Ethnic or cultural cuisine that is missing in Epcot

[Yumi696]

Personally I feel they won't add anything else African because of what they have at Boma/Sanaa/animal kingdom. As for adding more somewhat Asian inspired meals (Thai, Filipino)---why have repetitive food/flavor palates. Now I understand that if you had someone born and raised in each of Japan, China, Thailand, and the Philipines home cook you a meal there in that country, they would definitely differ. At disney they are all just going to be the same....a slight variation of PF Chang

Oh man I would hope Disney would recognize how Filipino and Thai food are absolutely nothing like Chinese. XD

 

[artemis4]

Indian, Peruvian, Cuban, Thai!

 

[SouthJersey]

I'd be down with a Brazilian steakhouse like Fogo de Chao

 

[artemis4]

Personally I feel they won't add anything else African because of what they have at Boma/Sanaa/animal kingdom. As for adding more somewhat Asian inspired meals (Thai, Filipino)---why have repetitive food/flavor palates. Now I understand that if you had someone born and raised in each of Japan, China, Thailand, and the Philipines home cook you a meal there in that country, they would definitely differ. At disney they are all just going to be the same....a slight variation of PF Chang

I'm a born and raised in the rural midwestern US with northern European hertiage. Even I know that Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino food are very different and I know how to cook a dish or two in each tradition. The idea that these could be slight variations of PF Chang food is....I don't know what it is, just no.

 

[old lady]

odd......2 nations?....Have you been to Epcot?


AKK

I might what nations' cuisines would you like to see?

 

[Oodalally13]

....and I am betting that if they were to open such a food establishment at world showcase you would be among the first to complain that it isn't the real thing. Sorry, if you want at 100% authentic cultural experience of a foreign culture you don't go to Disney World for that.

Eta: this is in response to Yumi and Artemis

 

[SouthJersey]

....and I am betting that if they were to open such a food establishment at world showcase you would be among the first to complain that it isn't the real thing. Sorry, if you want at 100% authentic cultural experience of a foreign culture you don't go to Disney World for that.

Eta: this is in response to Yumi and Artemis

Erm...

1.) Via Napoli - Food just like any other mid-day vibrant Naples restaurant I've been to.
2.) San Angel Inn - Probably the most true to it's label. True Mexican fare like I spent months eating when we expanded facilities in Mexico.
3.) Le Cellier - Our last ski trip, we basically had identical soup and seafood options and steak is steak.
4.) Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul - authentic.

Now I can't comment on the others, but they're 4 for 4 with the above and during Food and Wine, the national offerings are pretty accurate.

 

[Yumi696]

....and I am betting that if they were to open such a food establishment at world showcase you would be among the first to complain that it isn't the real thing. Sorry, if you want at 100% authentic cultural experience of a foreign culture you don't go to Disney World for that.

Eta: this is in response to Yumi and Artemis

Errrr... sorry but I'm not here for your condescending tone.

I have never been to World Showcase but as SouthJersey said some food at WS are authentic.

And in the end this is just a fun thread about what we would like to see at Epcot? I don't know why you're so angry at the thought of new food at WS and people pointing out their opinions about what they'd like to see?

 

[SouthJersey]

Errrr... sorry but I'm not here for your condescending tone.

I have never been to World Showcase but as SouthJersey said some food at WS are authentic.

And in the end this is just a fun thread about what we would like to see at Epcot? I don't know why you're so angry at the thought of new food at WS and people pointing out their opinions about what they'd like to see?

Meh, if they want to be the Disney forum E-connoisseur, let em.

 

[Yumi696]

Lol anywaaaays...

Back to the topic thread.

I've been to NZ... they're super into pies... and lamb. And seafood. Sounds like that would be a fun addition.

Also NZ snacks and Australian snacks - amazing. Love them somewhat more than American snacks. I'd eat an entire box of Tim Tams to myself.

 

[tasha99]

I'm a born and raised in the rural midwestern US with northern European hertiage. Even I know that Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Filipino food are very different and I know how to cook a dish or two in each tradition. The idea that these could be slight variations of PF Chang food is....I don't know what it is, just no.

Yeah, I don't see them as any more similar than Italian and German food. They're not even countries that are necessarily geographically close to each other.

....and I am betting that if they were to open such a food establishment at world showcase you would be among the first to complain that it isn't the real thing. Sorry, if you want at 100% authentic cultural experience of a foreign culture you don't go to Disney World for that.

Eta: this is in response to Yumi and Artemis

Gotta disagree with you there. I think they should have a mix of authentic foods and American style foreign food, because a lot of people would like to try something new. As long as there are more familiar staples so everyone can be happy, it would be win/win to be as authentic as possible, at least some of the time.

 

[ModernArtist]

Isn't that what F&W is for? Bringing food from lots of cultures not necessarily represented in WS.

 

[artemis4]

....and I am betting that if they were to open such a food establishment at world showcase you would be among the first to complain that it isn't the real thing. Sorry, if you want at 100% authentic cultural experience of a foreign culture you don't go to Disney World for that.

Eta: this is in response to Yumi and Artemis

Whatev. First, I have never once in my life complained that Disney does a poor job with representation of non-US foods. So, I'll take your bet and win because I wouldn't complain if they offered new ones that were even 50% authentic. My feeling is that anything that gets more people more familiar with new food cultures is GOOD. It makes people more likely to take a chance on menus or try new restaurants in the future. I actually thank Disney for getting my youngest to enjoy falafel. Are there better falafels out there? Sure. Disney served the first one he tried, and since then he has happily eaten falafel many other, more authentic places.

Second, there are many foods in these ethnic cultures that are already americanized enough to be familiar to many people. Japan and China are already represented so I won't to address those two parts. Pad Thai, green and red curries, lumpia, pancit palabok, biko, flan - none of these would be overly foreign appearing to most people as long as Disney would put photos on the menu in addition to names, which they already tend to do. They would all be very easy to make and serve as they are already fast or semi-fast food in many places.

I would argue that more people would take order lumpia or Pad Thai if shown pictures than would order falafel and shwarma.

 

[Luv2Run]

....and I am betting that if they were to open such a food establishment at world showcase you would be among the first to complain that it isn't the real thing. Sorry, if you want at 100% authentic cultural experience of a foreign culture you don't go to Disney World for that.

Eta: this is in response to Yumi and Artemis

Then what's the point of even visiting the World Showcase in the first place? By your rationale, no one should go since it's not 100% authentic. It's that kind of snobbery and poo-pooing that ruins threads like this.

 

[Oodalally13]

No I'm saying people should go and understand that they are visiting an Americanized version of a foreign culture. I've read many of the outlandish complaint boards and know that people would indeed come back and say that the Eiffel tower in world showcase isn't built to scale and the food in France isnt even close to real French cuisine. Expectations should be that you are going to disney world a themed amusement park in America aimed to attract people and built on the concept of cartoons and movies. To say someone is going to world showcase in epcot to experience REAL ________ culture/food (insert world showcase country name) would be setting up someone for failure.

 

[Luv2Run]

I think we're all pretty much in agreement that the countries and cultures we dream about being represented would be Americanized to suit the average WDW parkgoer. I don't think anyone here demanded that any new additions be 100% authentic (besides maybe someone mentioning that China should be made more authentic - I can't remember if that was this thread or a separate thread on the same topic).

 

[SouthJersey]

No I'm saying people should go and understand that they are visiting an Americanized version of a foreign culture. I've read many of the outlandish complaint boards and know that people would indeed come back and say that the Eiffel tower in world showcase isn't built to scale and the food in France isnt even close to real French cuisine. Expectations should be that you are going to disney world a themed amusement park in America aimed to attract people and built on the concept of cartoons and movies. To say someone is going to world showcase in epcot to experience REAL ________ culture/food (insert world showcase country name) would be setting up someone for failure.

I agree with you on culture, because you can't truly capture an entire culture in some square footage of a park. I don't think anyone ever goes to Epcot to experience a culture...
As for food, uh, the food is authentic lol. Ingredients are ingredients, whether they're made by a black guy named Jerome or a white guy named Bob, you can cook authentic cuisine.
The food at via napoli is the same as it'd be if cooked in Naples and the food at San Angel is identical in preparation to the traditional Mexican items I've eaten when I lived in Mexico City and Guadalajara...

 

[tasha99]

I think we're all pretty much in agreement that the countries and cultures we dream about being represented would be Americanized to suit the average WDW parkgoer. I don't think anyone here demanded that any new additions be 100% authentic (besides maybe someone mentioning that China should be made more authentic - I can't remember if that was this thread or a separate thread on the same topic).

That was me. Mostly because plain American Chinese is pretty much available anywhere. Also an idle wish-- not gonna happen. It's just what would make the Chinese restaurants interesting to me.

 

[hopeful4fl]

A note to the Authenticity debate:
I think Disney, or at least people who are in overall charge of Epcot, take care to pay attention to details, including ensuring that all people working at specific countries outlets (trading posts/shops, restaurants), including cooks are on a temporary work permit from those countries. From what I read in other threads, the construction of the detailed Architecture (maybe not the foundation, but the motifs) were also done through laborers from those countries.
One of the examples cited was how Moroccan laborers put imperfections in their intricate tile arrangements, cause in their belief only God can create something that is perfect.
All in all, we are Americans, and sub-consciously will Amercanize the experience. I can tell you, having been to England, Mexico, France and Germany, the "feel" I got at Epcot was very close to the real deal.

 

[L&Lfan]

I agree, but I think it's a fact that the food has been "dumbed down" over the years since Epcot's opening to be more accepting to the "American palate" (whatever that is) and I think that's a damn shame. Akershus being the prime example but it's happened in just about every showcase.