Objective – Describe how various influences shape a culture’s food customs.

Chapter 2 Diversity at the Table

Warm up – Pick up a textbook.

Can you match each wheat food to the culture it comes from?

• Scone

• Bagel• Croissant• Hamburger bun• Wonton• Tortilla• Pita Spaghetti• Lefse

MexicanItalianNorwegianFrenchScottish, EnglishJewishAmericanChineseArabian

Stand on Your Decision!

• Stand up if you would like to have some

Europe – Home of Afrika, Delice & Cremede Pirouline

Are you familiar with the food Tandoori Naan?

How about Guacamole?

India – Home of Tandoori Naanwhich is a type of bread

Mexico – Home of Guacamole - dip made with ripe avocados

Chapter 2 – Diversity at the Table

• WHAT IS CULTURE?

• INFLUENCES ON CUISINES AND

CUSTOMS

• SIMILARITIES IN GLOBAL CUISINES

• FOOD CUSTOMS TODAY

Terms to Know

• Culture – a set of customs, traditions and beliefs shared by a large group of people. While nations or locations can create a culture, so can religions, ages, income, and races.

• Cuisine – refers to a culture’s representative foods and the specific styles for preparing them.

Cuisine to Culture Connection(Ethnic Foods)

• Italian?• Oriental?• Mexican?• Greek?• American?

– Southern?– Eastern Shore?– North East?

• Jews?• African Americans?• Rich?

Terms of Know

• La Cuisine • Fusion Cuisine

• A French word for kitchen

• A trendy term, first used in the 80’’s to refer to cooking that creates new recipes by blending different ethnic food traditions.

Food Customs• Some cultures have unique food practices

or customs (established over time)– Chopsticks vs fork vs fingers– Table manners

• Burping

• Lip smacking

What has influenced

food cuisines and customs

to be what they are?

Influences on Cuisine…

• 1. Geography controls climate which controls the availability of

staple foods – The most widely produced

and eaten foods in an area

• 2. Geography affects natural resources such as rivers, oceans, cooking fuels,etc.

More Influences on Cuisine

• 3. Economics– Many of our most creative dishes were the result

of having to make due with limited ingredients (chicken noodle soup).

• 4. Foreign Contacts– Immigration

– Exploration

Origin of a Sandwich

• In 11th century London, the Earl of Sandwich was hungry, but did not want to stop playing a card game to eat, so he ordered the meat placed between bread, so he could eat it with one hand.

More Influences

• 5. Religious Beliefs– Hindus do not eat beef because they consider

cattle to be sacred animals.– “Keeping Kosher” in the Jewish faith requires

that some foods be prepared in certain ways and that some foods be avoided altogether.

– Buddhism urges “mindfulness” about one’s diet, which leads some followers to vegetarianism.

– Seventh Day Adventists often choose vegetarianism to express the value of simplicity and respect for the body.

• Many faiths practice fasting for a period of time.

More Influences

• 6. Technology

Review What has influenced food cuisines and

customs to be what they are?

1. Geography – weather, natural resources

2. Economics

3. Foreign contacts

4. Religious beliefs

5. Technology

Pride and Respect!

• Handing down food customs helps people maintain their sense of tradition and identity.

• Showing respect for the food customs of others is one way to show respect for people.

Similarities in Global Cuisines

Although cuisines and food customs developed independently in different cultures, similarities

are noticeable.Pepperoni (Italian) – lop chong (Chinese) –

chorizo (Spanish) – kielbasa (Polish)

Food Offers a Social Dimension

• Offering refreshment is a universal sign of hospitality.

• Food festivals bring people together.

• Every culture offers traditional foods for their celebrations.

• Food and beverages are used to mark an event as special.

US - Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?

• Hummus – a Middle Eastern dish is available in US

• Pretzels, doughnuts, and coleslaw are US icons, but were brought to us by the Dutch

• Tex-Mex Pizza (Italian + Mexican + US)

• With this “recipe swapping” American cuisine is a work in progress.