Me and my Chinese girlfriend we are having a real debate on what to cook in kitchen?

Question

I am Indian and she can't stand anything except tandoori chicken, nan and biryani/rice dishes (we don't eat that on a DAILY basis plus most of my family is vegetarians). That means none of the regular vegetables and side dishes. And I don't like PORK without which a Chinese would almost die but I might compromise on that dish.

She also tries to deliberately poke fun at me by saying she'll make me eat frogs and reptiles.



We both are right now studying in Australia and thinking of sharing an apartment - need tips.

It's a serious argument and I'm really worried that such massive differences may actually affect the relationship

I have known her since 21 days only and don't want to lose here on these trifles.

though it's 21 days only, we're quite serious already!

Answer 1

As long as you are not a vegetarian and you do not have an intention to make her to be one. I do not see there is any big problem at this moment.

Try to have some western food when you two are arguing what to eat for dinner or lunch, like salad - apple + roasted walnut + prawns (if you have the budget) on lettuce leaves. With pasta as main dish, it can be anything as topping with tomato sauce, you can just have cheese or vegetables while she can have her pork or deep fried frog legs.

I'm a Chinese, I understand how your gf feel about Indian food, the culture and climate differences make our bodies can't stand the spices. Luckily both Chinese and Indian like steamed rice! (Well, Southern Chinese eat rice, Northern Chinese like noodles! If your gf is from the North, Naan solves the problem, otherwise, just eat bread with butter & jam!)

I personally like curry a lot, but I also can't have it daily, it ruins my digestive system.

By the way, frog taste like chicken and it is good, believe me, both of you have to face to a lot more of the differences in the future, cool down your mind, food isn't a big problem at all. It is Australia, you can have sandwiches / salads / Thai green chicken curry / seafood ... and there are a lot of lambs too! Solutions are everywhere, just you have to talk together and find them out.

Cheers!

P.S. I once tried to convince a Japanese friend to drink Chinese herbs tea (good for health but very bitter in taste), she was so scared! But when I told her that it would help make her skin be soft like a peeled boiled egg, she drank it right away!

Answer 2

Learn to compromise. Find something that you both can agree on whether it be ethnic food choices or not. Then maybe you could pick a night of the week and take turns cooking for each other. Don't try to jump in with both feet. Just start out small and try something new every week. You're bound to find something that you like from the Asian cuisine and she's bound to like more than tandoori chicken. Compromising is key though. Chances are she's not going to want to take pork out of her diet so don't ask her to, just like you probably won't care to eat meat every night. Start small and with an open mind.

Answer 3

IF she's truely CHinese she is use to eating alot of vegetables. I hope you can Eat Garlic and Onions.
Mushrooms are great. Taro and potatoes are wonderful. Chinese love Chicken. SHe might not be use to your rice dishes, but it takes time to adjust. The problem with helping you is that there are many different types of Indians with different food restriction and there are several types of Chinese. PArticularly the norther and SOuthern, with different eating habits. Besides, if you are both planning to stay in Australia, both of you start being accustom to australian cuisine.


21 days is not a long time

Answer 4

Instead of focusing on your culinary challenges, you might want to be focusing on why you're so intensely involved with someone from a different background in only 21 days...especially since its a "serious argument" and might affect your relationship. Differences between people can actually enhance their relationships and make them richer, but only if there is mutual respect and compromise. I'd say, hold off on moving in together and get to know whether or not you have enough in common (other than between the sheets!) to move into a deeper commitment.

Answer 5

If you really want to be together food is not going to be what splits you up, surely! I'm a really picky eater I rarely eat what anyone else wants so I just eat something different. There's no reason why you both should you eat the same just accept your differences, respect each other's taste and culture. At the end of the day if you can't accept the other person's way of life you have no future.

Answer 6

Hey, I am from Taiwan and my husband is from India. We have been together for 8 beautiful years. One of the factors is that we love each others' food. I learn to love all the rich northern Indian dishes as far as they are done well and absolutely can not live without Southern dishes Dosa, Idly, Uttapam, with Sambar etc. And my husband love my PORK dumplings, can't go on too long without a Sunday DimSum brunch and he loves seafood tremendously. We go out for Northern style Chinese food, Cantonese food and Southeast Asian food. On top of that, we both love Italian, French, Japanese, Thai... dishes.
Food is such a blessing of live, learn to enjoy rather than tolerant each others' cuisine. There are so much for each of you to offer to the other. Because of the cultural difference, you can enrich each other with a lot more.
Open your mind and your taste range will expand!
Good luck and Enjoy!

Answer 7

How can your relationship ever last when you are having problems with food. As the days pass, there will be more and more molehills that turn into mountains that will mess up your relationship. If you both decide to just eat whatever the other one cooks, there is a better chance of success! Trying to change the other wont' work.

Answer 8

Try a vegetarian stir fry...Let her make the sauce, you choose the vegetables. That way you both get a say in the food, and neither should object to the other's choice too much.

Answer 9

Compromise. Don't eat anything Indian or Chinese.

Answer 10

You shouldn't move in together until you get married. Until then, take turns trying to impress eachother with your respective cooking on your nights together.
Maybe you'll fall more and more in love with eachother, each seeing how the other cares for his/her wants and needs. Or, maybe you'll just be glad you didn't move in together.