Katgoesonholiday Posted May 6, 2014 #1 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Forget not crispy...It was completely RAW I keep seeing this comment throughout the forums - mainly from American posters - and I just want to clarify what qualifies as raw vs cooked. This is my perspective: RAW Note how it is nearly translucent. COOKED BY NZ STANDARDS Its a similar colour but not translucent. The meat is cooked and safe to eat. WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE AMERICAN CONCEPT OF COOKED This stuff is stiff and really browned. Its rare to encounter bacon like this in NZ. Its mostly confined to American burger chains such as Wendys. Do you think this cultural difference in cooking bacon is the source of all the appalled comments about how MSC serves raw bacon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 6, 2014 #2 Share Posted May 6, 2014 You had me at bacon! :D Yes, Americans prefer thinner bacon which means it will get crisper and browner than thicker bacon. But as long as it's bacon, I don't care and will consume whatever is within arms reach! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 6, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted May 6, 2014 After posting this thread I am really regretting that I don't have any bacon in the house! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papcx Posted May 6, 2014 #4 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Kat. I'm with you. The NZ cooked bacon is perfect in my opinion. Never understood why anyone would want to "burn" it to a crisp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legion3 Posted May 6, 2014 #5 Share Posted May 6, 2014 You know this raw to undercooked bacon might be fine for the salons of Europe and the boohai of New Zealand but it isn't how we do things here in America. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidari Posted May 6, 2014 #6 Share Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) Never understood why anyone would want to "burn" it to a crisp? papcx ... That is the stuff you usually buy in a sealed bag at the local shop or supermarket or even the pub! kate ... As discussed before real Bacon is what we have in the UK similar to the second photo you posted and cooked in the correct way. Edited May 6, 2014 by sidari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 6, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) You know this raw to undercooked bacon might be fine for the salons of Europe and the boohai of New Zealand but it isn't how we do things here in America. :p Because there are two ways of doing things - the wrong way and the American way! Right? :p Coincidentally, I have just been reading a stack of research on 'sociological imagination' which is basically being able to step outside ones own experience, values and cultural norms in order to consider another perspective. I suspect it should be required reading for all Americans travelling on MSC ships! *ducks to avoid a barrage of abuse and rotten tomatoes* PS I know may very well travelled and flexible Americans who have no problem accepting different cultures. Its not universal though - as the reviews clearly demonstrate! Edited May 6, 2014 by Katgoesonholiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbisailsolo Posted May 6, 2014 #8 Share Posted May 6, 2014 I'm american...most of us don't like it burnt. Sometimes the bacon here is very fatty. So it has to be cooked slowly so that the fat dries out but the lean meat doesn't burn and remains chewy. Undercooked or raw bacon in the states means the fat is still rubbery, for lack of a better word. Bacon cooked to fast and burnt can cause cancer..or so we are told. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 6, 2014 Author #9 Share Posted May 6, 2014 kat ... As discussed before real Bacon is what we have in the UK similar to the second photo you posted and cooked in the correct way. Well we are a colonial outpost of good old Mother England! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniegb Posted May 6, 2014 #10 Share Posted May 6, 2014 I love the smell of bacon but don't eat it. Photo No 2 or a la NZ is the way to grill bacon. IMHO bacon should NEVER be fried. Annie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 6, 2014 Author #11 Share Posted May 6, 2014 We not only cheerfully fry it, but we also leave the fat 'undercooked' so it is still 'rubbery'. I peel that bit off and feed it to the dog anyway. Why would you want to eat pure fat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flahagan Posted May 6, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Because there are two ways of doing things - the wrong way and the American way! Right? :p Coincidentally, I have just been reading a stack of research on 'sociological imagination' which is basically being able to step outside ones own experience, values and cultural norms in order to consider another perspective. I suspect it should be required reading for all Americans travelling on MSC ships! *ducks to avoid a barrage of abuse and rotten tomatoes* PS I know may very well travelled and flexible Americans who have no problem accepting different cultures. Its not universal though - as the reviews clearly demonstrate! Oh how I agree with you! That is why we have embarked on a mission to take each of our grandchildren on a trip outside the US, to give them a different viewpoint and to appreciate and value other cultures. We're 4 down, 4 to go. Sure hope we live long enough and our wallet doesn't empty out too early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flahagan Posted May 6, 2014 #13 Share Posted May 6, 2014 By the way, we were on the March 22nd sailing of the Divina and we thought the bacon was excellent - much tastier than what we got on Carnival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 6, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Oh how I agree with you! That is why we have embarked on a mission to take each of our grandchildren on a trip outside the US, to give them a different viewpoint and to appreciate and value other cultures. We're 4 down, 4 to go. Sure hope we live long enough and our wallet doesn't empty out too early. Its a great policy! We are looking forward to taking our three boys to Asia and Europe - they have already been to Australia and America. The problem is that NZ is so darn far away from everything that it really costs to be able to travel!!! We also host international students at the local secondary school (years 6-13, ages 11-18). So far we have had a Khazastani, two Chinese and a Thai living with us for a year or more. Its been such a valuable experience for my boys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 7, 2014 #15 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Kat. I'm with you. The NZ cooked bacon is perfect in my opinion. Never understood why anyone would want to "burn" it to a crisp? Some people like it crispy. It's personal preference. I wonder the same about how Aussies love Vegamite! Ughhhh!!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 7, 2014 #16 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Because there are two ways of doing things - the wrong way and the American way! Right? :p Coincidentally, I have just been reading a stack of research on 'sociological imagination' which is basically being able to step outside ones own experience, values and cultural norms in order to consider another perspective. I suspect it should be required reading for all Americans travelling on MSC ships! *ducks to avoid a barrage of abuse and rotten tomatoes* PS I know may very well travelled and flexible Americans who have no problem accepting different cultures. Its not universal though - as the reviews clearly demonstrate! You do know it's not just Americans who have difficulty adjusting to other cultures behaviors, right? How many Brits have you read about who don't believe in tipping, even when in the US, because it is not part of their culture. I, as an American, lived outside of the US for over 13 years (with the US Air Force) and for one, I LOVE learning how other people do things. I enjoy driving on the left hand side of the road, chugging a stein of beer, and checking out naked women behind glass windows in Amsterdam! Other places do some things better than in the US and the US does some things better than in other places. The trick is having an open mind to find out all of the best things in the best places! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 7, 2014 #17 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Well we are a colonial outpost of good old Mother England! :P So were we! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out to sea! Posted May 7, 2014 #18 Share Posted May 7, 2014 We not only cheerfully fry it, but we also leave the fat 'undercooked' so it is still 'rubbery'. I peel that bit off and feed it to the dog anyway. Why would you want to eat pure fat? I guess you've never been to the true South in the US. Gotta try "Cracklin" sometime (fried fatback). Pure fat and there ain't nothing like it! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 7, 2014 Author #19 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I'll keep an open mind and give almost anything a go once. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserfromalabama Posted May 7, 2014 #20 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Being from the south-I do love bacon! I like it crispy and brown with my eggs and grits. After many trips in Europe-I have found that I like it also like the poster from New Zealand does. I always like to try everything and have not found anything I actually hate in different countries. I even loved Haggis! I don't eat oatmeal at home, but absolutely love the steel cut oats in Ireland. I believe in trying to eat like the locals when you visit their country. All Americans came from Europe-so I would never poke fun or say our way to eat is right or wrong. We, in the south, do eat some strange things ourselves and talk funny too! LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neptuno Posted May 7, 2014 #21 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Well we are a colonial outpost of good old Mother England! :P Any reference to 'Canadian Bacon'? Speaking Colonial(y) ...That was the good stuff when I was a kid, center cut, no fat, like a steak. Last trip to Christchurch, we were served Colonial Goose. Great surprise. But fish n chips was our mainstay, and enjoyed the Victorian stained glass and Fiordlands. However, the bacon was a bit undercooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex71 Posted May 7, 2014 #22 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I found this video on the American way of cooking bacon: . A bacon station like that along with an omlette station would bring MSC all the raving reviews in the world. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bltrn Posted May 7, 2014 #23 Share Posted May 7, 2014 MMMMMMMMMMM............I'm hungry!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tosara21 Posted May 7, 2014 #24 Share Posted May 7, 2014 MMMMMMMMMMM............I'm hungry!!! Just finished eating my breakfast, 2 rashers of bacon and a fried egg MMMMM ...... lovely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katgoesonholiday Posted May 7, 2014 Author #25 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Just finished eating my breakfast, 2 rashers of bacon and a fried egg MMMMM ...... lovely Enquiring minds need to know whether it was raw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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