Two points-  the "long grain" rice that he probably bought is usually prewashed in processing and "enriched" with a few vitamins.  When you wash it, you wash them off, making an "empty carb" dish even more so..  The "asian" rice that you are used to (probably from Thailand or Vietnam) isn't so treated and "God knows" what that white powder all over it is (probably just plain rice starch, but maybe not. . .)  So keep on washing it. . .

First, you should have specified what rice you wanted him to buy. There are so many different types that it's kind of natural that he'd go for the generic, flavorless stuff.

Second, your boyfriend does seem somewhat narrow-minded and culturally ignorant. Or maybe he just has strong cooking preferences.

Your boyfriend clearly has no sense of taste, I'm sorry. The differences are generally pretty subtle but anyone with a functioning nose and tongue should be able to spot the difference.

As to the rinsing, it's generally a holdover from growing up someplace where rice is often coated in talc to make it seem whiter. Talc isn't safe to eat so people who live or used to live in those areas got in the habit of washing the rice. In the US (I'm not sure about Canada, but I expect this applies there too), it's illegal to use talc on rice, so there's generally no need to wash it (Although some rices are coated in starch for the same reason that can make them stickier than one might like. I find this is especially the case with short-grain Japonica rice.

Wow thats exactly how I felt. I dont belong anywhere, Im an inbetween person. I do feel your pain though. In my case even though Im 22 yrs old and capable of taking care of myself I still asked my parents for permission to be out and I still have a curfew. My bf who was raised here doesnt really understand why. He asks me so when you have a job and still staying with ur parents for a year just to save up will they still be controlling you? Will you still have to babysit your sisters and act like a second mom when your mom is working? He says he dont see the difference. Evrytime we have talks about our differences it makes me kinda sad.

P.s: My bf actually points out some of the most ridiculous things asian parents do...and he has a point

This story reminds me of the movie, The Joy Luck Club.

In one scene wherein a Chinese girl is dating a white guy and the white guy is invited to dinner with the Chinese girl's family.  When the food is passed around the white guy takes a big helping while everyone else took a small helping -- which inadvertently was taken to be rude to everyone.

Anyways, I'm the same as you.  I use to think I was very American and not very Chinese but that proved to be false when I couldn't adjust to certain friends that were Black ("Yo yo yo what up dog?"..........."Why did you call me a 'dog'?").

@untainted_love_for_her@xanga - I rinse rice too since I hate stickiness (unless I am making sushi).  One misconception about rinsing rice from Asia like Jasmine rice - is that they say nutrients are entirely lost.  This is *completely false* as the nutrients lost are negligible.

However, "American rice" are often enriched (like brown rice).  You *don't* want to rinse that kind of rice because those nutrients are added in intentionally.

I think it's stupid that he called you out on the rice flavor. Most people would have realized that perhaps their taste buds aren't as discriminatory.

The reason we rinse the rice is because rice transported from the farm to the factory and to us, there are dusts, dirt and lots of chemicals stick on it so when you rinse them, the top layer of the rice which is full of dirt would be rinsed away.

Unfortunity, some people are just closed minded and doesn't want to learn the differences in other's culture. I'm from HK too, and I dated a few of them are that way, its not a good idea in a long run. They changed me as a person and I wasn't happy during that time, I gave up eating at the restarurants I love.... But my husband now (white), he is very respectful to every culture and willing to try eveything. I'm a much happier person now, at least we don't have those useless argements anymore.

I think its very important to be with someone that are open mind when we come from different culture. If not, you life will be boring and unhappy.

Consider wild or brown rice, it was a more starchy flavour.

i think this is the reason why i prefer to date someone w/ a similar cultural background as me. i think i'd get so fed up with trying to explain myself all the time. lol.. 

lol its healthier if you keep the rice unwashed. You're washing away the nutrients! My parents do it too, because back in Vietnam, the rice is well... dirty since it came straight from the rice field

Ohh, Caucasian guys are beautiful. I'm visiting Vancouver on Saturday, from portland. (: It does rain a lot up there.

my BF and i have cultural differences...and we're both white. LOL! i dislike it when someone thinks their way is the only way a white person is supposed to be...you know, there's church folk, southern, eastern, etc, etc ....

anyway.

whatever.

i like rice.

@Julianna - Szia! :D

you no longer need to wash rice as it is pre washed.