Savoring the World

One of the most authentic ways to connect with a culture is through the food! As you know, every culture has their different twists on food, and each dish can help tell a story! History and tradition lie deep within a culture’s food. Through this blog, we will discover how food can be the gateway to connecting with a place. And how trying new food can be a journey all by itself and help you explore off the map!

The Role of Food in Cultural Identity

Food is a representation of the region, the people, and their history, as well as being a way to enjoy a necessity of life. A lot of cultures view food as something that brings people together. Traditions of eating meals together at the table is very important in a lot of cultures. For instance, one of the most important traditions in Italy is a Sunday family dinner. This is where families will come together to have a large meal with their whole family. These meals usually use dishes that were passed down throughout their family. Another tradition is in Japan where the way people prepare their food symbolizes centuries-old cultural values of simplicity and respect for the ingredients. 

When you taste the food from different cultures, you also take in the climate, geography, and even their political history without even knowing it! If you visit Mexico, you are likely to have a meal that is filled with corn, beans, chili peppers, etc. However, a lot of people don’t know that these ingredients were main ingredients for meals prepared by the Aztecs before the Spanish. The Spanish introduced them to different spices and cooking techniques. You can also see the history in Middle Eastern dishes. Many of their dishes include hummus, which has been a historical dish as the Hebrew Bible mentions hummus. The Book of Ruth says, “Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the hometz.” 

The Global Influence of Local Cuisine

I’m sure wherever you are from, you have restaurants that are tied to different cultures. In the United States, the leading cuisines are Chinese, Mexican, Thai, Indian, Italian, and more! You might not have realized but with time, a lot of these international cuisines can be influenced by the culture around them. For instance, pizza is a traditional Italian street food that you can find in probably every city. Pizza is traditionally topped with mushrooms, anchovies, cheese, oil, and garlic, but nowadays you can find pizza with toppings of pineapples, barbeque chicken, and sometimes even scrambled eggs! 

World by Eye’s Favorites

As we believe that trying local dishes is one of the best ways to explore off the map and dive into a culture, we think that it is only right if we gave you our favorite dishes from around the globe! (and give you some recipes)

Our Rankings:

1. Chicken Souvlaki Wrap – Greece: Our personal favorite, a chicken souvlaki wrap is an extremely popular street food in Greece! The wrap is made of specially marinated, grilled chicken pieces that are wrapped in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce on the inside. Some will also contain fries tucked inside, which in our opinion, is a necessity for these wraps. What makes the Chicken souvlaki so special is how it’s marinated. The marinade will usually consist of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and many other herbs which make the taste so distinct.
   
2. Pečená Kachna se Zelím (Roasted Duck with Cabbage) – Czech Republic: This dish consists of slow-roasted duck, making it crisp on the outside. It is usually joined with red cabbage and dumplings. This dish has a perfect mix of flavors with the seasoned roasted duck, sweet and tangy cabbage, and the soft dumplings.
   
3. Chicken Biryani – India: One of the most popular Indian dishes, chicken biryani contains richly spiced chicken over a layer of basmati rice, and different spices and herbs. This dish has a great kick to it, and is a perfect segue into other traditional Indian dishes.
   
4. Phở – Vietnam: This dish is a type of noodle soup that has been around since the 1800s. It was born during the French Colonial period in Vietnam, and has been a Vietnamese staple throughout all the political upheaval and economic hardships the country has faced. Pho is very rich in flavor and is also customizable to anyone! It is a bowl of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and bean sprouts, and typically comes with different sides like basil, cilantro, lime wedges, and chili. This allows you to cater your bowl to your preferences. Phở is now one of the most popular dishes around the globe, and is a must try for anyone.
   
5. Chicken Paella – Spain: Spain’s most iconic dish, chicken paella includes chicken cooked in a saffron-infused broth, bomba rice, vegetables, and mixes of different spices and garlic. What makes paella so special is the socarrat cooking technique, which adds a crunch to the dish.
   

Traveling Through Food

A few tips for your travels and journeys of experiencing new dishes from different cultures, is to eat with locals! There’s no better way to experience a culture’s cuisine than sharing a meal with a local! It’s a great way to meet new people, and another way to connect with a culture and learn more!

Another tip is to learn the dish. If you try a meal that you love, learn how to cook it, and take it back home with you! Cook the meal with your family and friends, and help share the taste of different regions you have visited. Many places you visit will offer cooking classes where you can learn from locals. And also learn the history of these traditional dishes! Finally, be adventurous. Don’t shy away from dishes that seem too unfamiliar to you.

The best way to experience different cultures is by stepping out of your comfort zone. The thing to remember is that if you don’t like the dish, you never have to try it again! But if you do like the dish, then you have made new connections with the places you’ve traveled. This shows that you have begun to explore off the map.

At World by Eye, we believe that food is the passport to any culture. We challenge you to try new dishes wherever you go next because you can discover so many new stories and connections which no map could ever show you.

Explore Off the Map and bon appétit!