favorite dishes

Yes, you are correct. There are many people from different countries here in the city. They often go to the restaurants that serve the food of their native countries. That's very understandable, of course. That's what I do too when I travel to countries overseas.

I am a bit confused about what you exactly mean and what you mean by "our mother tongue". If you mean by that we only like or like most what our mother is cooking then I can't agree with you. I have a completely different taste from what my mother or 1 of my granies cooked. I liked the food my other granny cooked (rice etc so not the dutch: boiled potatoes, vegetables and some meat). I always liked the more foreign food, don't like potatoes at all. I see the same with all the people around me. With many their taste and their favourite food is completely different from the kind they grew up with or what their mom cooked (or ate as she was pregnant. They say if you keep eating the same your kid will like the same kind of food/is used to it). BTW fast food, pizza, spaghetti (Italian) etc is surely not the kind of food most people grew up with, unless you are a teenager now and your mom is never cooking at all.

you are right, I like north Indian food and vegetables that are steam cooked or as salads. But that makes me more adjusting because I will be able to eat any kind of food any where without complaining. I think you are also like that so we have same type of attitude.