I’ve noticed a trend where people (especially online) love to shame certain cuisines for being “bland”, usually meaning less spicy or less seasoned compared to their own cultural preferences. But here’s the thing: just because your culture enjoys bold spices and tons of seasoning doesn’t make it the superior way to cook.
Some food traditions value the natural flavor of ingredients. For example, think of a high-quality steak. Many chefs say you don’t need to drown it in seasoning, just salt, pepper, and proper cooking. Same with good vegetables or seafood: when it’s fresh and cooked right, you’re supposed to taste the ingredient, not a ton of spices. That’s a deliberate choice, not a cooking failure.
Now, I’m not saying bland food doesn’t exist. Some people just don’t know how to cook or use low-quality ingredients and then add nothing to help it. But there’s a big difference between poorly prepared food and a cultural preference for subtler flavors.
Judging food based on “it doesn’t taste like what I’m used to,” especially when it comes to spice level or seasoning, can come off as narrow-minded, even a little prejudiced.