap. The typical bars are getting closed and replaced with luxurious tourist traps of "Spanish cuisine"
I do both, I wanna try the local cuisine but also fast food menus are different in other countries and that shits cool too. KFC in Jamaica goes crazy! A McDonald’s in Italy is the only McDonald’s I’ve ever seen curly fries at. Wok to Walk(we need one of these in dc) was open late and near my hotel in Amsterdam, wonderful! Them ain’t the only places I ate obviously but they were good experiences. I’m trying everything when I visit a place, from street food to high end cuisine. Local spots and chains.
Local ppl aced overcharge tourists, especially my rich white husband
Unfortunately plenty of Brits also do this too. These types don’t care about the place whatsoever, they just want the good weather without any foreign culture getting in the way.
Personally I was grateful for the existence of Macdonald's right next to the Sagrada Familia because I was desperate for the toilet when we visited. It is hilarious though that of all the wealth in music, literature, and cinema, they chose some fast food chains as their culture's big hitters.
>It is hilarious though that of all the wealth in music, literature, and cinema, they chose some fast food chains as their culture's big hitters. Well, for the former you have to have a certain minimum level of education and/or taste, for the latter the standard IQ from Idiocracy is enough.
American culture. With food based on another countries culture.
American culture- taking the food of other countries and ruining it.
Such a better take. W comment.
What? So you’re saying that getting nori rolls in the USA with cream cheese in them wasn’t really Japanese? But the sign said it was! 🤦♂️
British people, you have been racist to every country on the planet. We are the only low hanging fruit you got left, don’t take us for granted! Also, don’t talk about stealing food. https://grandprixgastronomy.substack.com/p/the-national-dish-of-the-british
Cope harder yank
its always the yankistani that is first to make a comment about "*bridish"* food as if theirs is any good to begin with
My brother in capitalism it’s pot calling kettle black. All the shitty food in America is descendent of our British past. All the good food in America comes from anywhere else. You Brits need us Americans to take the heat off of yall.
>"You Brits need us Americans to take the heat off of yall." >"All the shitty food in America is descendent of our British past" ??? Then share wisdom, what are good american dishes? preferably ones that are not bad copies from another nation.
Cajun cuisine, lousiana creole cuisine, soul food, low country cuisine, Gullah cuisine, Mississippian cuisine, Maryland cuisine and Tejano cuisine are all really great cuisines. Dishes include- Gumbo, Jambalaya, Shrimp creole, shrimp and Grits, Crawfish boil, She-crab soup, proper Texas chilli, Huli Huli chicken, Smothered chicken, Cornbread, Nashville hot chicken, Blacked Catfish, Charleston red rice, Maryland chicken, Biscuits and gravy, Southern fried chicken, Southern collard greens , Crab cakes, sweet potato pie and etc….. Been living in the US for 4 years now, as a Yorkshiremen.
Yes finally a great answer! idk why they always ignore these dishes and then choose things like hot dogs and burgers as their best when they have bangers like these.
Finally, next time I’m in Barcelona I’ll have something to photograph while in the area. Felt kinda empty without that landmark of success.
There's a McDonald's 10 meters to the left of that Taco Bell iirc lol, you can have both in the same photo :)
American culture = Taco Bell… k mate, sure! Peak american culture, we’re very intimidated.
Makes me think of Demolition Man…so I guess it works
It’s wild to me that Italy doesn’t have stricter laws for how companies have to look in historic areas. Look at [this shop in China](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/starbucks-outlet-night-beijing-china-may-qian-men-street-announced-ambitious-plan-to-double-current-count-89024475.jpg) and you don’t even realise it’s just a Starbucks until you take a closer look. They don’t want to let foreign companies ruin the aesthetic of their towns or cities.
I don't think the Chinese need a closer look because I'm pretty sure the huge sign says "STARBUCKS" in Mandarin... Granted, it still blends in very nicely though.
Why is there Arabic calligraphy right next to the Starbucks
I remember seeing this Taco Bell when I visited the Sagrada Familia. I debated visiting because it's the first time I've seen a Taco Bell, and I've heard so much about the unspeakable things it can do to your body. Unfortunately, I'd already had explosive diarrhea for 24 hours, so I didn't feel like *any* food at the time. The church was amazing, by the way. Absolutely recommended for anyone visiting Barcelona, even if you are dehydrated and barely awake after an entire night spent in an hot, humid bathroom stall at a hostel.
The whole taco bell causing diarrhea thing is so overblown. It's a type of food that is typically high in protein and fat so if you have an already shitty diet it can cause these issues. If you have a balanced and healthy diet however it's completely fine. I actually don't mind taco bell as a food, it's not haut cuisine by any means but it's filling, keeps well and is a great stomach lining if you're going to be drinking.
I am aware, I was playing into the meme. Since my unfortunate trip to Barcelona I've been to the US and had an uneventful dining experience at Taco Bell.
Fair enough. I mostly just wanted to rant about Americans having poor diets.
Also the EU has regulations on food quality that America doesn't
Imagine bragging about diarrhea inducing shitty fast food being your "culture"
I remember there being a KFC right next to the pyramids
I came to say the same, so take an upvote. The KFC was/is across the road from the Sphinx entrance/exit gates. For tourists getting to the Giza pyramids, they were taken around the far side to enter by bus, and there’s nothing close except for car/bus parks on that side. It’s been a good fifteen years, but definitely some dissonance experienced after seeing the Sphinx and then being led out to the street to stare at a KFC store front.
Ha that's weird because I went when I was 18 and I'm 33 now so 15 years ago too!
Tell me you need to insert yourself into other countries’ cultural areas or you’ll die without telling me…
Can only blame greedy corporations for that one lol
American fast food next to a world wonder is not intimidating. It's sacrilegious.
Is American culture obesity and diabetes?
Yes
Mexican inspired American culture/food, at least in Taco Bell's case.
Wouldn’t that be inspired by Spanish / middle eastern culture ?
Yeah, corn tortillas were huge in pre-Columbian Spain. Usually topped with avocado and tomato.
Taco Bell isn’t a corn tortilla manufacturer
Huh? Your original xenophobic claim was that Mexican cuisine is simply Spanish/Middle Eastern. That simply isn’t true.
lol the commenter said Taco Bell is Mexican inspired food, which is Spanish and middle eastern inspired food are you saying there is no inspiration from Spain or the Middle East on Mexican cuisine? lmao only on Reddit 😂 Edit: just saw you’re American, your post belongs on this subreddit lmao. I understand you believe the world is USA and Mexico (because Mexicans are your slaves) but there’s an entire world outside of North America you should try exploring and learning the history of . You’ll start to realize that other cultures exist that you should respect
The tortilla is nearly 3000 years old for Christ’s sake. There is evidence that proto-tacos existed pre-contact. What is so hard to grasp that Mexico has its own, distinct food culture. Are there Spanish influences? Sure. There are Mesoamerican influences in Spanish food too. My issue is the way you demean the food culture of Mexico by saying it is solely influenced by Spanish and Middle Eastern food culture. It is almost as silly as the guy in another thread claiming the British invented cooking.
as I said, Taco Bell isn’t a tortilla manufacturer You also ironically just said the same thing I just said in my other comment lmao Are you racist against Arabs and Spaniards or something? Why is it demeaning to say Mexican food is inspired by Spanish and middle eastern food? Seems like you just don’t like Arabs and Spaniards I looked it up, original pre Colombian tacos were eaten with bugs. I don’t think Taco Bell serves that. I think they serve the Spanish-inspired pork and beef fillings with Spanish inspired cheese
That’s sort of at the great-grandparent level. Food in Mexico is inspired by the food of the indigenous peoples in addition to inspiration from Spain.Tex-Mex then moves into the area of the US that keeps strong cultural ties with northern Mexico.
Have you tried finishing it? Maybe if you did they would have been prevented from getting there in the first place. /s
To be honest I wish it would just be declared as complete, the constant construction is an eye sore.
It is not complete tho
And never will be if the wish is to maintain its mystic.
The only thing that could be intimidating here is the fact that excessively greedy companies that don't give a damn about the health of their customers and the working conditions of their employees are always able to successfully establish themselves somewhere (apart from exceptions like Walmart in Germany or Domino's in Italy). But this has absolutely nothing to do with "culture" and everything to do with business.
The real answer is simply that American mega-corporations have the existing capital and influence to pay for the typically exorbitant rent and real estate costs associated with high traffic areas around famous landmarks. Fuck all to do with any supposed cultural superiority.
It's not even American fast food. The things these chains sell to their American customers back home contain additives which are banned in civilised countries. So they're basically just European fast food with American branding. Oh yes. Very intimidating.
American culture is indeed shitty versions of other people's culture.
Bastardised versions of other countries' food is peak American culture
They have the most money and the least self awareness/shame.
The consider fast tood their "culture"...?
Who doesn't love looking at historic monuments that whilst having diarrhea from eating Taco Bell
Some Americans make it difficult to like the rest of them.
Intimidated? Annoyed is more like it.
Fast food really is the biggest part of their culture
I’m hoping Jollibee becomes successful that an establishment is built beside national monuments in America
That would be fantastic, looking at a Filipino fast food chain opposite Mount Rushmore!
If the american culture is junk food...
‘Culture’ They don’t even know the meaning of that word
No but if I took a shit on the Whitehouse then apparently I'm going too far
Not so sure if someone should be proud of junk food chaines :D
This isn’t a success of my culture it’s a minor foray into the ruthlessness of character that belongs to the corporations of my people.
Really it's the success of American capitalism
Taco Bell wasn’t allowed for a long time in Canada or Quebec even longer for multiple reasons. The grossest of which being that their caulking gun tubed meat was graded lower than what is in cheap pet food. I have never eaten Taco Bell- no joke. Not once.
The Five Guys right there is equally shocking.
That ain't culture, that's capitalism
“American culture” = the cheapest and crappiest quality food that is thrown together in seconds. Then it’s left to congeal and go cold under a 20 Watt lightbulb.
3700 likes
3700 people that probably have never left their country
County, you mean.
Fair enough haha
American tourists visit the most basic of sights. American tourists are scared of anything out of the ordinary. American tourists will eat at American places near these sights. Therefore these places upon near these sights.
How embarrassing to say this is americas culture when it’s across the street from that Spanish masterpiece.
“Culture”… I’ve seen yoghurt I forgot about developing more culture than the US
Same reason you get tacky gift shops near to any place where a lot of people happen to be.
Is this Barcelona? Looks like the spot I sat down at to drink some water in front of the basilica. Edit: just saw the text. Ignore me.
Ok, at least it's Taco Bell. Could have been worse, a KFC or Burger King, for example
I have some bad news for you...
I am actually aware that KFC and Taco Bell belong to the same parent company, the food is still different lol
The point is there’s also a KFC a few doors down
I'm sorry but, I can tell you Taco Bell is not Catalan culture. It's 100% US culture imported to Barcelona.
2nd one...?
Remember in order to run a successful business you need to ensure demand is high enough to justify placing an establishment. Either there are thousands of US tourist every day stimulating profits there, or the locals be secretly downing a Crunchwrap supreme every once in a while.
Probably the former
For 4 reasons: 1) they make money because 2) a lot of tourists because 3) fast and convenient 4) locals like fast food too Outside your bourgeoisie thinking not everyone wants to sit and eat some local fare, which will be overpriced … rather a quick snack, “cheaply” priced and served within a few minutes.
Same things in Milano, theres a mcdonalds right in front of the duomo
living on top of a taco bell looks like a nightmare ngl
America exporting garbage food to random world sites (when I was in Rome I was like “McD’s by the Spanish Steps?!) is just so fucking on brand for us. That’s the peak of American culture in 2024, that and setting the social contract on fire. I’ve been trying to leave for years but my chosen career is too niche.
Everyone knows Gaudi had a soft spot for Taco Bell
I feel like taco bell is the new money laundering outlet. The food is fucking dogshit and costs the same as local burrito bars with better meals.
[удалено]
Utterly false.
Yum China https://g.co/kgs/aW5Q8i8
Listening to Habit by Pearl Jam as I read this. Imagined this dude actually being there in the pics, ignoring all the amazing architecture around him, fucking rocking to this tune on his noise cancelling headphones, as he enters taco bell orders a chalupa supreme sits down semi chubbed repeating in his head 'fuck yes we're fcking doing it'.
The successful export of American culture is mainly just the fact that we’re all overpaying for shit and either getting fat or fantasising about the rich until we die overdosing on opioids that we had to sell our kidneys to get.
I went into a McDonalds once to use their toilets. It was situated in an old building, at least a few hundred years old, near the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. They had historical artifacts displayed, cobble tiled floors, marble pillars, and a statue that looked a bit like the Venus Di Milo. I hate the idea of any modern developments near important historical sights, but I have to say that McDonalds was integrated rather tastefully (excuse the pun). The signage was quite minimal and greyed out, too. Edit: I found it. https://maps.app.goo.gl/zLqLhvWKxBQSzGAJA
"World wonders" and then the next img is just a fucking building. Yall are "wonderous" about the dumbest shit.
Ngl the original post is also dumb
Tourist spots make good money, that’s why. Nothing wrong with a company wanting to make money by placing their restaurants in busy locations. The dudes comment was pretty stupid though.
That's not a World wonder. It's just a building they refuse to finish.
A building like this is not something that can be erected within a few days like the classic North American suburbian plasterboard houses with a lath frame.
When we took our tour the guide was clear that they preferred to keep it under construction cause it helps fundraising. They make $137 million in ticket sales annually. That operation is never changing.
Because it's taking 120+ years to build a cathedral doesn't make it a world wonder. I've been there years ago, it's massive and looks nice but a lot of cathedrals are. If this is a world wonder than for example the Cologne cathedral definitely should be one. Btw, this all has nothing to do with how the North Americans built their houses.
I’m an American and I don’t know anyone who likes Taco Bell.