I love butter chicken and naan because it is a delicious meal that I have eaten since my childhood. It is my favorite meal because of the savory flavors that come from the naan bread and chicken curry!

A fun fact about me is that I have been playing the piano for 9 years now.

My favorite Arabic song would have to be "Hadal Ahbek" (only because this was popular on TikTok back in 2020).

My favorite food show would have to be Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares because of how intense the show can get.
My preferred nickname is Josh!

In-Class Q - What is about Food that Brings Us Together?

My experience with food primarily has to do with my family’s culture. My family comes from Kerala—a state in South India where food plays an integral part in the hospitable culture present.  An example of this friendliness, that I have seen almost whenever a guest/family friend comes over, is asking the individual(s) if they would like anything to eat or drink. Even if they visit briefly to drop off some food or say hello, my family will offer anything to them! Another example would be when family friends come over during our dinner time, but never explicitly say that they are coming for dinner. However, in any fashion, we choose to prepare dinner for them. I think having a meal with someone(s) is a great way to reconnect with them. Another example of my experience with food would have to be when I make food for my family. I like making food for my family because it gives me great joy to see them satisfied. Only after making meals for myself did I understand why my grandmother acts the way she does for my brother and me (regarding food). As someone who loves cooking and eating food, my grandmother always makes sure that we (my brother and I) always eat something before we leave the house. Regarding the actual eating experience of food, I have a lot. I have tried many cultural foods but any spicy, savory foods will always get me.

Food holds a great deal of significance in my community mainly because of the “fellowship” aspect it brings. Take, for example, how my family’s South Indian church always has food after the service. It’s not because of church norms we have food, rather it’s due to our culture.

To sum up, food’s internal themes of love, hospitality, and connection are what bring us together. With food, we can enjoy each other’s company, get to know each other and reconnect.

Discussion #2 - Food and Identity within Diverse American Communities

America is home to a family of culinary traditions because of the diverse demographic that is present. It is almost as if the world is sharing a meal here daily. A culinary tradition that has been here since the 1820s is Tex-Mex food. This blend of American and Mexican cooking techniques started when settlers migrating to Texas brought their cooking styles and merged them with the cooking techniques of the indigenous Mexican population. The main ingredients of this dual cuisine are lean meats, fried foods, beans, corn, guacamole, peppers, and tomatoes. Over time, Americans began to love the cuisine, which testified to its longevity as a culinary tradition (“Vaqueros Cafe & Cantina” ). An example of its longevity as a culinary tradition would have to be its special day: Taco Tuesday. On this day, millions of Americans gather around the table eating a traditional Tex-Mex dish. Tacos! I believe that it has become a norm in most households and Tex-Mex-themed restaurants. 

A beautiful thing about America is that it is a melting pot of diverse cultures. As a result, many integral aspects of American society, such as American cuisine, are heavily influenced by/or rooted in cultures from foreign countries. To start with a well-known American staple, pizza came from the Italians. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries came from the Germans and Belgians. As mentioned previously, Tex-Mex was birthed from Mexican culture and the American settlers. With its close ties to Latin America, Spanish cooking plays a big role in American cuisine (“What Is American Food? | Immigrant Food"). The Chinese orange chicken is more American than it is Chinese. What is ironic about this cultural food is that the Chinese food served in the States is nothing similar to what is served on the plates in China. One thing to note though is that most of these foods are not necessarily the same product that would be found in their origin country. Rather these are "homegrown [specialties] derived through immigrant ingenuity from a foreign staple" (“What Is American Food? | Immigrant Food"). Some other examples stem from historical conquests that occurred in America. For example, Creole cooking, relevant in Louisana, combines French, Spanish, and Native cooking styles (“What Is American Food? | Immigrant Food"). On a more personal note, I have seen that my family's Indian culture has influenced American cuisine. Nowadays, it is common for Americans to eat famous Indian dishes---chicken tikka masala, samosas, biryani---for a regular meal. Besides the culturally-influenced meals that are big in America, there are a vast majority of culturally-themed restaurants here. While they offer many dishes of the culture they represent, I would say that the best place to try a culture's cuisine is from a family. The reason is that you can get more of an insider's look at what certain meals mean and how they are cooked. 

Questions

1. How does food help us understand someone's cultural identity?

2. How does food bring people from different cultures together, and how long can those connections last?

I believe food can bridge the cultural barriers we encounter because, as humans, we love to eat. Exploring the unknown through food is appealing to nearly everyone. Consequently, these connections with people from different cultures can endure for years, as they are centered around a subject that can never go wrong: food.

3. How does the commercialization of traditional foods impact the authenticity and cultural significance of traditional culinary practices?

 

“Vaqueros Cafe & Cantina.” Vaqueroscafe.com, 2024, www.vaqueroscafe.com/posts/where-did-tex-mex-cuisine-originate-fromLinks to an external site..

“What Is American Food? | Immigrant Food.” Immigrant Food, 22 Mar. 2024, immigrantfood.com/what-is-american-food/.

Discussion #3 - The Cultural Dimensions of Food

The cultural dimensions of food go beyond simple nourishment. Rather, they reflect one’s identity and ties to certain cultures (including beliefs and traditions). In an ever-growing world filled with different religions, different foods are seen as acceptable and taboo. For example, a certain type of meat may be taboo for one individual while it could be acceptable for someone else. Sometimes, certain foods are eaten during social contexts and religious contexts. The preparation of basic foods—meats, seafood, grains, and vegetables—drastically varies in many cultures. The way individuals gather around food and use food to express their values—one common value being hospitality—intertwines food in a dimension of cultures. 

What we consider nutritious, edible, and inedible comes from the knowledge that we as a species have gained over our time here on Earth. Take, for example, how our early ancestors learned which foods would nourish them and which would harm them. As civilization progressed, a new technology, birthed from fire, emerged. This new technique preserved food in a state that was ensured to be healthy and safe. What was once thought to be inedible became edible, and what was once thought to be edible became nutritious, thanks to cooking. However, over time, cultures created a belief that was not strictly scientifically accurate: certain foods are good and others are bad (which ties into the idea of taboo/non-taboo).

The communicative experience that food brings between people is what makes it a source of social cohesion for our species. Having food with anyone, whether it be an extravagant celebration or a casual family dinner, creates a sense of fellowship and connection. The preparation of meals is also a source of social cohesion because you are working together as a team for a common goal: delicious satisfaction. Plus food makes conversations less awkward and more manageable.

When reading the arguments claiming that food is the reason for our linguistic development, I was intrigued. As the research suggests, early humans had to rely on communication during times of hunting and gathering. Especially when they had to divide the food amongst themselves. If they wanted to have their fellow brothers and sisters survive, they had to communicate their needs in some type of fashion. I would agree then that this is a viable argument for the rise of human linguistics. As humans, the best thing that I think we love talking about is food because it is an important part of us.

Food plays an important role in the connection between the brain and the diet because of the benefits it provides for us humans. As the most important organ, our brain requires immense energy to function. With an omnivorous diet that we have evolved into having, our brain can gain enough energy to function sufficiently. Certain foods that we eat maintain our health and cognitive abilities.

Questions

1. How does the evolution of cultural perceptions on food change our understanding on what is considered healthy and inedible?
2. Why do you think the use of fire for cooking made “human beings [more] human” than they were before?
3. What are momentous technologies similar to cooking that have shaped civilizations and how did they do so?