Transcript Foods of different cultures

FOODS OF
DIFFERENT
CULTURES
VIDEO
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po0O9tRXCyA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry1E1uzPSU0
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION
• American food is a good reflection of our culture.
INFLUENCES
• Food customs differ with each culture
• Culture- includes food eaten , the way you live, and the way they act
• Share your culture and foods you eat that may not be familiar
INFLUENCES
• Geography
– Includes the location and climate of the land
– Also includes the type of soil and water sources
– The layout of the land also plays a role- hilly, flat, mountainous
The Geography affects the type of food that can be grown locally and
- ex- fish can be found more plentifully near oceans and citrus produces more fruit in long warm
seasons. Rice grows well in marshy regions
INFLUENCES
• Religion
– Religion influences foods of cultures as well
– Unleavened (flat, thin) bread is a part of the Jewish Passover Meal
– Another example is the bread and wine of communion, or Easter eggs of the Christian faith
– In Germany, pretzels are used as a symbol of prayer
– A rich Russian cheesecake with letters XB is used to celebrate Easter
– Some religions restrict the eating of some items (ex. Hindus may not eat beef, Islamic people may
not eat pork
INFLUENCES
• Tradition
– Traditions are customs that are based down from generation to generation
– Many traditions center around holidays and call for special foods
– For example the Chinese eat a ten course dinner in celebration of Chinese new year
– Some traditions are based on folklore
• In Swedish culture eating “dream herring” or “dream porridge”
on Midsummer eve is a way to find out about the future
– Traditions related to art also affect food customs
• The Japanese use food as an art form, and create depictions
of mountains, rivers, trees, and the flowers of springtime
FOOD CUSTOMS OF THE UNITED
STATES
• Early influences
– The English, Spanish and French were some of the first settlers in North America
– They brought their own food customs from their homelands and learned about food customs of the
Native Americans
• Some foods include corn, pumpkins, squash, peppers, cranberries, and peanuts
• Native Americans also taught colonists to hunt and fish
FOOD CUSTOMS OF THE UNITED
STATES
• Regional Differences
– When settlers came to the United States, they tended to stay and settle with others from their
culture
– As a result, different regions of the United States are noted for distinct cooking styles
• Can you think of any examples?
NORTHEAST STATES- FOOD
• Northeast and Middle Atlantic States
– These states are close to the Atlantic ocean- climate is cool
– Berries, apples, beans, corn and squash can be grown during the warm season
– Maple trees flourish and are used to make maple syrup
– The pilgrims learned foods from the Native Americans and combined with English ties- pumpkin pie,
cranberry sauce, clam chowder, and baked beans
NORTHEAST STATES- FOOD
• Seafood such as lobster is very popular in the Northeast
• They are also known for wild game such as pheasant, turkey, and duck
• Other specialties of this region include donuts, waffles, chicken and dumplings, bagels and lox,
sausages, hot dogs, and pretzels
SOUTH REGION- FOODS
• South
– Climate- long, warm growing seasons that allow crops like corn, rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes,
peaches, and peanuts
– Popular meats are pork, chicken, catfish, trout, bass, turtle
– Citrus fruits are grown in Florida
SOUTH- SOUL FOOD
– Soul food is popular in the South and is based on food customs of African slaves, Native Americans,
and less wealthy Europeans
• Most soul food is hot and spicy and includes vegetable such as squash, black eyed peas, okra, and greens
SOUTH- CREOLE
• Creole is a cooking style found mostly in New Orleans- Creole food finds its roots in French, Spanish,
and Native American cultures
• Most dishes contain a mixture of rice, tomatoes, okra, seafood, poultry, hot sausage and meat
• This includes gumbo and jambalaya
WEST AND SOUTHWEST- FOODS
• Climate of the southwest is rocky or sandy so raising large crops is difficult
• Cattle farms are common in this area, and some fruits and veggies such as potatoes are grown
in areas like Idaho
• Cooking has been influenced by Mexicans, Spaniards, and Native Americans
• Hot peppers are used in much of South Western cooking
• BBQ beef, chili, tamales, and nachos are popular in the southwest
• Western foods also have a Spanish and Native American influence, and stews made with lamb,
veggies, and potatoes
MIDWEST- FOODS
• Midwest US has flat land with rich soil with a warm growing season
• This region is nicknamed the “breadbasket” because so much corn, grain, and soybeans are
grown there
• Many farms raise cattle, dairy cows, pigs, and chickens
• Many ethnic groups have influenced this region including Scandinavians, Swiss, German, French,
Polish, Irish and Greek
• Midwesterners are known for serving large simple dinners centering around beef, pork,
chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, bread, pies and cakes
• They are also known for throwing potlucks
WEST COAST STATES- FOOD
• The pacific ocean supplies much seafood to states along the west coast
• Many fruits and vegetables grow well in California due to the warm weather
and plentiful rainfall
• Fruits include avocados, oranges, grapes, papayas, nuts and dates
• Crops in Oregon and Washington have cooler weather have cooler and
milder weather, and crops include apples, peaches, apricots and berries
• Californians tend to be adventurous eaters, and are influenced mainly by
Asian and Mexican culture
• Northern west coast states have an abundance of crab, clams, and salmon
• West coast states are famous for their sourdough bread• a bread made from a special started that gives it a fermented sour flavor
ALASKA- FOODS
• Alaska is surrounded by ocean – part of the state is in the Arctic region
• Alaska has long cold winters that make natural food sources scarce
• The southern part of Alaska has a more mild climate and some fruits and veggies can be grown
• Wild caribou, reindeer, rabbit and bear can also be used for food
• Other Alaskan foods include caribou sausage, reindeer steak, king crab, salmon and trout
• Huckleberry pie and cranberry ketchup are also favorites
• Most Alaskans are native to the land so food is very traditional
HAWAII- FOODS
• Hawaii is made up of a chain of islands in the South Pacific
• It has a mild climate and a long growing season
• Tropical fruits such as pineapples, mangoes, coconuts, and papayas grow well, as well as
vegetables such as snow peas, water chestnuts, Chinese cabbage, and squash
• Hawaii’s first settlers were Polynesians, then later Europeans and Japanese settlers brought
items such as rice, coconuts, breadfruit, sugarcane, chicken and pork
• Stir-frying as a technique was introduced by the Chinese- cooking small pieces of food over
high heat with very little oil
PROJECT- MENU PLANNING
• You will create a restaurant using information gathered from your research and create a
themed restaurant and menu.
• Your research will be a minor grade and the restaurant plan and menu will be a major grade
• You may choose your groups (2-3) but choose wisely and make sure someone in your group is
familiar with technology
• Your region must be international, not domestic- ex. Swedish food, not Alaskan