Korea.. The food of the future ("Ice Cream of the Future" still sucks)

So Michael Bauer, fresh from attempting to poison his innnocent pooch, notes that:

A couple of months ago, I attended the first-ever flavor conference held at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, where for three days a group of scientists, chefs and journalists convened to talk about what's happening in the world of cooking.

Greg Drescher, the organizer of the event, kicked off the program with a very provocative idea:

"Anglo-Germanic palate is in slow decline, and Latin and Asian flavors will change the landscape."

And this, predictably, makes me think of another reason that Korea will shortly rise in the estimation of the US. It has a cuisine that suits us.

As always (and Koreans would hate this) I think of Japan. When we think of Japanese food, what would most US citizens come up with?

If you said "sushi," you, like me, are part of "most" US citizens. Sushi is the most Japanese of exports, although cartoon chicks covered with the semen of multiple masturbators (and possibly tentacles) are rising on the charts. But what percentage of US citizens actually "like" sushi? The farther you press into the flyover states, the lower the percentage drops.

But what percentage of US citizens love them some the Barbeque (BB-Q in the vernacular)? I'm up at 90% or so on this one. And the Koreans make themselves some kicking BBQ. With the bonus that a good Korean BBQ joint lets you cook it at your own table if you want.

What's that you say?

"Not very exotic?"

Right you are. It's only BBQ. And sushi, right up to the poisonous varieties and the ones covered with the eggs of gutted fish at the top of the endangered species list? It's as exotic as cysticercosis with a bit more fun involved. But Korean food will bring you the exotic food, it will just be in a million small dishes surrounding the main one. That means you can look like you are eating exotic food while you are really eating cooked beef or pig.

It's a dream for the US.

So this, out of order from the arguments I was going to make -- full of intent, logic, and meaning, is one small reason I think that Korea may be the next Asian "flavor of the month."
And since the last one, Japan, has enjoyed a 'month' that has lasted almost 40 years?

I want to see what happens....

Oh, yeah.. that "ice cream of the future?" It's something called Dippin' Dots and it has been the "ice cream of the future" since I was a youngster, which was long into the previous millenium. I first saw it at the Santa Cruz boardwalk, where conventional ice-cream and cotton candy had much more appeal for me. If you want to invest in the future of the past (Did I just quote the Moody Blues?) you can check them out here.