In Praise of Street Food

Wherever you go in the world, the food of the street represents the identity of the people. Clues to culture, race, and religion can be found in the local cuisine.

That quote kicks off the Penang-focused show of an Al Jazeera series on street food around the world (heads up courtesy of noodlepie). And I couldn't have said it better myself.

Simply put, you haven't experienced Penang, not the real Penang, until you've eaten on its streets. And the same, I would argue, could be said for any other place in the world that street food still exists.

Street food naysayers miss the point. When it comes to eating on the street it's not only about the food. (And it's not about proving your traveling cohones either.) Be open to the whole experience, and a street food meal will give as much insight into a place and a culture as any guidebook intro. Plus, you get to fill your belly at the same time.

Comments

[Gastronomer]

Robyn - I've been back in America for two days and I want nothing more than to walk out my front door and purchase some hawker goodness (sticky rice preferably). Sadly, the suburbs of California are lacking in this department.

[a]

Robyn and Gastronomer:
Agree with everything both of you said.

[warren cohen]

Robyn

Have googled you unsuccessfully for several years, trying to find out what you and David were up to. My had me cleaning out old files in basement and found a letter with Robyn Hagerman--and just tried it. Found this.

How about a report!

r/warren

[Robyn]

Gastronomer, I feel your pain. Asia to the US - talk about food culture shock.

a- you are one of us.

warren - long-winded email coming your way.

[Chris]

Thanks for directing me to the Youtube segment. Now I am more homesick for Penang food than ever! I love it when in KL or S'pore the food signs often advertise "Penang laksa/chicken rice/popiah" etc. I swear the man making the popiah skin was there when I went with my mum some 40 years ago!