When we think of other cultures, often the first thing on our minds is what kind of food they eat. Food seems to be some kind of Rosetta Stone for other cultures, translating the things that are important to that culture in ways that are accessible (and tasty) for all. Think about it, probably the first thing you think of when you think about Italy is pizza, France- champagne or crepes, England- bangers and mash, Mexico- enchiladas or burritos, central America- rice and beans, Argentina- steak and malbec, India- curry, Thailand- peanut sauce and sticky rice, China- beef and broccoli, Japan- sushi, America- cheeseburgers, and more. There are obviously so many different types of food in each country and culture, but you can’t argue that there aren’t certain foods that are ubiquitous with specific cultures.

So why is food so ingrained in culture? Well, with the constant traveling and moving exhibited nowadays more than ever (aka globalism), groups of people are finding it harder to retain their culture than ever. But even if people don’t find themselves in the same geographical region as their cultural origins, they can still connect to their people with food. This is especially the case with immigrants, who have widely contributed to our linkage of culture and food. When immigrants move to new countries, food traditions experience exportation and importation. Food preferences follow the people who hold them. Thanks to immigration, and the immigrants themselves bringing their food patterns, we can experience all kinds of culinary culture in the nearest city. Global travel is no longer a requisite to experiencing the culture of faraway lands. Especially in the melting pot of America, you can experience almost any kind of culture both in meeting people that pertain to it and by eating their national delicacies and gastronomic traditions.

Essentially, food is the easiest, most accessible and most fun way to learn about and experience another culture. It is often hard to comprehend other parts of foreign cultures such as language or history, but food is available for anyone with an appetite (aka everyone!). Food is often referred to as the single greatest human unifier. We all eat and we all have soulful connections with food. Food is known to feed the soul. In a way, one could say that every time you eat, your soul is metaphorically connecting with others in shared experience.

This experience is of the utmost importance to Catering CC and its head chef, Chef Winston Williams. Born in the Virgin Islands, food has always been incredibly important to Chef Winston and he possessed a love for the culinary arts at a young age. To pursue this dream, he traveled to America where he attended the Florida Culinary Art School where he studied culinary arts, bakery and pastry, restaurant management, culinary management and catering management. If you are interested in experience other cultures, specifically Caribbean and Americas cuisine, look no further than Catering CC for your next event.