The growing success of Asian food.
Asian food has always been seen too exotic and unique in my country. The first Asian cuisine, which arrived here, was the Chinese one. However, some black legends about the quality of the ingredients, which in my opinion stemmed from ignorance and fear, did not help to spread its virtues among consumers.
Fortunately, things are changing for good lately. The new generations are more open to Asian influences. For instance, Japan has exported successfully videogames, anime and manga. In addition, food is no exception. It is relatively easy to find a Chinese or Japanese restaurant in Barcelona. Moreover, it may be a bit more difficult to find a Thai, Indian or Vietnamese restaurant, but it is not such a daunting task as it was years ago.
Spaniards love ‘tapas’, which are small dishes of food. Many Asian dishes can be easily adapted to this tradition and I think it may be one of the reasons behind its current success. If you still remain sceptical about it, think about sushi and spring rolls!
Time is expensive in our modern stressed lives and we try not to waste it in ordinary meals, so fast food is winning our hearts more often. Nevertheless, people are realizing that fast food does not mean junk food and Asian food is well positioned in this front as well. At the end of the day, it all depends on the cook and the ingredients, whether it is Asian food or not. We should overcome prejudices and enjoy the new tastes of Asian food.
