Culinary Identity a Cultural Concept

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Culinary Identity: A Cultural Concept Food preference is influenced by multitude of factors. It is so unique that it could be akin to a personal blueprint. However, culture stands out as a universal determinant amongst the many factors which direct the palates of people all over the world. The fact that certain types of food and cooking styles have entrenched themselves in certain regions supports this observation. With such diversity in culinary identity, articles which are narrower in scope prove to be quite informative. This article aims to feature the regional preferences in staple food and special occasion food. It also expounds on the different health considerations for food. Staple Food The choice of staple food forms the backbone of a regional culinary identity. This is because of the fact that regardless of the season, there will always be a demand for staple foods as they are integral to every meal. Cereals and tubers make up almost all of the world’s staple food and are the source of 60% of the energy needed by the human body. The less technical term for staple foods are "stomach fillers". They are usually purchased in large quantities to go with an individual's choice of viand. More often than not, the staple food is affiliated with the agricultural industry of a particular region. Usually, people from a certain region gravitate to the staple crops growing in the area. These are preferences which manifest themselves even when going overseas (http://www.fao.org/docrep/u8480e/u8480e07.htm). For example, rice is usually associated with Asians. Even a particular type of staple showcases diversity between nationalities. People from different countries prefer varying types of rice. Small bead rice is usually associated with stews from the Philippines while sticky glutinous rice is associated with raw fish delicacies like sashimi and yakimeshi from

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