Interested on thoughts about Jolly’s other channel - Korean Englishman - which actually does feel to have some weight. They’re fluent in Korean and explore the food and culture. I particularly enjoyed a series where they introduced british school children to Korean food for the first time - was actually really great to see. So maybe they have a bit more depth than portrayed here :)
Korean Englishman is indeed a more interesting channel due to the more interesting dynamic. Unfortunately Jolly seems to be content to pretend that British school kids have never eaten ribs to appeal to an American audience who suspect British children still eat gruel, so it makes me more skeptical of the rest of their content. J
Fascinating read — particularly interested (given I’ve just published a book gawping with a similar lack of subtlety at US food culture) in the idea of deliberately reframing that to appeal to a navel-gazing American audience. Most people I met on my travels were very comfortable asking me if I’d come to the States to get away from terrible British food, which made me laugh given the sneery attitude towards (yet paradoxically enthusiastic appetite for) American “cuisine” that prevails here, as elsewhere in Europe. It’s a weird and very interesting relationship in which, as ever, Europe thinks it has the upper hand when in reality the US holds all the power. (Also, how have I missed this less than stealthy invasion?)
I think it’s very much dependent on who you speak to. I think New York and LA in particular have a fascination with London and what’s going on there, and you’re going to have less of that “British food = Bad food” mentality. But a lot of this content is performative stuff aimed at the rest of American and plays into all the stereotypes. Conversely, I do think there’s more of an interest here (over the last 10 years or so) in America being a regional culture made up of regional cuisines - so I think that attitude is changing too. J
Interested on thoughts about Jolly’s other channel - Korean Englishman - which actually does feel to have some weight. They’re fluent in Korean and explore the food and culture. I particularly enjoyed a series where they introduced british school children to Korean food for the first time - was actually really great to see. So maybe they have a bit more depth than portrayed here :)
Korean Englishman is indeed a more interesting channel due to the more interesting dynamic. Unfortunately Jolly seems to be content to pretend that British school kids have never eaten ribs to appeal to an American audience who suspect British children still eat gruel, so it makes me more skeptical of the rest of their content. J
Fascinating read — particularly interested (given I’ve just published a book gawping with a similar lack of subtlety at US food culture) in the idea of deliberately reframing that to appeal to a navel-gazing American audience. Most people I met on my travels were very comfortable asking me if I’d come to the States to get away from terrible British food, which made me laugh given the sneery attitude towards (yet paradoxically enthusiastic appetite for) American “cuisine” that prevails here, as elsewhere in Europe. It’s a weird and very interesting relationship in which, as ever, Europe thinks it has the upper hand when in reality the US holds all the power. (Also, how have I missed this less than stealthy invasion?)
I think it’s very much dependent on who you speak to. I think New York and LA in particular have a fascination with London and what’s going on there, and you’re going to have less of that “British food = Bad food” mentality. But a lot of this content is performative stuff aimed at the rest of American and plays into all the stereotypes. Conversely, I do think there’s more of an interest here (over the last 10 years or so) in America being a regional culture made up of regional cuisines - so I think that attitude is changing too. J
One of my favourite pieces in the issue
Thank you so much for making all of this make sense 🫠👊