Food as a Bridge

Food as a Bridge: Exploring Cultural Identity Through Cuisine

This approach frames food as not just nourishment but as a vital connection to history, identity, and tradition. Presented by Stacey Aquavella

Friday November 8th 8:30-10

The Story of Spices: Global Trade and Cultural Exchange

Let's explore how spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper were once more valuable than gold and how global trade routes shaped the history of food. We will have a discussion on colonialism, cultural exchange, and the ways in which these ingredients have become staples in everyday Western cooking, often without recognition of their origins.

Soul Food & Survival: The African American Culinary Tradition

Let's discuss the deep roots of African American cuisine, its connection to enslaved peoples, and how it represents resilience, survival, and innovation. We will talk about how African, Indigenous, and European traditions blend to create soul food, a cuisine that continues to influence mainstream cooking today.

Farm to Table: Indigenous Foodways and Sustainability

Let's focus on Indigenous food systems and their profound connection to the land. We will discuss how traditional knowledge around foraging, farming, and sustainability can teach us important lessons about respecting the environment and food sovereignty.

Fusion or Appropriation? Navigating Food and Cultural Sensitivity

Let's engage a group discussion about the difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation in food. We will explore examples like "fusion" restaurants or how dishes like sushi and tacos have been popularized in ways that may disconnect them from their cultural origins.

The Journey of Immigrant Kitchens: How Ethnic Foods Have Shaped American Cuisine

 We will highlight how immigrants brought their culinary traditions to the U.S., influencing and blending into what we now recognize as "American food." We will talk about how many "comfort foods" like pizza, dumplings, or bagels originated from different ethnic communities.