I don’t see any problem with that. Chinese takeout isn’t generally modern. That stuff’s been around for at least half a century.
My favorite taco place might be called modern, since it’s all vegan. (Mexicans who cling to tradition insist that real Mexican food is carnist, even if it’s an 80 yr old Mexican abuella making the vegan tacos)
I think it’s more about the phrasing. “A modern take on Mexican food” implies (at least to me) that Mexican cuisine isn’t “modern” and hasn’t changed in a long time, whereas “a modern take on tacos” is much more specific
As a Chinese person, I don’t find the existence of Western style Chinese food problematic. What I hate is people assuming that it’s the definitive Chinese Food. That’s like saying McDonald’s is representative of all American food, or Tim Horton’s is all Canadian food, or fish and chips is all British food, etc etc.
Even if you had 100% authentic Chinese food, China is the third largest country in the world, almost as big as the entirety of Europe, with a continuous, 5000 year old history of meshing and overlapping cultures and traditions. So there’s no way you could say you had “Chinese food” as if you could go anywhere in China and that’s what everyone eats.
Actually, the West has this reductive view of literally all foreign foods.
I don’t see any problem with that. Chinese takeout isn’t generally modern. That stuff’s been around for at least half a century.
My favorite taco place might be called modern, since it’s all vegan. (Mexicans who cling to tradition insist that real Mexican food is carnist, even if it’s an 80 yr old Mexican abuella making the vegan tacos)
Fair enough I see your point.
I think it’s more about the phrasing. “A modern take on Mexican food” implies (at least to me) that Mexican cuisine isn’t “modern” and hasn’t changed in a long time, whereas “a modern take on tacos” is much more specific
Tbf the place also has Chile relleno, nachos con Todo, and other stuff too…
As a Chinese person, I don’t find the existence of Western style Chinese food problematic. What I hate is people assuming that it’s the definitive Chinese Food. That’s like saying McDonald’s is representative of all American food, or Tim Horton’s is all Canadian food, or fish and chips is all British food, etc etc.
Even if you had 100% authentic Chinese food, China is the third largest country in the world, almost as big as the entirety of Europe, with a continuous, 5000 year old history of meshing and overlapping cultures and traditions. So there’s no way you could say you had “Chinese food” as if you could go anywhere in China and that’s what everyone eats.
Actually, the West has this reductive view of literally all foreign foods.