I am not asking what the literal equivalent is, I am asking what dish holds the same level of importance as biryani in American gora culture. In Pakistani culture, Biryani is usually the main dish at a wedding, or party. Even when people go out to eat, Biryani is probably on the top of their list. A lot of people can make Biryani, but very few can make it just right. It’s pretty much the food that brings the whole menu together at a wedding.
I am not asking what the literal equivalent is, I am asking what dish holds the same level of importance as biryani in American gora culture. In Pakistani culture, Biryani is usually the main dish at a wedding, or party. Even when people go out to eat, Biryani is probably on the top of their list. A lot of people can make Biryani, but very few can make it just right. It's pretty much the food that brings the whole menu together at a wedding.
Oh, I'm so excited - I get to be the expert in a food thread here for once!
There is no equivalent to biryani because Americans are so ethnically diverse, food is very regional and favorite dishes are quite seasonal. In the summer, at everyone gets excited about the steak or hamburgers at a bbq, at Thanksgiving, its all about the turkey. Some families have ethnic culinary traditions - Italian-Americans and the 12 course Christmas eve dinner, or Polish-Americans and pierogies, for example.
Meatloaf is a home food, not usually served to guests, and lasagne is a lazy extra or a potluck/buffet favorite - nothing to get excited about.
A lot of brits opt for hog roasts (judging on a conversation I had with a friend the logic is it's cheaper as you give a lighter starter and just serve it with salads, breads etc rather than splashing out on a lavish four course meal)...so for them that would be their centrepiece/main dish like biryanis.
At our wedding we have pilau as the main dish for the baraat day and on the walima it was a biryani-this was done to the regions in which the events were held.
On another note...fish is another popular one at british weddings. I've been served salmon goujons with garlic mayo-loveeellllly jubbly.
As for comments about Mo, she's in a league of her own :) bless her.
I quite like smoked salmon myself....
One of my bestfriends is off to a wedding in the states...if I remember I'll ask her to note down her meal from the wedding.
In weddings there are usually two or three choices for main course including chicken, fish or steak with sides. Normally you pick one when you RSVP for the event.