Tales of Gastronomy
How do food and customs surrounding the acts of eating and drinking inform culture (and vice versa)? How is one’s awareness of culture developed through cooking, eating, buying and talking about food? Below is something my colleague, Grayson Leverenz, told me about how she likes to tie gastronomy into her travels:
Whenever I visit a new city, I search for an authentic eating experience. On a recent trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania I discovered a Philly Cheese Steak as the culinary choice of locals. Jim’s Steaks has been serving the classic cheese steak sandwiches since 1939, and with its prime location on South Street, I figured I couldn’t go wrong.
Cooks prepare sliced beef and onions on a grill, slather a hoagie roll with Cheese Whiz, and top it with the meat and onions. Hot and delicious, it goes well with Yuengling, a local PA beer. John Denver, an American folk singer popular in the 1970′s folk singer, said it best in his autograph on Jim’s wall (pictured below): ‘I’d be a vegetarian if it wasn’t for your cheese steak.’
An authentic Philly Cheese Steak
A cheese steak is a truly cultural representation of Philadelphia and of an American innovation: “cheese whiz”.
Personally, I like to visit grocery stores and food markets when I travel to new places, which reveal a lot about an area’s history, society and, of course, typical cuisine. When I’m find myself in new cities and countries, I ask questions like: do you bargain for food? Do you bring with you to the market your own bags to take food home? Do people eat a lot of street food? Do people prefer to eat in their homes? With whom can you share food? Questions lead to more questions, all of which paint an appetizing cultural portrait.
How do you think about food when experiencing new peoples and cultures? How much can you learn about a culture from it’s food and drink? Please share your stories and tell us about your favorite gastronomical experiences!
Sean
Food is such a fascinating window into a specific culture. I’m thinking about the way I remember fabulous meals in Florence, Italy or in Bordeaux, France, where food is such an integral part of everyday activity.
I wonder if anyone can visit either of those countries and not immediately think of sumptuous tomatoes, delicious wine and long, conversation-filled meals. It’s certainly not drive-thru.
There’s a fascinating story in the Sunday NY Times this week about the foods that various nationalities MUST HAVE in their rations in war zones. The article is mostly about Afghanistan, but it shows that there are foods that make people think of home.
Since the US is so regional focused, I wonder what might be in ours.
Having traveled extensively, we’ve found that food is the best way to really experience a culture. Prior to traveleing anywhere, a little research can go a long way. We seek out those “hole in the wall” places with the long lines as the best indicators of great local food.
Being open to new flavors and textures also helps. Some of our best experiences were the “Chicken rice” from Hawker stands in Singapore; Peking Duck at a tiny restuarant in Singapore; Dim Sum in Hong Kong; Fresh Spring Lamb in Australia; fresh oysters and champagne in France; Indian food that varies by region; Gelato in Italy; Local Pizza in Italy; Almost anything in Italy; Fresh bread from th Boulangerie in France served with local chees and table wine….” The list is endless, but just try it….you never know what treasures await, plus the locals will love it if you at least try their favorites.