Food and Culture

There is a common saying that we are what we eat, and I am a firm believer of that phrase. Food
and culture have always go hand in hand, and a certain type of dish has always been linked to where
it is originated, or which part of the world where that dish is commonly consumed by most people
there. Every dish that exists somehow represents their own culture, their own people. And this is the
reason as to why cultural food often becomes comfort food, because people tend to feel attached to
the food they have been eating most of their lives, or through their childhood, that has passed down
generation to generation. There will always be a certain mindset everyone has that say, “I am from
here, and this is my culture's authentic cuisine.”
But what is authentic? Because looking at people around the world nowadays, we are so
culturally diversed. Even one person could be a mixture of two or more cultures. There's even a
type of DNA test going viral around the internet, that reveals the true identity of your ethnicity and
ancestry, especially of how mixed of races and cultures you are. Though this test isn't particularly
accurate, it still shows that we came from more of different descents than we know. Of course, the
same goes with the food we consume. A dish can be considered as an authentic meal from one
culture, however actually originated from other cultures. One of the reasons as to why this is
happening is because of the colonization of certain nations. Colonizers often took a few of one
country's or one nation's goods, including the cultural food and ingredients, then brought them to
other countries or nations. Moreover, people are so keen in trying other culture's foods that they
somehow develop their own version of the dish, making it acceptable for their palate or tastebuds.
These acculturations and assimilations in foods and cuisines happen throughout history. Pho,
a famous soup dish from Vietnam, was actually their take on a similar dish from France called Pot-
au-feu during the French colonization in late 1880s.

Pho Pot-au-feu
Another example, a traditional snack from the Netherlands called Bamischijf, which is basically
deep fried Indonesian Bakmi Goreng with breadcrumbs, is also taken from the time they colonize
Indonesia in the 19th century. Bakmi Goreng itself is actually Indonesian's take on Chinese Miantiao
from the time the Mongolians invade Java Island in early 14th century.

Bamischijf Bakmi Goreng

 It can be seen from those examples that there might not be any authentic food after all. We,
as humans, like to mix up everything and go with what works best for us. The food we eat right now
represents the journey and history our world has gone through until this very day. We enjoy our
comfort food as well as other's, we love our culture's cuisines as well as other's, we basically just
like to eat anything edible. I believe the phrase that we are what we eat, but now I also believe the
phrase that food is one universal language. Food is what connects us all, nevermind the cultures we
have, and the languages we speak. Food is what connects us all, despite where it is originated, and
how authentic it is.