Is food culture? Is culture food? What is the relationship between people and what people eat?
Think broadly...think globally. Think with your stomach.
(okay, I know this question may, at first glance, seem odd. So remember this: these blog entries are intended to get you to write. If you think the height of U.S. culture can be found at Chuck E. Cheese, then write about that. What you write here is not intended to produce the correct answer but a certain volume of interesting writing. Through this writing, I promise you will become more fluent with the pen...well, keyboard. Happy writing this week!)
James Beard once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” I think his simple thought on our relationship with food as a people capture the essence of what food is to us. It is more than mere nourishment, but a bridge that can cross boundaries, make foe into friend, and hurdle any cultural obstacles that might stand between two seemingly different worlds. We are so immersed in the act of eating, that we rarely take a moment to stop, push the plate away, and really think about what the food we eat (or do not eat) says about ourselves, the culture we identify with, and the way in which the smells wafting from our kitchens on a lazy Sunday afternoon say so much about who we are.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that food is culture, and that culture is food. The two are intertwined like a freshly baked loaf challah. Each part inseparable and undistinguishable from the next. In some cultures, food is a very integral part of not only survival and nourishment, but a keystone of religion and tradition. Some foods are forbidden, others obligatory at certain ceremonies, rights of passage, and celebrations. In other cultures, such as my own, certain foods denote certain occasions, and are powerful enough to set the tone for a gathering. Chicken soup on a cold winter day; homemade chocolate cake for every birthday celebration; potato pancakes on Christmas morning. Each dish almost sacred, belonging only to a particular celebration. You could never have potato pancakes on Halloween, or chocolate cake “just because;” doing so would somehow degrade the dish, chip away at the importance of its ties to a particular time in our lives.
No matter where you’re from, our to what culture you identify with, food is the great equalizer that binds us all together as a people.
I like the way you made food sound. You also helped me remember that there is more to food than we think.
DeleteI love your sentence "the way in which the smells wafting from our kitchens on a lazy Sunday afternoon say so much about who we are". It was beautiful. I agree with everything you said and love the way you said it. You make me want cake!
DeleteGreat response Jentri. I loved how you gave examples of "certain foods that denote certain occasions." Everything you said is on point and makes me think about the dishes my culture has for particular celebrations. For instance, on Christmas we have pozole and on birthdays we have tres leches cake.
DeleteI love your insight. It is so true that food is almost a way of bonding. It's crazy to think that things like food are great ways to show affection. My mom told me once that, she and her family used to give tamales to other families during the holidays as a reminder that they care about them.
DeleteIs food culture? I do believe food is part of a culture, but not itself the meaning of culture. Food has its part in the play as well as dress attire, activities, and the use of talent.Food is part of our social identity. Food in the culture of America is more like a symbol of fat, caleries, or some form that can change the look of a body.then there is the tradition that brakes that allows everyone to use that cycle and not feel bad. For other cultures food is holly and for others rich. Unlike America now, those who had fat on their bodies were known as wealthy, the bigger they were the richer they we seen as. Therefore, food is not the culture, but is determined by the rest of the category that defines culture.
ReplyDeleteso agree with that! i think that now the only thing that it's fast it's cheap and has a bad impact in society with bigger waists. It is not necessarily meaning that they are wealthy its more like they are unhealthy.
DeleteThe relationships between people and people what type of food they eat are many. One can be the physical body. What the person puts into the system determines what shows in the outside. For example, eating grease can cause acne. Another relationship is the identity of the person in society. A person that eating beans and tortillas, like me, can be identified as a person with a Mexican culture. Like many have heard "we are what we eat."
ReplyDeleteThats very true. I learned that the hard way! chocolate=bad!
DeleteWhen I read the first part of the blog "is food culture?" I was confused. But as I thought about it I began to realize that, that is in fact true; food has become part of our culture. When you take the time to look at the different cultures all over the world, we, at least I, tend associate each culture with how they dress, their different language, and a big emphasis on their type of food; this is because each one is very different and unique in its own way. Food is the bridge that connects us to each other; food is what makes us aware of other cultures. For example, when I first went to an Ethiopian restaurant I realized that they use their hands to eat and they fed each other when dining. That's exactly what I did. I forgot all about utensils, as a matter of fact I think I even forgot how to use it for the couple of hours I was there. The quote "I love you like a fat kid loves cake!" by Scott Adams says it all. It shows how food is intertwined in our daily living, food is can be a symbol of love towards the people close to us. But food also determines who we are, physically and emotionally. If an individual eats a lot fast food and junk they will become fat and/or obese and a person who eats more greens and vegetables will tend to be more lean and healthier. But all in all, food is who we are and food is what brings each one of us together.
ReplyDeleteHi Sophia, I agree a hundred percent with you. I agree that food is the bridge that connects us to each other and that it makes us aware of other cultures. If I see someone eating a certain type of food, it can definitely give me a clue to maybe what culture they identify with. I know it has in the past. Everybody has to eat and even though there are so many different foods out there a certain type can bring people together in that they share that one common interest in that particular food.
DeleteI agree with what you wrote, i personally don't know much about other cultures. I only know what i have experience. And i have heard about certain cultures that they dress for occasions to make the events or celebrations feel special.
DeleteI have always wanted to go to an Ethiopian restaurant! Do you know if there's one in Bakersfield? I love your last sentence. I think it sums up my feelings that food unites us.
DeleteStephanie, I'm not sure if there is one in Bakersfield. I haven't heard of one here. All I know is the one in La and let me tell you, it is good!!!
DeleteI forgot all about the emotional part and yeaup you are right !:)
ReplyDeleteIs food culture? It is clear that writing about food is writing about culture. Your responses have been great so far!
ReplyDeleteSophia---
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I really liked your closing sentence. It summed up the gist of what I feel the connection between culture and food is quite well. Food does bring us together as a people, and has done so since the beginning of civilization!
First, I must begin by saying that I love food. Food is delicious. If I could eat food without gaining weight, then I would always carry food with me. In regards to the question, I feel that at in point culture and food existed on two different fields. Culture was culture, and food was food. As time went on, as culture began to grow an expand, so too did food and the way we viewed it. Now, there isn't a time when we don't think of a country and not dream about the wondrous delicacies that are created there, and we think of how each dish is just one more representation of that country. The different ingredients that go into a dish represent the differences that exist amongst the cultures scattered across the world and it is those small ingredients, the herbs and spices that can be found everywhere, that serve to unite all those differences and remind us that we are not so different from each other in the end. I believe the two have become entwined in a way. I cannot think about food without thinking about the country it originated from and its culture, and I cannot think about a country's culture without thinking about the food that is prepared there. Food and culture have just become different sides of the same coin. I shall end by once more repeating how much I love food. Give me food and I am a happy woman.
ReplyDeleteEmpty,
DeleteI do have to admit that I love the way you explain how we associate different dishes of food with its country. Believe it or not we do this everyday. When going out to eat we associate Italian food with its country Italy, Mexican food with Mexico, and Indian food with India. Lets not get it confused with stereotyping people in a negative manner because no harm is intended. This is just a natural instinct that we all tend to do subconsciously!
I love the line that says "there isn't a time when we don't think of a country and not dream about the wondrous delicacies that are created there, and we think of how each dish is just one more representation of that country."
DeleteI also agree with Stephanie about the line. Usually, if you do not know much about a certain culture but you have had the food, then you already have a certain impression about what their culture may be like. (Even if the impression is wrong)
DeleteI agree with everyone. I personally have always associate culture with food and vise versa. When you really get to know a culture you start to understand why it is they eat the way they do and so on.
DeleteIT needs to be understood that food is cultural in two very distinct ways: food is part of an ethnic culture, and it is part of a personal culture.
ReplyDeleteThe ethnic culture is the traditional associate of a specific style of cooking with a specific ethnic group. For example, Hun'an food uses a very unique blend of spices, and is associated with people who live in a specific region of China. It is prepared in a particular way, and the people who are a part of that culture strongly associate with that kind of food. People outside of that culture value the Hun'an food as a cultural experience, or simply because they enjoy the taste.
Personal food culture is often familial in nature, but it is always individually determined. I always use butter to cook things that other people would use lard or olive oil for. I love Greek food and spices, but I avoid whole olives and tomatoes, a key part of Greek food. This is where many interesting fusions of different cultures' foods originate.
Sean---
DeleteI agree that food in terms of culture must be viewed from both a "global" (ethnic) perspective, as well as it belonging to one's personal culture. Good thought that ties the whole concept of food and culture together.
Side-note: I've traveled to China a few times, but have not yet visited the Hun'an Province...however, the mere mention of the cuisine has my mouth watering; love the spices infused into the majority of the dishes,the pungent aromas, and heavy use of edible fungi, and have had the pleasure of indulging in mashed shrimp in lotus pod--a traditional Hun'an dish that is absolutely amazing!
Upon reading this question I was a bit perplexed, mainly because I had just eaten a ‘torta,’ which is to people from Mexico what sandwiches are to Americans, a quick fix food. My first thought was, “what is culture?”
ReplyDeleteThen, I looked up the definition of culture on google.com:
cul•ture
/ˈkəlCHər/
Noun
The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
Verb
Maintain (tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) in conditions suitable for growth.
Synonyms
noun. cultivation - civilization
verb. cultivate - grow - raise
(Bold and Italics my emphasis)
Upon reading the definition of culture I mused well “is food an art?”
I did a quick Google search once more, and ran into hundreds of blogs, newspapers (as prestigious as the New York Times), and even scholarly articles. They all gave me different answers: yes, no, maybe so, it depends who cooks it, only if my mother is the one making it, etc. You get my point.
Then I asked, what is the definition of art? Once again google.com:
art
/ärt/
Noun
1. The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture,...: "the art of the Renaissance"
2. Works produced by such skill and imagination.
Synonyms
craft - skill - artifice - science - workmanship - knack
Well, I know that there’s a significant amount of science in cooking that ranges from acid levels in certain fruits to the preferred temperature range. From my experience in the kitchen, I know that a whole deal of thought goes into selecting which pan, spice, temperature, seasoning, and even which plate to serve a certain food in. Therefore, I conclude that food is an art that requires human skill, intelligence, and imagination.
Now, can food be used as a definition of culture? That is one extremely difficult question, especially nowadays with the intermixing of different races, cultures, spices, and dishes.
Yet, as I wipe off the leftover crumbs from my ‘torta,’ I can see food being used to define one’s culture. Even now in the modern 21st Century I still get asked “will your family be making tamales for Christmas?” Of course, what else am I going to eat? Nothing but tamales for me until I find a good friend to make me hummus and a ton of Middle Eastern food, my answer may change to “We will be having tamales and hummus.”
I agree that food is an art. I also agree that culture is collection of arts that are regarded collectively by a group of people. Therefore, I conclude that food is a part of culture, not culture in itself (give Picasso a break now!).
The synonyms that you posted I feel show just how food can be so close to culture because all of those insigts are important aspects to culture. Great thoughts!
DeleteAfter reading the question I would definitely have to say that food is culture and culture is food. Food is a significant characteristic of what helps define culture and vice versa. The type of food we have grown up eating is the food that is associated with the culture we associate with in most circumstances. Culture has a big impact on what types of food people do and do not eat. To go into depth with that, we can see that in the United States American culture is all about fast food, such as hamburgers, and in other countries the cultures may be all about eating bugs and odd things due to the lack of resources available to them, which is far from what foods are associated with American culture since there is a large array of resources available to us.
ReplyDeleteI identify with Mexican culture and I grew up in a household where Mexican food was the main type of food served. Mexican food is what I know and what I learned as a child so it is basically home for me and after a couple of days without eating it, it is the only food I want to eat. My best friend is Indian and she grew up eating mainly Indian food, such as curry. She has told me that she prefers eating Indian food over other types of food. It is almost as though your taste buds become accustomed to your culture’s food which makes food culture and culture food. Every time I go to her house, I smell the aroma of the Indian spices her mother used in the Indian food and I could see how food influences culture and culture influences food. Furthermore, food helps distinguish the different cultures we have. Mexicans are known for tacos, Chinese are known for rice, Jews are known for kosher food and African Americans are known for their soul food to name a few.
Food can also be the way it brings people of a certain culture together, which again shows how they go hand in hand with each other. For instance, I have noticed that in Italian culture they have a thing called Sunday dinner where they make all kinds of Italian dishes and the family all comes together. We also see in American culture in the United States that food brings people together for basically any occasion whether it is for a dinner date, a business meeting, or catching up with friends.
I totally agree. I feel the same way about growing up and eating only mexican food. I still feel that i only want mexican food. I am not very open to trying new foods from different cultures because i had a bad experience so its hard for me to try. Sometimes the food looks and smells delicious, but its not always what it seems.
DeleteGreat post! Food definitely brings us together.
DeleteIs or is it not that food is culture? Well I believe it is. I think that everyone has a different opinion about how they involve the two. For my family when I think about food, I see it as an opportunity to be able to gather my family around and entertain. I believe for anything we celebrate with food from being a holiday to one of our kids getting a good grade.
ReplyDeleteThe way that food is associated with the culture depends on the way one wants to combine it. I think it has very much meaning and it’s more about the bonding experiences than the actual food itself. I think for my family at least it keeps the men calm. If there isn’t any food they would lose their patience. Like they say another way to mans heart is through their stomach.
When I think of the culture I notice that when we are celebrating we have a tradition when it comes to cooking certain foods on certain holidays or celebrations. For example, when we celebrate Super bowl Sunday we always make homemade pizzas, hot wings, and appetizers. On Christmas we make tamales and menudo with atole instead of making ham like the average American family. When we celebrate birthday parties we always have to have three dishes so our guests have an option. But for me it means so much to me to be able to take a day off from our busy lives and be able to give thanks for letting another day by with my family.
We are pretty much very traditional but, we have a different way of expressing it.
I completely agree. Food is always involved in any celebration and its always the part I look forward to the most!
DeleteFood is a big part of our culture when it comes to celebration. We tend to use food as a way to bring people together and celebrate by eating. I never really thought of food with Super Bowl or food with christmas as part of our culture but it really is a cultural tradition of ours.
DeleteI like that fact that you also think that food can bring people together. Even if it is not your family that you are getting together with, you can sit down with people from many different backgrounds and enjoy each others company over some delicious food.
DeleteIt's funny how we don't notice until we are really asked about it. I do feel the family warmth when we do get together, also i do notice that if one of my family members don't show it it bums me out.
DeleteIs food culture and is culture food? When I first read this I could not distinguish the two sentences from one another, this is because both sentences are tightly intertwined. As I took a moment to really think "globally" about these statements, I tried to pull apart each statement's meaning. I came to the conclusion that food does not define culture, but it is a distinctive feature associated with culture. I know this because I lived with my former foster mother for twelve years. In those twelve years they type of food I ate was primarily Italian; spaghetti with meatballs, baked ziti, eggplant parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, you name it, it was Italian. This was due to the fact that my former foster mother was Italian, even though she did not practice the Italian lifestyle. Therefore, it does not matter what culture you come from; it is the food that brings people together. Culture does indeed define food. Different cultures are associated by the types of food that are eaten. I associate this with every culture, for example, the Hispanic culture eats primarily Mexican food. I see this when I go over to my boyfriend's family's house for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Every meal is associated around Mexican food and very rarely will we eat something else other than homemade tortillas, rice, beans, menudo, or enchiladas. Food and culture go hand in hand, but I must say that food is the relationship between people and culture is the relationship of what people eat!
ReplyDeleteThose are some good distinctions at the end, Nicole. Food as a relationship between people? This may be a reason to hate drive thru places, because it increasingly destroys that communal, relational nature of food.
DeleteDr. Brett Schmoll,
DeleteI believe food is definitely the relationship people. Whether gathering around a table for special occasions or going out to eat to catch up with long lost friends; food surrounds people and people are surrounded by food. Food also creates memorable experiences along the way. I must agree that drive thru places not only ruin the nature of the food, but the overall experience of the food is lost.
In examining the question of 'whether or not food is culture or culture food?' The first thought that comes to my mind is the word 'medium'. I say this because in my opinion food is the medium, that the peoples of this world apply their cultural tastes to in the form of various salts, herbs and spices. Staple items such as various breads, vegetables and meats are for the most part constant(medium). The cultural variables are what is applied to the these mediums food, to generate the cultural preferences of the masses. If one looks as baked or fried bread, lentils and potatoes along with beef, pork chicken and fish. One would find it prepared with different variables as different as the peoples of the world. I believe the question to ask is; 'what is it that various peoples add culturally to food to make it culturally acceptable to their tastes?'
ReplyDeleteMaking food culturally acceptable? Interesting idea.
DeleteI believe that food is definitely culture and likewise culture is definitely food. Sitting around the table, sharing a meal or snack with someone (or many people) breaks down walls and sets an inviting tone. The act of eating in front of others can make one feel very vulnerable, and to do so often creates a bond that leads to greater intimacy and closer relationships. My husband comes from a large middle eastern family and every get together is filled with a vast array of food including appetizers and desserts. It is quite an event. Hummus, falafel, tabouleh, sveha, kifta, matluba, malfoof, baklava, and kanafe are just a few of my favorites, followed with some strong Turkish coffee. Honestly, it would not be a true Arab gathering without the food. The food is what brings everyone together. There is laughter, music, and yes even some fighting, but ultimately the food opens the door for true community and fellowship.
ReplyDeleteYes, food that bring laughter and happiness and so on. When I am hungry I am not the nicest person to be around with but once I've had food in my system, I'm a whole different person. So it definitely bring happiness but most of all love (bringing people together, whether its having dinner with your family or going out to lunch with a friend. Food is intertwined with our daily relationships with other people).
DeleteI agree food is what brings everyone together. Exploring new cultures many times brings new foods to ones life, which is interesting because many times we do not know what foods we are missing out on until we experience other cultural foods. It connects us with those of different cultures and in a yummy, tasty way as well.
DeleteFood is culture and culture is food. I do think that food has a big role in culture. When I think of the many traditions, customs and celebrations in my culture they all involve food in some way. There are also certain foods that are typical for each celebration. I know that for me food is a big part of why I look forwards to some of these celebrations. For example, I love tamales for Christmas. Another example, is turkey on Thanksgiving day.
ReplyDeleteI also think food is representative of the different cultures and the regions from which they are from. People eat and cook what is available to them in their part of the world, so by experiencing their food a person can learn a lot about the culture and people. Food is one way to learn and experience these cultures without traveling too far.
My favorite type of food has always been Mexican food. Since I grew up eating typical Mexican dishes it is what I know and like best. It is one of the reasons I love family get-togethers and holidays. I can always expect to have something delicious prepared by one of my aunts. One of the first things I do when I visit my aunts is to check out what they are cooking in the kitchen. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed. They always make sure they have something delicious prepared that everyone will be please with and they take a lot of pride in their food.
Annette-
DeleteI really enjoyed that you brought up food's ability to allow us to experience varying cultures without even having to travel! Of course food is only a small part of a particular culture, but an important one nonetheless. For some, food is the easiest (and possibly only) route to experience a culture other than their own, and any exposure that might result in a "broadened horizon" seems like an enriching and positive experience!
Well written, Annette!
Food as culture, I had never really thought about how food can be such an important part of a persons identity or culture. Until about a two years ago, I was under the impression that food is food, and that of course different cultures or races have their own meal preferences. I often hear people say things like "I want Mexican" or "I want Chinese" but how broad those terms are never became clear to me until meeting my fiancé. He is part Filipino, and until I was introduced to this whole new culture I had never realized how different foods can really be so important to a persons culture. For his family the most traditional and I would say comfort food is called Adobo. Adobo is always up for meals and there is not a family get together that goes by where a good pot of Adobo isn't made. In my family, we have Hispanic or the "orange" rice that we all identify with. It's simple things like food that can be so important to a persons culture or even their identy. It doesn't have to be a fancy meal or outlandish food but it can make the difference from feeling accepted to feeling out of place
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with both these statement that culture is food and food is culture. When I think about food, specifically different types of food, I believe we all have a tendency to categorize food by culture. For example if I’m hungry I think, what sounds good? Mexican food? Chinese food? However, I don’t think food is what defines a culture but rather gives each culture unique characteristics. Many different cultures are known for their specific type of food. When visiting mexico last year the first thing I wanted to do was try some home made tortillas. Tortillas are a staple of mexican food along with many other dishes. We tend to tie culture with food and food with culture because each culture carries unique types of food which plays a role in daily life. Food can bring people together and helps travelers experience different cultures by tasting and smelling rather then just seeing. One doesn't make the other however, the two are very closely connected.
ReplyDeleteMiranda-
DeleteI completely agree that food and culture are closely related, and how everyone tends to tie their culture with distinct foods that we see everyday! Hope the tortillas were delicious! When I went to Thailand a couple years back I had this vigorous craving for spicy foods (a spice that they are very known for). So I completely could imagine how you felt!
The concept of whether food is culture or culture is food is a rather interesting question. In my world, food is one of the many universal reasons my family comes together. With the busy lives that everyone's day entails, it seems that food has always been constant and predictable. Whether it is a day to day meal or a special occasion there are dishes in the Chinese culture that represents positive cultural symbolism's. For example:bananas wishes for education and excellence in school, eggs signify fertility, and garlic chives imply an eternal blissful life. Because I grew up surrounded with such a big influence on what I eat and the meaning of each dish, I believe that it is not food that influences culture nor is it culture influencing food. It is in fact a combination of both.
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany, my family also gets together for food. When my mom misses her sibling she will cook certain dishes to invite them over. To me, it was normal to get together with my aunts and uncles every Sunday for a bbq. I never thought about food as a symbol until I read your post. For some Mexicans, eggs were used to detox your body from evil. Good post.
DeleteWe develop, prepare, distribute, consume, and appreciate what is made. Why would someone put these specific ingredients together? How was this passed down through the generations? What influenced the recipe; religion, intellect, knowledge, race, belief, values, behavior, social status/group, place, and/or time? There are many influences to consider.
ReplyDeleteOur ancestors did not have the resources like we do today. For example, hunters and gatherers had to make decisions based on availability, digestibility, and nutrition. What do we have? Is it safe to eat (who is willing to test it)? How long could this last us? What amount should every person get? They only ate what they could find and hunt, and meat was not always an option. For these groups of people, they did not have the luxury of deciding what to and what not to eat because it was about survival.
Food has changed tremendously. Food is now considered an art(still a necessity), and has become less about eating for survival (in some countries). We (mainly Americans) eat more than our share and we waste what others wish they had. Situation determines behavior, and I believe culture is influenced by situation.
Presently, we have a wide variety of foods to choose from. If I want Chinese food, I can get it; if I want Italian food, I can get it; if I want Basque food, I can get it. We do not have to travel very far to have access to these types of foods, and you can even learn how to cook the dishes yourself. Through food we have cross cultural blending. We can see different food cultures through media, and through media we can get an idea of how a certain group of people cook, eat, and how they interact during this activity. Sometimes the only knowledge, even if incorrect, we have about a certain culture is through food.
Food is one of the things that can bring groups, from all backgrounds, together. How many conversations have you had, with someone from another culture or someone who you think you have nothing in common with, and you start to talk about food? You find out that you may have some of the same food interests; food can connect us and be conversation starter. Conversation starters are good because you become comfortable enough to open up, learn new similarities, and have a better understanding of their other cultural aspects.
Anything we create and interact with is part of our culture; it is a part of us.
Hi Miranda, I agree, we do waste a lot. I also think Americans are spoiled. We don't have to travel far to get variety in food. We are also lazy, many restaurant now deliver or have drive through windows. But, I have realized we do use food to get together with friends and family. It is a great way to spend Sundays, converstating and eating great food.
DeleteI do believe food is culture. In the past, the gatherers collected food based on the economics, the availability of food. Today, we do not worry what type of food is available because we can transform a natural edible object into a range of food. We can add many different ingredients, such as, spices and alcohol. To many people, they view a dish as a master piece. They try different ways to cook something and even how to save time on cooking. Society lives in a fast pace, so now you can make a three course dinner in less than 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have found interesting on how cultural food has become, you can turn on the TV and find as many food channels as sport channels. Could we consider cooking a sport, I think so. We have reality shows to see who can be the best chief cook. There are many programs that show cook off competition.
Food has become global as the pursuit of pleasure and the desire of health. Many people have a “sweet tooth”; enjoy sweet food. Most restaurants ask if there is room for dessert, to indulge on a piece of chocolate or pie. I remember when I was in elementary and got a good report card, we would go out for ice cream. It always brought a smile to my face maybe because of all the sugar. In America, almost everyone is trying to lose weight and diet. We eat certain food to get healthier. We try to eliminate foods that contain carbs and sugar. People who are diabetic have to eat certain food to stay healthy.
Jean Antheleme Brillate-Savarin was brilliant when he stated, “Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Food describes not just what you eat, but why you eat certain food. It can determine if you have a sweet tooth or health problems. I do believe food is culture; it has become an art globally
You did a really good job of tying habits and food together. Economics definitely play a role in the foods that people eat. Especially considering certain geographic regions. Look at Alaska and the life style they live up there. Tomatoes are over $9.00 a pound! They hunt and gather more up there than we do here. Your spot on with the association of resources and economics.
DeleteWow $9 for tomatoes! I can see why people say it's more expensive to eat healthy food.
DeleteAbsolutely food is culture. As Americans we cannot deny that food is deeply embedded in our culture. BBQ's on the weekends, lunch on Sunday after church, tailgate parties at football games, the list goes on and on. What I want to focus on is what food means to me as a Latina women.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up watching both my mother and grandmother cook was fascinating! I remember smelling the delicious homemade flour tortillas, the mouth watering enchiladas, and the “to die for rice” my mom still cooks to this day. These food symbolized unity to me because my family comes together to enjoy delicious meals. Now that I am a women, I enjoy cooking for my family because I love seeing the look on my family members faces when they taste the yummy meal I made.
I cook to see pleasure on my family face because nothing beats a homemade meal, but I also cook to keep my culture alive. Every time I make dishes that my grandmother use to cook, she manifest herself in that kitchen, and cooks right along with me. Food is just not part of my culture, it is a direct connection to the memory of my grandmother.
We all establish memories over food, but I worry that as Americans we are building bad memories because of our over consumption of food. The U.S. has the highest rate of obesity in the world, and along comes all the health problems associated with obesity. We must change this because food is meant to keep us healthy, not put us in our graves. Hopefully this changes in the future because culturally, as Americans we love food so much, we literally are eating ourselves to death.
I like how you connected food and cooking with memories of your grandmother. I think food is a wonderful way to bring families together and share traditions. I also agree that food is very much a part of culture and is a way of experiencing cultures other then our own.
DeleteFood its self is not culture and culture is not food. Food is just a medium in which some societal habits can be seen in. All the same food that we eat here in the United States can be found in just about any other Modern country with the same resources. In many cases the food is the same just prepared different. For example the food here and in Australia. The same foods can be found in both locations with minor variances. We both have the same type of available resources. Thus our foods we eat are not very culturally different.
ReplyDeleteIn a not so modern country there are less resources and thus items of food change drastically. Techniques of preparation are different and foods that are ate are dependent on what is locally available.
In closing I believe that culture is a display of habits and societal behaviors. Food is just an source of nutrients. The habits and behaviors that people do with their source of nutrients inject culture into food. The more modern and mixed society there is the less unique cultural habits there are displayed in food.
I disagree that culture and food do not go hand in hand with each other. Yes food is the source of nutrients our body needs yet food also eases societal tensions, hence having business dinners. Food does change with existing resources yet the socialization around the food does not. Yes culture is a display of habits and societal behaviors but also eating is a habit granted it is needed to survive. Food is usually tied to societal behaviors. In India, livestock is traded as dowery and yes it is used for food to feed the the family. So you see food is infused in societal behaviors and practices and the food being eaten is a cultural habit.
DeleteAs humans we strive to belong, be unique, and be right with in this scope we are what we eat. Our culture and our ability to express ourselves are directly related to what we eat. With food we gather around the table, share generational secrets and express our history, as well as, our hopes for the future. So yes our food is our culture and we often express our culture by our food. There are many places around the world that have a special or secrete fruit, vegetable, or spice that create a special platter. What’s interesting is that a lot of the people have the same ingredients to start a dish of food and from there they create different meals that are a reflection of their roots which then are passed from generation to generation. Every single place in the world has a variety of foods that not only attract that specific culture but, every other culture in the world. On the other hand, I like to be different and try different foods. I love Italian, Mexican, and Chinese food. I love trying new food because it makes me feel connected to different cultures. Recently I tried sushi and it was one of the best flavors I have ever had. It amazes me to know how people work really hard to put a meal together to get a sensational outcome. Sushi is one of the most exotic foods and it also looks attractive to the human eye and stomach. In conclusion there’s a great connection with people and food no matter what race, culture, or religion you are we will always love food.
ReplyDeleteI mostly believe that the reason that different cultures have foods that taste differently is the cultural orgin. Mostly orgin plays a big part because there was once a time where people could only use what was available to them. This is how different cultures have different flavors and how similar cultures have small variances in their flavors. Now a days your are able to partake in the different meals that other cultures have to offer is because of easy accessiblity. One of our classmates state that Alaskans pay nine dollars for a pound of tomatoes while here in California get three pounds of tomatoes for 99 cents. Once again easy access is the key to cultures coming together and infusing into a common culture.
DeleteI would like to start by saying that food is life. I love food and I am thankful that i have the opportunities to try different types of foods every once in a while. Is food culture? Is culture food? I personally believe they both are. First of all I would like to say that culture is food because we all will use our traditional techniques when cooking, which are rituals we tend to carry. We usually learn to cook from our parents who carry their cooking skills from their parents as well. This all comes from our culture and the way we are brought up. The same way that culture is food, food is culture. We represent our culture by the way we cook and exactly what we cook. Many times we bring the most common foods we eat and cook from our original home place/ country. We identify ourselves through our food and a good example would be restaurants. Many restaurants identify themselves with one type of cultural food; for example Mexican restaurants, Chinese restaurants, etc.
ReplyDeleteOverall, food connects us with our culture, traditions, and where we come from, but it is also a connection to other peoples cultures as well. By exploring and trying out other cultural foods of those from different countries, we come together and connect to the differences and continue to make those different foods a tradition to our diets.
Different cultures have grown all around the world, and for that we must thank food.
Cultural practices such as recipes are passed down from generation to generation through cultural socialization. Parents socialize their children to act a certain way in public and they also socialize their daughters to learn the recipes of their ancestors. This is how culture is able to grow. I was socialized this way. In the kitchen next to grandma learning all the yummy recipes and valuable lessons she had to share with me. I believe that culture and food do go hand in hand with each other. Food is so heavily infused with culture that it would be hard to separate the two.
DeleteCulture and food go hand in hand. A lot of the time when one experiences a new culture, food is at the top of the list of experiences. Many others before me have clearly stated how food brings people together and I absolutely agree. Many times over we meet with our friends for a lunch date just to catch up. Businesses discuss their plans with coffee, donuts, and bagel spreads. We also discuss business propositions over dinner. Yes food brings people together for many reasons. Although American culture is multicultural, Americans as many other cultures still celebrate, discuss business, and enjoy leisurely activities which food is commonly the centerpiece.
ReplyDeleteAs an African American, food was at the forefront of my upbringing. It was important for us to have Sunday dinner at grandma’s house and it was definitely a must attend. When someone past away, food was there for my family in times of need; it offered calm in an emotional storm. During celebrations and holidays food offered conversations on recipes used at the event, new recipes that would soon be tried, and food somehow became reminiscent of good memories shared amongst each other. I moved away to Louisiana and food was definitely a centerpiece of the culture there. My friend’s grandmother reminded me of my own grandmother. She would give us valuable life lessons while she was preparing dinner from scratch. One thing that she did was sit on the front portion of the veranda sipping iced cold tea telling stories of the past. Iced tea to the south is what wine is to the west coast.
The great thing about American culture is that there is not anything specific to define it. I believe American culture just is what it is. It is so multifaceted that there cannot be contained into a small box. Yes food is a part of American culture. American culture is sports driven and there are many foods that are deemed culturally acceptable (American) for sports events such as hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, soda, beer, and pretzels to name a few. I believe if you go to a sporting event and ask for spaghetti they will laugh you out of the line because it is not a culturally acceptable dish for a sporting event. There is easy access to different types of foods from many different cultures in America. Given the easy access food is most definitely culture and culture is most definitely food.
I love the point you make about the food at sporting events because it is SO true! I would love to try asking for spaghetti the next time I'm at a baseball game just to see the reation! You also are so right about the differnt cultures in America and the access to the different types of food. I definitely think that's one of the best parts of America being a melting pot!
DeleteAmerica is a huge melting pot and mostly all cultures in America are deemed culturally acceptable. Every once and a while we cast out certain themes and ideas (extremeist usually) however during the loss of integrity it is still acceptable to some (extremeist).
DeleteGoing to a sporting event asking for spaghetti is socially deviant. As America is trying to become culturally acceptable to every culture it is not uncommon to find different types of foods at certain events. The food as sporting events always stays near or at baseline which is the normal spread of foods at sporting events. I say go on be socially deviant, defy our cultural norms. One day I will be attending one of my children's sporting events and spaghetti will be on the menu. I will know Kristen Barnett started this new revolution. By the way, I am cracking up at the fact of getting spaghetti at a sporting event.
I think that food plays an really important roll in just about every culture. Every culture has their own ideas of what the best food is, or which food is appropriate to serve at a holiay meal or family get together. Every culture has their own traditions when it comes to food. This is not to say that the same type of food is not enjoyed by other cultures as well. An example of this could be my family. It is a tradition in my family to have enchiladas every year on Christmas Eve. This has absolutely nothing to do with our culture. My family is not hispanic, yet whenever anyone hears that we eat enchiladas on Christmas Eve, they almost always ask if part of my family is Hispanic! I find this funny, but also somewhat revealing of our perceptions about certain foods and the culture or ethnic group that we associate them with. In this case, enchiladas are thought to almost strictly belong to those of the Hispanic culture, which wouldn't come as a surprise to most. What about peanut butter? We don't typically think of peanut butter as belonging to a certain ethnic group or culture, but in a way it does! I've been to Europe a few times, and peanut butter is nowhere to be found! They know what it is, but they don't eat it or cook with it. You cannot find it on the shelves of their grocery stores or in any of their baked goods and candies. I find this insane! Peanut butter is pretty much it's own food group in my family, and I know that it is in the pantry of most Americans. The point is, culture and food do go hand-in-hand, but sometimes we don't even notice how important a food can be in our own culture until we see the lack of it in another culture.
ReplyDeleteI've been fortunate enough to take a couple different culture classes, both for my communication minor and the pre-req's for the credential program. With these classes one of the things I learned is that culture is more than what people commonly think of. When I first heard the word culture, I immediately thought of races such as: the hispanic culture, african american culture, and such like those, but I learned is that culture can encompass much more than that. Food IS a culture and a culture all on it's own with sub-cultures within it. When people think of food, I believe, there is no longer the relationship of survival. Now the relationship between food and people is that of satisfaction and enjoyment. It's this enjoyment and gathering of people for food that has created sub-cultures of food. As for me, I am apart of the Hot Wing Culture. I absolutely love hot wings, and love trying all types of hot wings. No matter were me and my family goes. I have to try the hot wings in that town. Yet, there are thousands of people that are just the same, and it's this common trait and love of hot wings that creates the sub-culture of food.
ReplyDeleteI agree that for a lot of people food is about satisfaction and enjoyment, but unfortunately, even in America, some people still do consider food as something simply for survival. I heard a statistic in my class the other day that one in (I think) four children in America don't know where their next meal will come from. I wonder the effect that this lack of available food has on the culture of these children and their families. Maybe they would have a different idea of whether or not culture and food go hand-in-hand.
DeleteI love how you explain that food is a culture all on its own with sub-cultures, I tried to say the same thing but you were more successful in your words.
DeleteFood is part of everyday life and is essential for our survival. Food is part our culture and vice versa because culture is food. I do not feel that you can have one without the other. The most effective way to be introduced to a different culture is through their food. For example if someone travels to a new region like Japan, one of their first experience with the culture is with the food. The type of food that they would eat there is not typically the same as the food they would indulge back home. Living in the United States all of my life I feel that food culture is very important here because we do not all come from the same culture and with every culture has a different manner of approaching food. In the United States there are so many cultures that evening traveling across the different regions like the south or the east coast there is a difference in the culture of food. An example of this is a thing as simple as beans because depending on what culture a person identifies with they will make beans a different style than that of another culture. Someone making beans in California can differ from someone in Florida from what type of bean is used to how it’s made. When it comes to culture and food together it is something that people take great pride in because they feel that they food that they made represents who they are. My mom is one of those examples, she is a Mexican woman who takes pride in the meals she prepares that vary from everyday beans with tortillas to things like tamales around the holidays. The culture of food as well as the food culture is something that brings people together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you the best way to introduce yourself to a new country/region is through food. Especially if you don'
Deletet travel often.
Is food culture? Yes, I believe it is because if you go to México, Italy, U.S.A, France, or Puerto Rico you can benefit from various types of food; which are representative of each specific area. Even within a country certain areas have an extensive variety of flavors and ways of cooking their food. A meal will most likely never taste the same even if you’re in the vicinity of where it’s most popular everyone puts their own twist and especial ingredients to their food. Overall I think each area cooks their food with the ingredients available to them but due to the importing/exporting of goods. There is a higher availability for ingredients so the flavors change subtlety. Take the U.S.A. for example, if you want Chinese, Greek, or Mexican cuisine you can find a restaurant that makes it. We have a great selection of foods from different cultures due to immigrants that have come to this country. I think food helps define a culture because each culture has their own flavors to their food. There is no comparison to the typical or traditional dishes from each country. I’m sure everyone says that restaurant has delicious food but it doesn’t come close to the food back to your own hometown.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with this quote, "I think food helps define a culture because each culture has their own flavors to their food. ". I believe that every culture does have their own version of a dish, although its the same food (chicken, rice, etc.), it has a distinguished taste.
DeleteI would have to agree and say that food is definitely culture. Many cultures have staples in their food and how it's cooked that have survived years and even centuries of traditions. Cultures tend to have their own types of food and how it is prepared than other cultures. Food is they key to our existence and without it we simply wouldn't be alive. So, for thousands of years, humans have been keen to find what taste good and how to spice up a traditional dish. These tasty versions of food have now become the main way to prepare that food in that culture. For instance, Mexican rice taste very different from Chinese rice, but it's still rice. I even believe that if you were blindfolded and told to try a dish that was supposed to represent the culture someone was from, by tasting it you would be able to correctly identify what culture they were from. This is because we, humans, have been able to distinguish different types of foods and what culture they represent. Over time, food has become culture and plays a role of identity in the culture as well.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in a previous post, I had the opportunity to study in Spain about a year ago and it was there where I was really able to see the strong relationship between socializing and eating. It was as though both were considered a daily necessity and was very interesting to see as I compared it with what often seems to me as our very fast paced U.S. culture that often doesn't slow down to enjoy time spent together. Now although that previous statement might seem like a very cynical view of American culture, I promise I love my culture and how it has shaped me. However, this food/culture relationship was extremely obvious there. Part of Spanish culture values mixing and mingling very high. It is not uncommon to see people eating tapas and sipping cañas (snacks with a small beer) until two or three in the morning on the weekend. So, in answering this question of what exactly is the relationship between people and what they eat, I believe that it isn't so much what is eaten or even where but more so what the intentions of the meal are. Are we going to a restaurant in order to not be hungry anymore or is it to get to know each other more?
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