Korean vs. American Food
Throughout history, the food culture has been valued by both Koreans and Americans. Both countries take pride in their food as it shows a sense of nationalism. However, the appliances and utensils which are used for cooking and eating are different in Korea and America. Furthermore, the ingredients and cooking style of Korean and American food are somewhat different. As a result, it is very clear that Korean food and American food share some resemblance while they also have many differences.
Koreans and Americans passionately support their country’s food style because both respective countries are known for their strong patriotism. Just as there are traditional favorite foods in America, so are in Korea. Hamburgers and fries have been beloved by countless Americans for many years. Correspondingly, most Koreans love Kimchi (fermented cabbage) and rice. On national holidays, Korea and America have their own traditional food. For example, Americans associate turkey with Thanksgiving Day and Koreans eat Duk kook, also known as rice cake soup, during New Years to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
Although there are numerous similarities between the two countries’ food cultures, the dining etiquette practiced by Koreans and Americans are very different. First, Koreans eat and sometimes even cook with chopsticks while Americans use forks to eat and use variety of utensils to cook. One interesting fact is that Korean’s believe it is rude to eat with hands while it is common in America. Secondly, Korean food is usually served on a bowl and American food is served on a plate. In addition, Korean food is served with many side dishes called panchan, containing sauces, vegetables, and other condiments while American food consists of one plate with few side dishes. Lastly, Koreans tend to share their side dishes while Americans tend to pick out the food to their own plates first before they start eating.
Some key differences can also be found in the ingredients and recipes of Korean food compared to American food. Just as any typical Oriental food, Korea is based on rice whereas America is known for bread. Korean dishes tend to smell more than American food because Korean foods usually have more seasoning. Seafood is a common Korean food because Korea is surrounded by seas. On the other hand, American food uses much more meat because America is a vast continent compared to the size of Korea. To add on, the cooking styles show many differences between Korea and America. As mentioned earlier, Koreans enjoy eating Fermented dishes such as Kimchi and doenjang (soybean paste). When it comes to cooking, Koreans generally boil or steam their food on pots. In contrast, Americans usually cook by frying or grilling
Both countries differ in many ways such as the tools they use to cook with, unique cooking styles, and table manners. Furthermore, their differences in the ingredients and recipes almost make the two countries nothing alike. However, despite the many differences between Korean and American food culture, they are more similar than it seems. Koreans and Americans have the same passion and love for their nation’s food. As a result, Korean and American food culture will live on forever as long as they stay proud of their food.
Korean Cuisine 