What is the best cuisine in the world? In the United States, the debate between traditional haute cuisine and modern fusion is fierce. Some people claim to be the absolute definition of “haute cuisine”, while others applaud an over-reliance on Americanized versions of it. The issue at hand is a cultural one: are we truly defined by our forefathers, or are we modernizing and ruining their reputations?
Haute cuisine
Historically, the word “haute cuisine” refers to classic cuisine that originates from France. That includes things like bistros, cuisine from a particular region (like Bordeaux), and certain culinary traditions like bistro cooking. A more inclusive definition would be “an American version of classic cuisine developed by American diners during the last century”. This category covers just about anything that’s considered to be “haute cuisine”, but this rather vague description opens up a lot of doors for discussion.
French haute cuisine
One of the biggest arguments against French haute cuisine is its heavy use of butter and heavy cream. The problem with this is that it can lead to cross-contamination between food and potentially harmful fat. On the flip side, these things are actually quite healthy in moderation. Also, this argument about the heavy usage of butter and heavy cream fails to take into account how many times french chefs cook with these items. It is impossible to avoid using them as part of your meal preparation if you’re going to cook at home. However, you can minimize your exposure to them by learning how to properly cook French cuisine.
This brings us to the next topic – the similarities between classic and nouvelle cuisine. Both share some commonalities, like the heavy use of butter and cream, but the real differences lie in the methods of preparation and the techniques used to enhance the flavor. Classic cuisine tends to be more focused on the cooking techniques and less on the ingredients themselves. French cuisine, on the other hand, relies on the interplay between these two ingredients in order to create something that is not only delicious, but also completely unique.
Another question that has been raised as to what is the best cuisine is whether or not it is “real” cuisine. Simply put, haute cuisine and classic cuisine do have a lot in common. Both are hybrid food forms that combine the best of both classical and modern cuisines. As we’ll talk about in a bit, the key to creating classic fusion food is by infusing familiar and classic styles of flavor and presentation into new and different dishes.
Nouveau cuisine
For example, there is a popular notion that what is the opposite of haute cuisine is nouveau cuisine. This concept would actually make french cuisine the opposite of classic cuisine. Basically, nouveau cuisine refers to food created outside of the standards of classic French cooking. Nouveau cuisine is by no means a distinct category on its own, but rather a sub-set of classic French cuisine. The key to creating this sort of food is by infusing European techniques and ingredients into new and unique dishes.
So, what is the opposite of haute cuisine? Simple, classic French cooking! If you’re looking for an exact opposite of classic French cuisine, then you should be looking for French fusion recipes. These are foods that utilize many of the same techniques and ingredients used in classic French cooking, but use them in new and unique ways. In other words, fusion cuisine is a cross-stitching of what’s already out there and what works.
What is the best cuisine? That answer will likely vary from person to person, depending on your own individual preferences. While some people may find that one type of cuisine is their favorite, others may love another type, while others may not care at all about what is the opposite of classic French cuisine. No matter what you choose, though, you’re sure to have a blast if you can take some of these factors into consideration when it comes to choosing the best cuisine.