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