http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7391893.stm

From Cold War to cold meats… sailors from the US and Russian navies have tested their culinary skills in a sandwich-making competition.

The contest was held during a visit by the US destroyer Stethem to the eastern Russian port of Vladivostok to mark Victory Day. Officers also joined in.

A Russian cook took the prize for best-tasting sandwich while an American came top for most original presentation.

Sandwiches topped with cucumber sails were among the Russian offerings.

The ingredients included peppers, smoked ham, lettuce, cheese, mayonnaise, olives, cherry tomatoes and gherkins.

The US winner in the individual contest got a bottle of vodka, and presented his Russian rivals with USS Stethem caps and sweatshirts in return, the BBC’s Dmitry Klimov reports.

Earlier, the Russians had laid on a traditional welcome for the Americans, with vodka and appetisers such as bliny (buckwheat pancakes) with smoked salmon and pickled green tomatoes.

Yet a traditional Russian restaurant is hard to find in Vladivostok, where Chinese and Japanese restaurants are much more common.

The crew of the Stethem were taking part in a military parade in Vladivostok for Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Amazing.

No wonder the Ruskies won the taste but not the presentation. It was probably served on a piece of scrumpled tinfoil, looked all squished like it had spent the day in a soldier’s breast pocket and tasted like heaven. The American one probably looked amazing but clogged the arteries after 4 bites.

Russian food is known for its healthfulness?

The majority is too poor to afford much beyond cheap peasant food. And lots of fatty foods (if you live in Russia you need a good layer of fat).

Their state of health is generally more influenced by the fact that they give you a pitcher of vodka at dinner instead of a carafe of water.

That probably helps the taste of the food, anyway.

What little Russian food I’ve had I’ve rather liked, but then I like beets and cabbage.

American food can be healthful and tasty, too, of course. But seldom when you buy it at Pizza Hut or McDonalds.

Foooodddd...no no stay with diet

This thread really makes me want a delicious sandwich…
*dribbles*

Kathleen - 09 May 2008 01:31 PM

That probably helps the taste of the food, anyway.

What little Russian food I’ve had I’ve rather liked, but then I like beets and cabbage.

American food can be healthful and tasty, too, of course. But seldom when you buy it at Pizza Hut or McDonalds.

Does America even HAVE its own kind of food? With the exception of Native Americans, US culture, especially culinatry culture, is a mish-mash of the countries people emmigrated from. Pizza is Italian, burgers and big sausages German, pies and stews British, curries Indian, noodles Chinese, I could go on.

Except hot dog eating contests. That seems to be US specific. And doughnuts. I’m fairly sure they’re American. I’ll give you that one, doughnuts are a damn good culinary innovation (cue someone proving they’re French or something).

Yes America has distinctive food history.  The sub and reuben sandwichs are distinctly American.  French fries are also.  Hamburgers have become totatly Americaized despite all the debates on where they come from.  McDonalds anyone?  Taco Bell the fast food “Mexican” place has to be promoted as American food in Mexico since it bears only some semblance to real Meixcan food

Canadians are actually the largest donut consumers. They are also the largest consumers of Kraft Dinner too.

Renquist - 09 May 2008 02:33 PM

Does America even HAVE its own kind of food? With the exception of Native Americans, US culture, especially culinatry culture, is a mish-mash of the countries people emmigrated from. Pizza is Italian, burgers and big sausages German, pies and stews British, curries Indian, noodles Chinese, I could go on.

Except hot dog eating contests. That seems to be US specific. And doughnuts. I’m fairly sure they’re American. I’ll give you that one, doughnuts are a damn good culinary innovation (cue someone proving they’re French or something).

I dont’ think there is a nation in the world whose cuisine hasn’t been influenced by other countries, either from immigration or invasion. It’s how those dishes evolve that make them representative of the culture. Even UK cuisine can be considered multicultural. You can’t tell me that the Romans and Normans didn’t influence your cuisine.  I’m pretty sure that saffron and mace, two very important spice of medieval UK cooking, don’t grow in Britain. I understand that in modern times curry shops outnumber the fish and chip stands.

And Tea? Not very UK in origin at all, is it?

As for competitive eating....it’s mainly popular in three countries: US, Japan,...and England. In that order.

As for dishes that are distinctly American.....Hominy comes to mind. So does succotash, peanut butter, pumpkin pie, Southern fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, surf and turf, blue claw crab.

What would Italian cuisine be without the humble tomato? Guess where that came from? So by default, Italian dishes that contain tomato must really be American, no? Of course, it came from the Spanish Colonies, so maybe we can credit Spain there.

Then there’s ‘California Cuisine’, which is still a mish-mash, but it’s a careful, deliberate one, combining flavors from many regions into one dish. Chipotle-smoked steak sandwich with bleu cheese, pine nuts, romaine lettuce, and wasabi mustard on an olive oil and rosemary foccacia roll? Oh *GOD* yes… *nomnomnom*