Cuisine is subjective in general and depends on a variety of factors such as familiarity and childhood upbringing
European and western food is pretty cool. However overrated and overexposed that they utilize the same ingredients in different combination and usual preparation method. Also overly commercialize in that they have been spruced up to suit modern people, and overly flowery with an emphasis on presentation
Asian food on the other hand utilizes a diverse range of ingredients and method, largely unchanged from decades or even centuries ago
European or western food is what you give to toddlers or rigid adults. And Asian food because of its variety caters to toddlers and to discerning adults, the latter of whom is able to appreciate the subtleties and sophistication of complex or unusual types of Asian food. Except that Euros love to dress up their cuisine, especially their more unusual ones, in fancy dress in expensive tableware and glasses. However, Asian food still remain largely in its egalitarian setting. The ingredients and cuisine are the highlight, not the ambience or presentation
Back to that thesis, cuisine is indeed subjective to the extent that it is personal and individualistic.
However when in Africa you have independent Asian shops that have Asian cuisines or beverages, and fine dining establishments that have Asian dishes on their menu, and even the debonair or macdonald in mzansi incorporate Asian ingredients like Sriracha sauce, then it begs the question, is cuisine really totally subjective, especially when you find more Thai Indian Japanese cuisine and elements of them in Italy, and by extension south africa and cape town, than you would find Italian cuisine and its elements permeating Asian countries
And then you have world famous chefs that whipped up a mean burger or plate of pasta like Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain and Jamie Oliver. Many of them incorporate Asian ingredients and are mesmerized by Asian cuisine. Even Michelin Stars, the emmys Oscars for chefs, that are reserved for luxury dining are given to humble street food in Asia. A first and a record
