NATIONAL FOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 3

NATIONAL FOODS.

INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE. THE SATISFIED ENGLISH. (By LILY S. KRUG.) It is a well-known fact that human beings are dependent upon environment and climate, and to-day a new theory is that we are so influenced by the food we eat, that it affects our mood and character. Conditions of life are different in various countries, and for that reason foods must vary. The tiffin in China cannot be tne same as the lunch in cold Greenland or England.

Forgive me if I consider the unseasoned food in England a little tiresome and tasteless. But I realise that the renowned complexions of the English women are aided by their plain foods; their plain vegetables cooked merely in water without any ingredients. The English do not care for food as much as people of other countries and are perfectly satisfied with their mutton and beef, mint and apple sauce and their plum pudding.

Different are the French, who care very much for their meals. French food lias conquered the world. It cannot be denied that there is something of "esprit" in it. The French cook is inventive; he may be called a food-poet, a food-philosopher, a food-explorer, a Napoleon in his field. His name can become a symbol of a certain dish throughout the world, along with that of a French dress creator. One may speak of Paris as a city of food civilisation, food culture and food education. Tlio French do not eat just to live, but to remain in good mood and to enjoy better life. They are "bon vivants."

The same impression is not created in Italy or Spain, in spite of the fiery table wines which accompany the wellflavoured dishes. The Italians regard their spaghetti with tomato sauco and parmesan cheese as the basis for any meal. Pesci (fish), carne (meat), carciofi (artichokes), all swimming in oil, and other verdura (vegetables) mean no more than added dishes to them. If the purse is fairly empty, the Italian abandons all of them but his spaghetti, which is wound round their forks in the same quick tempo as they live their lives. The Italians are not too fond of rich food. Perhaps they realise that such food would cause their quick tempers to rise still higher.

Stimulating Spanish Dishes. The Spanish menu is more tasty and variegated than that of the Italians. The food resembles Italian food much as the two languages resemble each other, only that the Spanish "cuisine" shows more possibilities. The shell foods are most appetising and the "aroz con cane" (fish with rice) has become a characteristic national dish. In spite of all refinements, however, one receives the impression that Spanish food stimulates the blood, and even may account for their love for bull fighting. The spicy Spanish wines, which are almost as common as water, run their swift course through their veins and release the southern sun rays which the grapes have absorbed. Spain is not Spain without wine. It is a fact that in a small village near Toledo, high in the mountains, the people mix clay with wine when building their houses on account of the dearth of water. The Spaniards are fiery and noble as their wines—thoroughbred, full of art. and courtesy, with a dash of Africa In them.

Germany is not Germany without beer and potatoes. German and Russian food is believed to be too rich with too many calories, which possibly affects the character of the population.

The Americans are known as vitamin hunters, and their neighbours, the Mexicans, can hardly exist without their pancakes made out of corn—just as the negroes in South Africa can hardly exist without their mealy pap. The latter is prepared without salt. The oldest people in the world, the Bushmen in South Africa, did not even know of salt in early times, nor did some of the Bantu tribes. Our missionaries succeeded in getting what they wanted in barter of a pound of salt. The lack of salted food may be the reason of the delayed maturity of the Bantus, who do not "like to eat eggs, only use them for barter with the white people. But they love their very intoxicating' palm wine. The small-built Bushmen can go without food for days. After a rich venison meal they fight with their dogs for the bones of their "banquet." They do not know any vegetables and are great Nimrods. Birds' Nest Soup. China is well known for her tasty food, which many people consider the best in the world. The Chinese cook can lie compared in a way with the French. The people seem only to taste the two dozens or more well prepared dishes set up before them, and a festival meal always includes shark fins and bird nest soup. Their preserved eggs, green in looks and bad in smelling are great delicacies. The Chinese consider it a bad custom to eat everything that is served, as it would mean the portions are not sufficient. Their frugality is well known. They can be satisfied with a cup of rice, but in good times their meals are fairly large, and they are very noisy at the table. The difference between China and clean Japan is amazing in everything. The Japanese are as quiet as the English, and their food is the least tasty in the world. I almost starved in Japan, as the raw fish did not appeal to me, though it was said to be stimulating and to have a good effect oil the brain Fish food is said to make intelligence. However, I must confess that I was 110J; stimulated by it. and also not by the small portions of fried sparrows, radishes in hot spiced gravy, and their many sea plant foods. Neither was I very fond of the rice cake, but enjoyed the strong, green, powdered tea. From the ceremonial customs of tea drinking has arisen a whole structure of Japanese tradition. In Japan tlie tea is the basis of her culture. Food advertising in America shows a little of American psychology. The following sign was seen 011 a farmer's gate in Long Island: "Egg* laid while you wait.'-' ' At a dairy which made also a complexion cream of 100 per cent pure dairy cream with other ingredients, the

following was advevtved: "Beauty cream of milk is being distributed by the milkman along with the daily delivery of grades A and B."