Discovering Cultural Cuisine: A Guide to Exploring Authenticity and Personal Connections Through Food
By Hannah Taylor
Table of Context
Opening Remarks
When it comes to exploring cultural food, many people believe that they must travel to the country of origin to truly experience it. However, this is not always the case. Cultural food can be found in a variety of other places besides its country of origin. In fact, food can be an excellent introduction to a country's culture without ever leaving your hometown.
The United States has been described as a melting pot₁ of different cultures, where a range of diverse cultures melt together to create a new culture with different elements from the original cultures. Due to this mixing of cultures, the United States is home to a multitude of cultural restaurants that hold and preserve parts of their culture through the food they serve. These restaurants can be found in almost every town across the country, making cultural exploration more accessible for people in the United States. There is an assumption that these cultural restaurants in the US do not replicate the authentic version of the dishes they are making. However, while some of the food may be slightly changed from the authentic version of the recipe, they each hold different individual stories and experiences in them. These stories and experiences are what make the food authentic.
In this guidebook I will guide you through the process of exploring these cultural restaurants, telling you about my experience in my exploration and offering suggestions on how to maximize your experience at the restaurant. Sharing with y’all my summarized research findings as I went through my previous assignments. Including also the experiences of my friends and family that have gone on this exploration with me, and their experiences without any prior research. As you go through this guidebook and your own exploration, do not forget to document your own thoughts and feelings. As Anthony Bourdain₂ once said, "Food is everything we are. It's an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It's inseparable from those from the get-go." So, as my brother said when he heard about this project, “Embrace your inner Anthony Bourdain” and deep dive into experiencing culture through food.
This guidebook was written as the final assignment in a three piece practicum assignment for the McBride Honors Program. To view my previous two assignments and learn more about my project please checkout the rest of my website.
Exploring the Topic: Insights and Findings
Step-by-Step Guide
Conclusion
Resources
Glossary
PDF of Guidebook
