Experiencing Food as Culture

Every Friday we take a break from our regular blogging schedule to allow the authors an opportunity to feature a certain topic they are passionate about. In the past you’ve read about art and studying abroad. Through this and other future posts we hope you’ll enjoy reading, we hope to share with you our personalities, passions, and interests on a more personal level.

Food is a necessity to human life. It sustains us physically, the sharing of food can foster community, and food can reflect culture. By far, one of my favorite things to experience when I go to a new place is the food. You can learn so much based on it: what is grown local, what is considered delicacy, how the food is eaten, who is your company, what flavors are emphasized or subtle, what social cues are in play, just to name a few.

Ethiopian Cuisine

I’ve had multiple experiences traveling abroad where I was served a very lavish meal by my hosts. They could barely afford the cost of the meal, but in those acts, it was communicated that hospitality was valued, that I was a honored guest, and that the food was the best of whatever it was that I was served. As I reflect on those experiences now, I think about how much the host culture revealed of itself in those instances. I might have been hesitant to eat whatever was served (not being a fan of insects) or be nervous about how the conversation might flow, but those things didn’t matter at all. What did matter was that I embraced what was provided and thus embraced my hosts and their culture. I’ve learned that there is value in being invited to dine with someone of a different culture, being served traditional food, and being willing to try something new even if it makes you uncomfortable.

Food from El Salvadore

Now this is where you interject and say “I’m not going abroad just for that” or “Is there a way to experience this close to home?”.  You’re right, I don’t just travel for food either…although it is usually a pretty high priority for Matt and I, we do love to sight see. And YES(!), if you live in a decently sized city, you don’t have to travel far to be able to experience different cuisine; you just need an adventurous appetite and/or a guide to help you along the way. Food allows you to explore the world without leaving your hometown; in a matter of a couple hours you can experience a different culture than your own just by tasting something new.

Recently, Matt and I went out to eat with several of Matt’s co-workers. A majority of his co-workers are from India and they took us to an authentic (Southern) Indian restaurant. It was so fun and interesting to hear them speak about their food, what their favorites are, and explain how to eat it. I think they loved sharing it with us and they seemed appreciative that we were enthusiastic about trying a piece of their culture. Through this experience of eating together, we were able to learn so much from them about food, festivals that are celebrated, traditions, music, and values. It was an experience that I won’t soon forget and didn’t even require us to leave DFW!

I would strongly recommend getting out of your normal “box” in terms of cuisine–it will be a learning experience and a wonderful local way to experience food as culture.