Move on over Nathan's, Japan is taking over.
Meet the Terimayo. It ain’t
your average hotdog. On top of an otherwise typical frankfurter is piled
teriyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and seaweed flakes. It sounds crazy, right? But
just prepare yourself, because the end result is something like a symphony for
the taste buds: salty, sweet,
creamy, and savory, all existing harmoniously. It's unlike anything you've ever
had before, but somehow it feels so right.
This crazy concoction is just
one of 22 signature creations by the owners of JAPADOG, a Vancouver-based
street-vendor-turned-restaurant. What started out in 2005 as one Japanese
couple and their food cart has now expanded to five Vancouver locations and one
in NYC. In just seven years, the chain has seen amazing growth. So what's their
secret?
The genius of JAPADOG is its flawless combination of two
distinctly different cuisines. With one glance at their menu, it’s easy to see
the cultural melting pot at work. Their specialty dogs incorporate traditional
Japanese elements. The list of
intriguing toppings includes teriyaki, seaweed, miso, noodles, and sesame
seeds. For the meat portion,
customers can choose from a regular all-beef hotdog, countless types of turkey
and pork sausages, and two vegetarian options. And if you want to add a little
kick to your lunch, you can pick up a side of spicy wasabi fries. The meal that
results from all of these unique offerings is one that truly blurs the lines
between what is Japanese and what is American.
But the culinary influence doesn’t just stop there. With
their offering of bratwurst and fried sauerkraut, there’s even a play on German
cuisine. Keeping that in mind, who
knows what other cultures have contributed indirectly to the JAPADOG? Human
history, and especially that of culinary traditions, is often marked by the
exchange of ideas. As the modern world increases international trade, the
process is sped up like never before. JAPADOG embodies this concept of
globalization by becoming something that transcends the traditional boundaries
of the nation-state. The interaction of different cultures forms new hybrid
identities. The hotdogs could even be a metaphor for the lives of their
creators, who moved to Vancouver from Japan to pursue their entrepreneurial
dream. Perhaps they symbolize how as immigrants, the couple was forced to mesh
their sense of being Japanese with their new lives in Canada.
Although their menu items may be unique, the cross-cultural
idea behind JAPADOG is not. Just walking the streets of New York, you can see
hundreds of street vendors and restaurants serving international cuisines. The
options are endless- Thai, Ethiopian, Spanish, Argentinean, and Italian
eateries could all be found on the same block. It’s even rumored that there are
more French restaurants in New York than there are in Paris, (thanks to a
certain Snapple fact). Just as we export “America” through the likes of
McDonalds and other fast food joints, we also draw in an enormous wealth in
foreign culture through their cuisines.
I see this vast culinary diversity as a reminder that we no
longer belong to one city or country. In many ways, mankind is turning into a
single, although still multicultural, global entity. The great thing about food
is that it can act as a scientific indicator of this process. Through cuisine,
we trace interactions between different regions of the world, and we can catch a glimmer of the far-reaching affects of globalization.
So next time you're over on St. Marks Place, drop in to JAPADOG. It'll be like taking a trip to Japan while keeping one foot in New York.
The spread of foreign cuisine is such a good platform to discuss globalization! In New York, we are exposed to EVERYTHING, and it all seems normal to us.
ReplyDeleteStill, I wonder if the benefits of globalization (such as the spread of cuisine) is a benefit that only we, middle- to upper-class citizens, can experience. (And I mean middle- to upper-class compared to the scheme of the world, not the U.S. I think that even the lowest class in the U.S. is exposed to ethnic cuisines.)
This made me so hungry.. but in a good way. Great subject! I love how you always choose something that's really unique and something that you're obviously interested in. It was a very simple yet interesting look into the way we've changed as a culture. Even things like the all-American hot dog is transforming and it's definitely for the better :)
ReplyDeleteI think you chose a really good example to demonstrate this globalizations, as cuisine is always evolving. As the world becomes smaller there are few foods that haven't been exported to the USA, or even New York City! Even culinary techniques are quickly spread around the world, and it could be argued that the French no longer rule the kitchen. Very good article!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, i freakin love japa-dog. This post had great insight into an often overlooked aspect of globalization: food.
ReplyDeleteYour posts that relate to food really speak to me.
ReplyDeleteOn a more academic note, the idea of globalization is, as you have guessed, is BEST demonstrated by food, especially through the way cuisine is intricately incorporating imports in recipes, ingredients, skill, etc. It's interesting to see how JAPADOG is very emblem-ic of McDonaldization too. Not to mention the theme of your topic very closely resembles Appiah's argument for globalization always being an integral part of civilization. Maybe a further exploration with citations from those authors would've fortified your argument but it was deliciously written nonetheless.