I think it varies, region to region. I once tried and failed to persuade a roomful of Midwesterners to go to a Russian restaurant. Southerners (at least in Tenn

I think it varies, region to region. I once tried and failed to persuade a roomful of Midwesterners to go to a Russian restaurant. Southerners (at least in Tennessee and Kentucky, probably in Appalachia in general; I can't comment on the Deep South) are pretty willing to explore new foods, in my experience; and in the Northeast and on the West Coast, curiosity about food is ubiquitous and routine.