Identifying our Food Culture

What’s the distinction that symbolizes us and that of food culture today? It may come wrapped up in who we are as people of differing ethnicities/cultures (tribes). Observing human beings, one can come to expect diversity amongst the traditions passed down generationally from each country, village, and home. May it be about raising your family, your beliefs, proper etiquette for your name’s sake as well as establishing customary preparation & serving of food. So many long-standing conventional values, too many to number.

Food culture has everything to do with who we are as a group as well as who we are individually. It’s the backdrop of our origins, our regional upbringing and our traditions that have shaped and molded our attitude, our being, and belief system. We are the wake of customary and long-established ways of being. We too to in some form or degree continue the cycle of personifying where we came from and how this makes us different through our own perspective, practices and time-honored food and its preparation. These are ardent reminders of our heritage and give homage to our ancestors and their way of life. 

Each has its own earmarks and food is no exception when it comes to understanding the diverse cultures. All palates differ as do the taste for what would be warmly termed home-cooked meals. Who doesn’t remember the distinct dishes from the dinner table that made you crave them even more! Maybe your regional fare came from the coast of the Maldives, or maybe somewhere in Central America. This is a part of who you are and it’s undeniable what memories that bring to mind. This bespeaks of your ethnicity/culture that you were brought up in your younger years. This is HOME!

It’s safe to say that we anticipate with some level of enthusiasm for eating mom or grandma’s cooking. Those favorite dishes that nobody can do quite as well. This is how we associate our emotional bond with food that reminds us of home and how we identify food and who we are as individuals. This all goes back to our heritage, where on the globe we had come from and what were the discerning staples that you identify with. Food is sociable and relevant in bringing people together. Food works well with creating all kinds of relationships may it be working or intimate relationships as well as friendships.

One thing that remains quite universal is that food connects the world through taste, experience, health/wellness & social endeavors. These core elements sing praises to the many foods from all corners of the globe. All the amazing & unique tastes, vibrant colors, rich textures & complex consistencies from every continent that makes them distinctive to that region. Suffice to say that “food culture” is essential to our identity! Food could be termed as a nascent exploration! Our understanding of food and what it means to allow your mind to wander and to harness that creative spirit only adds to the evolving time spent loving and respecting the “food culture”, thus loving and respecting your ancestors, your origins and yourself.

I had written some questions leading to this blog post from the Global page. They’re emblematic of the above posting, meaning that it’s a personal decision on how you approach food and your relation with food. We can often become creatures of habit and not allow ourselves the luxury and freedom of trying food tastes that are outside of our norm. To be open and susceptible to a different experience through dining is albeit one of the greatest journeys that one can embark upon. 

Question 1) So just how diversified is your palate when it comes to shopping or choosing your next meal?

Imagine the next time you go shopping you pick up 1 new protein that you’ve not had experience with. What about some different kinds of vegetables from a different country that you’re curious about but never did or went anywhere with. So many different options and platforms to cook from. Expand your palate and create a new experience.

Question 2) Do you stay in your safe/comfort zone or do you take the world by storm?

We all have the option to stay locked in our safe zone or we can open ourselves up to a whole new way of approaching our meal planning, shopping, and chopping. Food is necessary, so why not expound upon your food knowledge and opt to openly prepare various dishes from other regions? The opportunity is huge with a massive payback. Think about all the flavors and types of cuisine that you’ve never been open to.

Question 3) Just how brave are you to read menus from totally different regions of the globe?

Seek out and peruse menus from different restaurants. Places you’ve never heard of and or ones you pass normally but never really stop in. When you travel it’s always eye-opening and just awe-inspiring to see what’s available and at what lengths they must have to source ingredients on many of the dishes. Take a chance or should we say the opportunity to actually enjoy sitting down and being in the moment by experiencing something new and unchartered.

I can and always do appreciate feedback if for nothing more than to feed the pipeline. The choices of food and options in how we prepare them are literally unlimited, UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES! Do something unexpected of yourself and add a new ingredient to your repertoire and maybe call it being practical about you wanting to expand your taste acuity and appreciation for the culinary world within your very own kitchen. Bon Appetit!