Cultural Connections in Cuisine

Culture and Food Connections

• Culture is the lens through which we view the world, formulating our reality.
• Culture is learned, not biologically inherited.
• Enculturation is the transmission of culture from one generation to the next.
• Culture is shared through a society, an organized group or groups of interdependent people who share common territory, language, and culture.

Society and Subcultures

• Subcultures are variations between subgroups in societies that share an overarching culture.
• Ethnic groups are a type of subculture, based on shared ancestry and common origin, language, customs, and traditional beliefs.

Food and Culture

• Food is a window into a culture, reflecting memories and feelings around food and family, which become traditions.
• Traditional cuisine is passed down from one generation to the next, embracing heritage through cultural food.
• Immigrants bring the food of their countries with them, preserving their culture when they move to new places.
• Food can help others identify a culture's approach to life.
• Food is associated with hospitality and expression of friendship.

Food: Identity of Culture and Religion

• Food plays a role in religious culture, enforcing the cuisines of a culture.
• Dietary laws vary across religions, such as Muslims fasting during Ramandan, Orthodox Jews following Kosher, and Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism being vegetarians.

Influence from Neighboring Countries

• The Silk Road was a network of Eurasian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century.
• European exploration and settlement in the Americas introduced European ingredients and cooking styles to the US.
• 20th-century immigration from many foreign nations developed a rich diversity in food preparation throughout the country.

How Culture Affects Cuisine

• Food production is driven by different values in every country.
• Values are a part of the makeup of a culture, affecting cuisine.
• Comparing USA to European cultures, Europeans often value quality over quantity, sacrificing short-term gain for a long-term result.

Comparing USA to European Cultures

• USA:
  • Does not shop/cook seasonally
  • Expects all types of food and produce to be available year-round
  • Will sacrifice flavor for quantity and affordability
  • Large portion sizes in restaurants
  • Food is shipped across the country, shopping for a one or two-week supply
• European cultures:
  • Value quality over quantity
  • Shop locally, from regional producers
  • Shop more frequently, going to the local market daily
  • Food traditions have remained intact in fairly small areas

Explore, Embrace, and Appreciate

• Become more informed about other cultures by trying their foods.
• Remember that each dish has a special place in the culture to which it belongs and is special to those who prepare it.
• Traditional dishes should be served in restaurants, reflecting the unique history, lifestyle, values, and beliefs of each country or community.