Culture at Mealtime

I thought I'd share one of my essays from my time as an undergrad researcher with you all. It's rather short, but will hopefully open up the idea of cultural differences at mealtime into a discussion-starter, so feel free to leave a comment below! 

A pivot question one must ask themselves in the study of cultural nutrition is what makes food more than just a combination of ingredients? What turns a dish into a meal? The simplest answer is passion, relationships, and the social behavior associated with the daily ritual of a communal eating session. This explanation is summed up into the theoretical term of “scholarship”, which essentially means that one possesses a particular passion for cultural aspects of food and cooking styles in general- exploring and sharing those experiences along the way. Another important term to consider in this multifaceted explanation of the meal-times’ importance is in "satisfaction", or more specifically the psychological idea of "crispness" with the food being enjoyed, not necessarily the satiety involved. This aspect is determined by the tasting quality and textural pleasantness of the food being eaten, and whether or not it met the partakers expectations.

The physical characteristics of the meal, and how it is served, play a huge role in the cultural significance of the affair. For example, in American, and also in some British customs, the meal is served in a series of courses, beginning with an appetizer or two (constituted of either sweet or savory foods portioned into small bites), then continuing with subsequent dishes including the main dish (typically being a meat in one form or another), a side dish (this could include several individual dishes usually composed of vegetables and starches like pasta or potatoes), and lastly a dessert or two (a cake, pudding, pie, tart, etc.) usually with a fruit component, depending on the occasion. These courses may be served one at a time in a more ceremonious way (sometimes by domestic staff or catering services) designed for formal occasions, or served “family style”; a favorite of American’s, in which the entire meal is laid out on the table in serving dishes for the family members around the table to self-serve as they desire throughout the duration of the occasion.

Food ways and customs vary greatly both within and between cultures around the world today, and it's not hard to see why the culinary arts are such a colorful tapestry of taste and tradition that is happily enjoyed by all global citizens every day of the year.