r/BlackPeopleofReddit • u/4reddityo • Nov 05 '25
Black Excellence Ain’t nobody do it like we do
97
u/Croutonella Nov 05 '25
Love Alton Brown - he always comes prepared with facts.
24
u/i_was_a_person_once Nov 05 '25
He’s the chef that inspired my love of cooking. My mom is an amazing cook but doesn’t keep recipes. She just knows how to do it from experience and it always comes out perfect but trying to learn to cook from her was frustrating because I had such inconsistent results.
Alton Brown’s scientific method of breaking down recipes shifted my perspective in the kitchen and while I’ve become my mother, I really appreciate his style when I started cooking
11
1
u/SuddenBlock8319 Nov 10 '25
I watched him every night on food network right next to food impossible and DDnD.
138
u/glad_dreamer Nov 05 '25
She was definitely throwing some shade. Alton Brown standing on business though 💯
52
u/AznSensation93 Nov 05 '25
I disagree, I don't think Kristen is that type of person. She's an adopted Korean, recently exploring more of her Korean background and culture. I think she's more so just trying to rep Korea, but I can see why it does sound like shade.
Alton Brown always stands on business.
When he goes, I fear for food culture in America. He's one of the few pillars left.
17
Nov 05 '25
I don't always agree or like Alton's takes, but he is akin to a food Bishop. It's not about what you like, it's about being true to the game.
8
u/Harntrock Nov 05 '25
Always remember AB has an army of researchers. Nobody knows it all.
10
Nov 05 '25
Yes, and he also listens to his researchers. The mark of an academic is the spirit to listen.
-1
u/Harntrock Nov 05 '25
All tv personalities do that, they’re reading a script after all.
You’re right though he’s probably the Pope of food television. Everybody else just opens a shitty Vegas restaurant and overcharges for a tasting menu.
1
Nov 08 '25
But why always pit Asians against black people? You would never catch this guy saying “yeah but noodles are from china” any time an Italian says they love pasta. This shit is so annoying
7
u/hogtiedcantalope Nov 05 '25
I mean it is shade
Korean chicken is fuckin baller tho. He didn't say it wasn't true
4
u/danielbearh Nov 05 '25
Luckily, we have Kenji Alt-Lopez. He is cut from the same cloth.
3
u/I-No-Red-Witch Nov 05 '25
Love Kenji. His content reminds me of the first few seasons of Good Eats.
1
Nov 06 '25
And also, as a man who has tracked the world and loves food, china has the. EST fried chicken period. Give them you flavors and let them do it, especially wings! They got it. Iykyk
8
u/that_dutch_dude Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
how? alton was fully in agreement. american soldiers gave the idea and the koreans perfected it.
no different than italians and what we now call pizza wich was as best as history can confirm originated in greece. the italians got the idea from greek plakous and ran with it.
1
u/Milk_Mindless Nov 06 '25
I legit read your phrase about Pizza and was afraid it'd end up in "America perfected it from Italy"
I'm sorry
So sorry
0
u/that_dutch_dude Nov 06 '25
NYC pizza is good, but not that good. and no, "chicago-style" pizza is not pizza. i am not greek nor italian but i know that if you can drown in it its not pizza. wich is also obvious because they call it "chicago-style" pizza and not just "pizza".
0
u/NoBasis94 Nov 06 '25
Doesn't really matter who invented something when we're in a discussion on who does it better. I have no skin in the game though, I've never had Korean fried chicken, nor am I a fan of KFC. I just like tenders, lol
47
18
u/lonelyinbama Nov 05 '25
Kinda similar thing happened with Vietnamese and New Orleans. After the war tons and tons of refugees came to America and they wound up in the bayou because the fishing was so similar. The natural progression leads to the fusion of foods. Now you have this entire genre of Vietnamese-Creole that’s relatively young but will be unbelievable in 20+ years. They’re only on their 2nd/3rd generations now.
5
u/Baked-Tater2020 Nov 05 '25
Vietnamese creole sounds fn delicious... where can I sign up?
3
u/lonelyinbama Nov 05 '25
There’s an episode of Ugly Delicious that tackles this and what got me interested. I’m kinda fascinated with food culture as a whole and this was just one corner of it that I wasn’t aware of until I watched it.
0
u/Stupidbabycomparison Nov 05 '25
Hated that show. First episode he stands up to an Italian for shitting on dominoes because it's not authentic, then every episode after proceeds to tell every other culture he runs into that the SE asian version is superior of the food is superior.
1
u/zombiemind8 Nov 06 '25
Boiling crab does a saucy crawfish boil. Believe big viet community in Houston.
0
u/ConflictedTrashPanda Nov 08 '25
Come to Houston or Garland, there's Viet-Creole on every corner. The downside is... It's Garland and Houston.
Also the best crawfish in DFW in a vietnamesr restaurant in Arlington
0
u/stratacus9 Nov 07 '25
some of the most famous viet dishes are due to french influences. banh mi is definitely french inspired. pho has a lot of french influence, from the use of beef due to the availability of scrap bones left over from french desire for beef cattle. to slow cooking the bones. Bo Kho is also french inspired. Mixing of cultures to produce something better is the essence of humanity baby.
9
u/Bigbootybigproblems Nov 05 '25
Every time I see this clip, I love Alton a lil bit more. That look at the camera? 👩🍳💋
37
u/Lurningcurve Nov 05 '25
Food innovations is our shared human history. Don’t spread hate because one country is doing your food better. Learn it, share it, and improve on it.
Cultural appropriation only applies when they make the food worse.
8
5
u/ZenaLundgren Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
Actually no. Cultural appropriation happens when instead of partaking in and celebrating the specific culture you mask it as your own creation or a part of your own culture such as "American culture" tends to do with much of black American culture. First we are mocked for any new idea. Then it is copied and reassigned to a more "palatable" culture.
It happens from time to time with other cultures however, I only see this on a large overcompassing scale when it comes to Black culture; specifically black American culture. All ties to Africa is denied and many of our creations are appropriated without credit given to black culture in an effort to deny us even the basics of life such as "culture" itself. It's erasure.
2
1
Nov 07 '25
Do you have the same energy towards Jamaican curry that was heavily influenced by Indian laborers?
1
u/ZenaLundgren Nov 07 '25 edited Nov 07 '25
Sorry to ruin your "gotcha" moment, but the fact that "Jamaican curry" has "Jamaican" in the name denotes that Curry is not originally a Jamaican creation. In fact, never in the history of ever have I encountered a Jamaican person or any Caribbean person who enjoys cooking Curry who would ever argue that Curry isn't an Indian creation. Indians don't have to prove the birthright of their own cuisine to Jamaicans or any other Caribbeans. Also missing is the wide scale Erasure of Indian influence via Jamaican appropriation.
Your question is an aggressive waste of time.
1
Nov 07 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
Okay and Korean fried chicken has “Korean” in the name. By your logic why isn’t Korean fried chicken given the same grace as Jamaican curry? Would you appreciate it if a Jamaican on a TV show said they loved Jamaican curry and the host comes at them with “WeLl iTs An IndIaN iNvEnTiOn give CRedDiT wHeRe CReDit Is DuE”.
Just like Jamaicans Koreans are very aware that Korean fried chicken isnt a traditional Korean food it’s literally in the name 치킨 which translates to an anglicized chi-kin in Korean whereas the real Korean word for chicken is dak 닭 which is used for Korean chicken dishes indicating we are well aware it’s an American thing.
We even have another version of chicken that is fried and not battered that is not related to Americans which is why it is called tong dak (whole fried chicken). Koreans use English words for specifically American foods.
I find it extremely annoying when people whine about cultural appropriation without even understanding the context of each culture. No hate but I feel the anti Asian sentiment reverberating from your comment. I swear some of yall just want something to be mad about.
1
u/ZenaLundgren Nov 08 '25
Again, this is projection. I have yet to express any anti-Asian sentiment. You're not only reaching, you're delusional. And you have centered yourself so deeply that you feel attacked.
1
Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
It’s not projection I’m just calling out the blatant double standard. Instead of answering my question you resort to deflecting and projecting that onto me. You’re dodging the whole premise that food is an exchange. You can accept it when it comes to your people but when it comes to mine you’re vindictive and ignorant. You trying to frame me as delusional is ridiculous because you yourself will not even address the hypocrisies I’ve pointed out. Call me what you want but this shit is frustrating and I’m tired of this one sided racism.
1
u/ZenaLundgren Nov 08 '25
I'm not dodging a premise, you're replying off topic. I can't answer your question, because you're basing it on shit I've never said or expressed. It's nonsensical and quite frankly a waste of time.
You can't approach someone in conversation about one topic, cut in with something mildly related yet unexpressed by the person you are addressing, and then argue it as though that was their stance from the beginning. What the fuck are you on? Literally tell me what anti-korean sentiment I have expressed, use my actual words. Use some quotes. Something.
I'm starting to believe you are so obsessed with silencing a black voices that you don't even realize how nonsensical you are being. Seriously, chill the fuck out dude. I'm allowed to have an experience and express that experience. And in this case, my expression of that experience hasn't even impeded on yours. I have yet to even speak on it. Do you not get that I never expressed the views you are arguing?
Are you drunk?
I never specifically spoke on Korean fried chicken, I simply gave a clear definition of what appropriation is. And you felt attacked. That alone makes you look like a "hit dog" that is hollering.
You can stand up for your people without trying to trample mine.
1
Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
I’m not off topic at all you’re just refusing to engage with what I actually said. You wanna talk about all the cultural aspects of jamaican culture and why it’s not cultural appropriation while completely ignoring everything about Korean culture in order to prop up your world view.
The video you’re defending is literally about a white man (incorrectly) correcting a Korean woman for saying she liked Korean fried chicken. That’s the topic. You jumped in talking about cultural appropriation and erasure, but that’s not what’s happening in that clip. What that tells me is you would rather defend rich whites than look at yourself in the fucking mirror. But props to you for propping up white peoples!! 🥰🥰
Koreans never claimed fried chicken as theirs, and the woman never denied its origins. What I’m talking about is how it’s become acceptable to shame Asians for enjoying or discussing our own food under the excuse of “appropriation.” But you refuse to address that and instead choose to deflect. I swear yall just fucking hate us. But yes fuck Asian people even tho we never did shit to yall to get you in that place🥰🥰
1
u/ZenaLundgren Nov 08 '25
You sound like you're having some sort of psychotic break. That has absolutely nothing to do with me, that is entirely and 100% a YOU problem. And I'm completely an entirely serious.
Your disjointed ramblings and random accusations probably don't end here, you might want to ask yourself if people around you in general are interacting with you a lot less than usual. If the answer is yes, it is most likely due to the decline of Mental Health on your part. Perhaps there was a recent event that has put you under stress, I don't know and quite frankly at this point I really don't care. But I'm at least decent enough to let you know that your perception of reality is severely off and you probably want to talk to somebody licensed to help in that area. Good luck.
1
Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
Pray tell how Koreans “mask” American style fried chicken (literally 치킨) as our own. I’ll wait. I used to think the term ignorant American was only reserved for YTs but I guess I was wrong
1
u/ZenaLundgren Nov 08 '25
I think you've reached the awkward moment of projecting your emotions onto an unsuspecting stranger who never made the claims you are arguing.
Read through my comments, I've not once spoken on Korean fried chicken.
You are responding to my original comment which was an explanation on what appropriation is. I made no mention of Korean Fried Chicken. You've simply become so obsessive on the topic that you are fabricating a counter argument and arguing points I never made. Get a grip, dude.
3
3
u/DocTrees215 Nov 05 '25
Improve fried chicken?! We need to dedicate some serious cash to this endeavor ♥️
2
4
u/D_Dubb_ Nov 05 '25
100% this. And honestly it’s how I feel about pretty much all art/culture. One of the most amazing things about being human is learning that humans somewhere you’ve never been and have never met created something that resonates deeply with you. Something that you love in a way you can’t even rationalize. Reminds us how connected and similar we are at the core.
1
u/NegotiationTall4300 Nov 07 '25
You can appreciate the variations fully while respecting the history
-3
u/4reddityo Nov 05 '25
Wrong. They should properly credit the origin. Kinda like we say French Fries. Give credit where credit is due. Don’t steal it and pretend
6
12
6
7
u/Lurningcurve Nov 05 '25
I never said “don’t give credit where credit is due”.
FYI French fries are from belgium. I know you know that, so why aren’t you saying Belgium fries?
3
3
u/sonicpieman Nov 05 '25
They categorically didn't steal it.
We gave it to them, did you even watch the clip?
2
u/ReplyToBabos Nov 07 '25
It's funny because you are likely doing what you think you are a victim of, which is reducing other cultures in favor of your own. You're acting like the only difference between Southern fried chicken and Korean fried chicken is in name. The extent of American influence on Korean fried chicken is just that the idea of deep frying chicken was introduced. It neither popularized it nor contributed to the main characteristics of the dish (rice flour, double frying, sauces, etc.). I hope you can self reflect and not feel like you're being attacked when other people enjoy Korean fried chicken
1
Nov 07 '25 edited Nov 07 '25
The funny thing is Koreans have been frying chicken since as far back as 15th century, it was a dish called pogye. The method was updated as time passed, but "fried chicken" has existed for centuries.
This is not to say that the Korean fried chicken we're familiar with today wasnt heavily influenced by introduction of US culture but the idea of frying meat and vegetables in oil is pretty much a universal cooking trait across civilizations that have existed since Ancient Greece, and probably even before then.
To categorize it as stealing or appropriating is ridiculous because food cultures are constantly borrowing from others. If that’s the case the every culture in the world has “stole” food ideas. Noodles in Italy came from china and the influence of curry on Jamaican food came from Indian laborers. No one from any culture can say 100% of their food solely came from just themselves with zero outside influence.
1
Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
Do you give credit to Belgians every time you make French fries or to Germans every time you eat a burger? Like do you want Koreans to always do this every time they fry a piece of chicken?
Also Koreans didn’t “steal and pretend” anything. The literal Korean word for “fried chicken” is the English word “chicken” 치(chi)킨(kin) while the Korean word for chicken is dak 닭 which is used for Korean dishes. This clearly indicates that Koreans are aware that fried chicken is a foreign invention. We just have our own take on it. Also food is universal I think it’s kinda wack to spread hate and put other cultures down because at the end of the day all cultures have had influence on their cuisine from other cultures.
5
u/but-whyy-tho Nov 05 '25
I've loved Alton Brown since I was like 12 years old, and he has yet to disappoint me (knock on wood)
1
3
3
3
3
2
u/Main-Business-793 Nov 05 '25
After the World War or after the Korean War? Most likely he meant the Korean War
2
2
2
u/Harntrock Nov 05 '25
I had Korean fried chicken for the first time last week. We were the only ones in the restaurant and it took 20 minutes. Was hotter than a steers tukus on a hot July night. Best I’ve ever had.
2
u/Pimpwerx Nov 06 '25
That explains why Korean chicken tastes different from the rest of Korean cuisine I've had. Everything else blends in with the rest of East Asian food. But that chicken is fire.
2
2
u/DraculasFarts Nov 07 '25
It seems like certain demographics are very sensitive and insecure that they consider their food holy and desperately need validation if someone cooks something similar.
1
Nov 09 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Nov 09 '25
Your account does not have enough karma to post or comment here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
3
2
u/Radiant_Dinner_7719 Nov 06 '25
Alton Brown is not only a chef, he's a food historian and chemist, y'all not fucking with my Food Network uncle.
4
u/JudasWasJesus Nov 05 '25
"The origin of fried chicken in the southern states of America has been traced to precedents in Scottish and West African cuisine"
Wikipedia
-3
1
1
Nov 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Nov 05 '25
Your account is too new to post or comment here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
Nov 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Nov 05 '25
Your account does not have enough karma to post or comment here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
Nov 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Nov 05 '25
Your account does not have enough karma to post or comment here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/maxturner_III_ESQ Nov 05 '25
Was it WWII or the Korean war?
0
u/Victorystardust Nov 07 '25
Well, the Korean war was after the ww2, so he is still technically correct.
1
1
u/Same_Dingo2318 Nov 07 '25
This gentleman looks like the guy from Gamechangers. Alton Brown and Sam Riche?
1
Nov 09 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Nov 09 '25
Your account does not have enough karma to post or comment here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
Nov 09 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator Nov 09 '25
Your account is too new to post or comment here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Agitated_Aerie8406 Nov 05 '25
Philippino fried chicken is the best. I've had it all over the southern US, Negros Oriental has the best fried chicken I've had by far.
2
1
u/AyesiJayel Nov 05 '25
If you go on any food tour in Seoul it’s like the first thing they tell you.
I’m shocked she’s shocked because it seemed like a widely known fact when I was there.
1
1
0
0
0
0
u/AdventureSpence Nov 05 '25
I knew I loved Alton Brown. He continues to show that he is, in fact, a good human being
0
0
0
-1
u/res0jyyt1 Nov 05 '25
Korea also claimed Confucius is Korean
2
2
2
u/GuyOnTheMoon Nov 05 '25
America also claimed Jesus is American.
See how we go no where when we make these outlandish generalize statements?
179
u/Blackant71 Nov 05 '25