Culture Is Food

"A World of Food" made me think about my own culture, though mostly about food. The film seemed to divide food and culture, commenting on the nature of foreign food and of American food. But when I think of food and how I've consumed it most of my life, I remember the explorations into the food of other countries and cultures. My family has always been adventurous with food and we've always been open to trying new things. With "A World of Food," there seemed only to be cultures eating their own food and American's scared of trying anything else.

My grandmother, on my mother's side, was Japanese, which was perhaps the biggest influence on my consumption of food outside the "normal." Sushi was a staple, and was never really an issue, as far as strange foods go. Rice was eaten multiple times a week, though never instant rice or anything outside Japanese white rice for the most part. So when I discovered this kind of food was considered strange, I embraced the difference, knowing that I was eating something delicious they were missing out on. And because my parents appreciated all kinds of food, I was introduced to many great dishes from many different cultures.

As I grew older, I found myself wanting to try more and more foods, the stranger the better. If any other culture considers it food, you can be sure I'll try it. There is nothing that scares me and no food will likely ever be "too out there." Now I can only hope to try all the foods I can possibly consume, because it is just one way to connect to another culture, that understanding what they eat can tell you what they, as a people, are like.

Counihan, Carole, and Penny Van Esterik. Food and Culture. New York City, NY: Routledge, 1997. Print.

Ishige, Naomichi. The History and Culture of Japanese Food. New York City, NY: Kegan Paul, 2001. Print.