Jodie Kain wrote:
>
> quoting Arri London:
> Dennis Montey wrote:
> >>Is this also the case in Thai, Mongolian and
> >> other Asian cuisines who are soooo fond of the heat contributed by
> >>peppers?
> >
> >Chiles don't play any role in Mongolian cooking, as far as I can find
> >out.
>
> However, ketchup is quite popular in Mongolia - a squirt on top of a
> meat-filled dumpling (buuz). I don't believe tomatoes are grown there, as
> the ketchup I saw was imported & expensive. I did see some experimental
> farms in the northern Gobi where they grew tomatoes, melons & cucumbers -
> all sliced for eating raw. Good healthy food is hard to come by sometimes
> & new additions are welcome.


The traditional Mongolian diet is perfectly healthy. Otherwise the
population would have died out centuries ago, n'est-ce pas?

My own assumption as to why northern
> Europeans adopted the tomato, bell peppers, etc, was because they were SO
> TIRED of cabbage ;-) Of course I have nothing to support this opinion.

LOL there is nothing to support that of course. Europeans have always
adopted new foods that suited them. That's one of the benefits of trade.
However not all Europeans have always adopted all foods with equal
enthusiasm.

quoting Arri London:
>>Jodie Kain wrote:
>>
>> quoting Arri London:
>> Dennis Montey wrote:
>> >>Is this also the case in Thai, Mongolian and
>> >> other Asian cuisines who are soooo fond of the heat contributed by
>> >>peppers?
>> >
>> >Chiles don't play any role in Mongolian cooking, as far as I can find
>> >out.
>>
>> However, ketchup is quite popular in Mongolia - a squirt on top of a
>> meat-filled dumpling (buuz). I don't believe tomatoes are grown there,
>as
>> the ketchup I saw was imported & expensive. I did see some experimental
>> farms in the northern Gobi where they grew tomatoes, melons & cucumbers
>-
>> all sliced for eating raw. Good healthy food is hard to come by
>sometimes
>> & new additions are welcome.
>
>
>The traditional Mongolian diet is perfectly healthy. Otherwise the
>population would have died out centuries ago, n'est-ce pas?

A bit of a simplification.
Perfectly healthy when the lifespan isn't that long. However, modern
Mongols are living almost as long as Western Europeans & are experiencing
diseases new to their culture, directly related to their diet. Like heart
disease, colo-rectal cancers due to constipation, kidney disease due
to meat protein,etc. So there's a new awareness of diet as it relates to
longevity. Everywhere we travelled people expressed their pride in their
mutton-based diet, however almost everyone also proudly demonstrated their
newfound interest in adding fruits & vegetables to every meal. This seemed
to be the same reason for the increased consumption of airag (fermented
mare's milk - very low alcohol but can make you very drunk) vs. vodka
which is seen (rightly) as bad for you & bad for society (although still
the most popular alcoholic beverage). ie, "I don't want to give up my
party lifestyle but I do want to live longer to continue partying" The
intellectual approach is quaint. And yes, the above is also a
simplification as my "proof" is anecdotal.
cheers,
Jodie

On Wed, 12 May 2004 16:01:33 +0000 (UTC), (Jodie
Kain) wrote:

> This seemed
>to be the same reason for the increased consumption of airag (fermented
>mare's milk - very low alcohol but can make you very drunk)

That must mean you are likely to drink vast quantities of it??

vs. vodka
>which is seen (rightly) as bad for you & bad for society (although still
>the most popular alcoholic beverage). ie, "I don't want to give up my

Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a


Ask not with whom the buck stops . . .