Class Discussion on Staples

Class Definitions:

• Something eaten at every meal
• something everyone (almost) eats in a country or region
• Basic ingredient --flour instead of the products it is made into such as bread.

Meaning in other Languages spoken by Class Members

• Gujurat: cooking daily meals=" rojnu korak" (easy eating="selu cavanu")
• Spanish: productos tipicos
• French: ingredients principaux
• Norwegian: daglig mat
• Armenian: (didn't know)

Regional Definitions from class members:

• Asian / Chinese / Thai / Philippine: Rice and "soybean stuff"
• Indian: Rice, Daal (yellow, green lentils (also a bread)), Coastal region - Fish, Mango, Flat Bread (Naan, Roti, etc..Wheat-based).), Curry--yellow South Indian soup, also a spice UK: Curry (a place of eating, a meat or vegetable dish), Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, Lassi (yogurt based drink), Chai (ginger, cardamon, mint, (saffron for the wealthy) tea + milk+sugar), Yogurt, Pakistani: Keema (ground meat) Lamb and Beef
• Irish, English, Welsh: Potatoes, Bread, Lamb, Garden Foods (veggies: i.e. cabbage, peas) Fish, Beer Ingredients (barley, hops), cheese, seaweed, oats
• Italian: wine, bread, Southern: pasta, olives, seafood dishes - Northern: risotto, veal, white sauce
• Eastern European: eggs, chicken, flour, apples, carrots, potatoes
• Lebanese/Armenian: rice, lentels, yogurt, flat bread, chick peas, cheese (goat and sheep), olives
• Mexican: Tortillas, Beans, Rice, Chile, Tequila, Eggs + anything else, Chorizo + anything else
• South American: Rice, Beans (black, pink) , platano; Puerto Rico: 'habichuela' Venezuela: 'arepas'
• Southern U.S.: Potatoes, Meat (Chicken & Beef), Corn, Flour, Salt, Iced Tea, Beer
• Scandanavia: Fish & Potatoes
• U.S. general: an abundance of meat products (beef, steak, hamburgers, pork, ham, bacon, chicken, etc.), grains (wheat, corn)-- cereal, bread, etc., unnatural flavoring (soda, fast food), ice cream
• California: Fusion Cuisine (we take a little from everything), staple meat: tofu Produce (avocado, citrus), Cheeses, Designer Greens, Fish, In-n-Out (Hamburgers), Nor Cal - Asian Foods, So Cal - Mexican Foods, Central Valley - Meat;

Ross's Observations: Example of a staple English meal: Bread, cheese, and herbs (not necessarily a cooked dish) (also pickled vegetables, pickeled fish)

Wednesday September 3, 2003 | Return to main syllabus page