What Tofu Is Fo'

With its thrust into North American popularity some years ago, tofu has found itself with a bad reputation amongst westerners, because it's bland or they don't like the taste or whatever. Why, though? And why was it that Asians have been cooking and eating the various forms of soybean products for thousands of years, then?

Deep fried tofu snack. Mapo tofu over rice. Soy milk (hot or cold, sweetened or non). Soy biscuits. Tofu stirfried with just about anything Asian. Tofu puddings and desserts.

That's what I associate with tofu and cooking. I was enjoying a mug of fresh, hot soy milk with a friend this past weekend when I realized why it was: they try to make it what it's not. I see these tofu companies trying to push it for western acceptance with some very strange food impostors.

Tofu burritos. Soy milk as a lactose-free alternative in your coffee. Soy cornbread and scones. Tofu veggie burgers. Pizza with tofu on it. Tofu pasta salads. Tofurkey, for crying out loud!

With these recipes, it's no wonder they don't like tofu. It's no wonder they think it's weird and possibly gross -- they're not using it right. Please, people, just enjoy it for what it is. It's just tofu.