Salty, spicy, sour, sweet. These are the four essential flavors of Thai cuisine, I was told at Blue Elephant Restaurant and Cooking School in Phuket, Thailand. During a 4-hour class, I chopped, smelled, smashed, sauteed,…
Food and Culture
Culinary Diplomacy of Singapore
Curious about the use of food in politics? Culinary diplomacy strengthens a nation’s diplomatic relations through the use of its local cuisine and food heritage. Singapore, a city-state in South East Asia, is making a…
Interview about Food Discourse and Cooking Shows
We were interviewed about our book: Food Discourse of Celebrity Chefs of Food Network (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019).Listen to our interview on the podcast New Books Network by Carrie Helms Tippen. New Books Network is a…
Cape Town, South Africa
I moved to South Africa! I received a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Stellenbosch University for two years, 2021-2023. Stellenbosch University is in the Western Cape province, an hour drive east of Cape Town. I toured Cape…
London
One could spend a year in London and still not see everything. So much to do! See the iconic sites– Westminster, Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and London Eye. Shop at historic Harrod’s and Fortnum…
Hong Kong – tour and talk
Hong Kong, culturally rich and vibrant, is another Southeast Asian powerhouse. A 4-hour flight north of Singapore, Hong Kong is known as an alpha world city for its economic importance in the global network. We…
Honduras- 10 Cultural Observations
Living in another country for an extended period provides an opportunity to observe the people and culture at a more nuanced level. Being an outsider, we noticed things that surprised us but were unnoticed by…
Sushi Burritos: Fusion Cuisine
From Korean Tacos and Enchilada Meatball bakes to sushi burritos, fusion cuisines combine culinary practices of different cultures. Scholars have pointed out that fusion cuisine illustrates globalization and cultural hybridization, but ultimately what emerges is…
Honduran Fruit
Fruit in Honduras is a central part of the local diet and livelihood. Almond, mango, papaya, and banana trees grow throughout the city of Tegucigalpa and strawberries grow in abundance nearby and particularly in the…
Honduran People
Honduran people are friendly and resilient, making their livelihood however they can. Growing food in the pueblos and then selling it off the back of trucks is common as well as resale of cheap products.…