Lesson video

Hello, thanks for choosing this lesson.

My name's Mr. Baum, and this lesson's all around our dynamic food culture.

Let's get started, shall we? So what are we going to learn by the end of this lesson? Well, by the end, you'll be able to describe a range of food cultures and customs. But before we get started, there are three keywords which I want to go through, and the first one is cultural identity, and this is the sense of belonging to the group based on shared cultural elements, like traditions, beliefs, values, and practises.

And the next one is intangible cultural heritage, and this is a tradition, practise, or living expression of a group or community.

And the last one is cultural appropriation, and this is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption or use of elements of a minority culture by members of a dominant culture.

And it's often in a way which is disrespectful, stereotypical, or exploitive.

Okay, so let's get started with the first part of lesson, all around food cultural heritage.

Now, food is deeply ingrained in our cultural identity, and it's the passing of this intangible cultural heritage from generation to generation.

And cultural identity is about the way people express who they are through traditions, values, language, clothing, for example, religion, and food too.

And cultural identity can come from our family or community background, perhaps our religion, our country, or also our ethnicity.

And people might have more than one culture identity.

So, for example, someone might feel both British and Pakistani, or Scottish and Polish, for example.

And UNESCO is dedicated to safeguarding our intangible cultural heritage.

And that's the global wealth of cultural traditions and practises for future generations.

And intangible cultural heritage are about the traditions that are not physical objects.

So, for example, they're passed down through generations, such as storytelling, music, dance, rituals, but also food too.

And the dishes that we eat and the recipes that our grandparents may teach us, and the meals we share during festivals and family events can help shape our identity.

And these traditions are often unwritten, but live on through daily habits, cooking practises, and celebrations.

So let's have a quick check for understanding, shall we? So true or false, so intangible cultural heritage is about the physical objects passed down through generations, such as buildings, art, and artefacts? Well, that's false, isn't it? And why is that? Well, we've just learned that intangible cultural heritage is about the traditions that are not physical objects, and they're passed down through generations.

So this might be things like storytelling, music, dance, ritual, and food too.

Great work.

Now, food is an important part of our cultural heritage, because it connects us with our family and ancestry too, and can give us a sense of belonging to a group or community, plus it can carry memories of places, people, and times of our lives.

And also it teaches us values, like hospitality, sharing, and respect for nature too.

Also, it can bring communities together, especially during celebrations and festivals.

And food culture is more than just what we eat.

It includes things like beliefs, for example, so what people think is healthy, respectful, sacred, and appropriate to eat.

Or it might be attitudes too, so how people feel about the food, or perhaps it's the practises, so how food is prepared, served, and eaten, and that might include different types of tools, recipes, rituals, but also our table manners too.

And food culture is influenced by the geography, the climate, religion, tradition, history, migration, media, and lifestyle.

There's so much at play here.

And examples of different food cultures can include things like Jamaican food, and these often have bold flavours, with spices, herbs, and different cooking methods like jerk grilling.

And common dishes here include ackee and saltfish, rice and peas, and curried goat.

Also, there are lots of influences on that type of cuisine too, and these might be African, Caribbean, British, and Indian too.

And food is central to family gatherings, festivals, and Sunday dinners.

Another one is Chinese food culture.

And there's great variety across the regions, including the spicy food, the Sichuan food, or the Cantonese dim sum, and northern noodles.

And meals often involve sharing many different types of dishes with rice and noodles too.

And there's a strong focus on harmony and balance, hot and cold, salty and sweet.

And food plays a big role in festivals and rituals, so, for example, Lunar New Year dumplings.

Another example could be Italian food culture, and this is well known for things like pasta, pizza, olive oil, cheese, and fresh herbs too, like basil.

And meals are often slow and social, with family around the table.

And food is often made with pride using local, seasonal ingredients.

And there's a strong focus on regional dishes, like risotto in the north and seafood in the south.

So let's have a quick check for understanding, shall we? So which of these dishes below best reflects Jamaican food culture? Yes, that's right.

It's C, isn't it? That's the jerk chicken.

Well done, great work.

Now, over time, our food culture changes due to a number of different factors, and it might be things like, for example, migration or globalisation, for example, where people bring their food traditions with them when they move, and introduce new dishes to other people too, or it might be technology and innovation, new ways for us to produce, store, and sell the food that we have.

And also health and ethics too, beliefs about what is good for us and our bodies, or perhaps also the planet, linking to sustainability, or perhaps it's around animal welfare too.

And all these can shape the food that we eat.

Other aspects might be linked to social media and food trends.

So the trends that we see on social media can quickly change what is considered desirable to eat.

Also, religion too.

And there are different food customs that remain strong and may be adapted for life in the UK.

Plus there's cultural adaptation too, and this is adapting recipes and dishes based on the ingredients that are available in that country.

So let's have another quick check, shall we? So food culture changes over time due to A, B, C, D? Well, A, that's right, technology.

Anything else? Yes, great work, C, trends.

I think there's one more.

Yes, well done, migration.

Brilliant work.

In traditional food, cooking and customs forms part of our cultural identity, representing our heritage, history, and values.

And traditional food is more than just an old recipe.

It can connect people to their family to share stories and cultural roots, or perhaps the history of their region, religion, or community, or perhaps it's around shared values like hospitality, generosity, care, remembrance, and celebration too.

And cooking traditional food often involves different cooking techniques, rituals, or customs that often passed down from generation to generation.

So traditional food can help people feel connected to their family and ancestors too.

It also enables us to be proud of our heritage and background, and grounded during times of change or displacement, for example.

But it also enables us to celebrate that diversity too.

And traditional foods includes things like this.

So it might be moussaka from Greece, or perhaps sushi from Japan, or about feijoada from Brazil, or coq au vin in France, or pho in Vietnam, or perhaps sauerkraut from Germany.

And I'm sure you can think of lots of other traditional foods from different countries too.

So what's the missing word here? Traditional food, cooking, and customs forms part of our, blank, representing our heritage, history, and values.

Yes, that's right.

It's B, isn't it? It's cultural identity.

Well done.

And these food traditions might reflect major parts of our history in our country, such as migration, colonisation, war, religion, climate, and trade.

And in the UK, food traditions have been shaped by several different factors.

So just a few example could be our history.

So where did farming come from, fishing, for example, or perhaps rationing in World War II, or immigration, or perhaps it's linked to cultural and seasonal festivals too, or perhaps it's also linked to changing social values, for example, veganism, or looking at sustainability.

And while traditional food carries meaning, many people are also adapting dishes.

So, for example, using plant-based versions of old recipes, perhaps adding new flavours or ingredients to dishes, perhaps making the dishes quicker and more affordable too, or it could be about sharing them on social media.

So our cultural identity is not fixed, it's dynamic.

So I've got a task for you here.

And what I want you to do is, using the internet or books, investigate one food culture from around the world, highlighting its traditional dishes.

So you can see here the different boxes I've got.

So the food culture, the country or region, traditional dishes and ingredients, also other important information too, plus, if you can, some photos.

So I'm sure you're gonna do really well, and we'll come back very soon, see how you've got on.

Remember to pause the video.

Good luck.

Okay, so how did you get on? I they you really well, didn't you? Now, as there so many different food cultures we could look at, I'm just gonna show you one example.

So the one I'm gonna look at is the Mongolian food culture.

You can see it here on the map just highlighted in green.

And it's deeply rooted in its nomadic history, emphasising hearty, meat-based dishes and dairy products, with minimum use of fruit and vegetables.

And Mongolia, as you can see on the map here, is a landlocked country.

So for traditional dishes and ingredients, well, for example, I've chosen savoury dumplings, so like the buuz, which you can see here on the screen, or how about khorkhog, which is a type of barbecue dish, or tsuivan, which is a noodle dish, or boortsog, which is deep-fried donuts.

And the other important information I've recorded is that the harsh climate and nomadic lifestyle have really shaped the cuisine, relying on readily available ingredients, like mutton, beef, and camel.

It's also considered really polite to accept food and drink using your right hand.

And I'm sure you come up with some great ideas too.

Okay, so, now, we're gonna move on to the second part of the lesson, all around food customs. Now, food plays a significant role in the social interactions and rituals, often being associated with celebrations and gatherings.

And across the world and the UK, food plays a big part in celebrations, religious festivals, also family events, and daily customs too.

And food builds those social bonds, it really shows that hospitality, and also expresses our cultural identity.

And all of these are known as food customs, the way in which people prepare, serve, and eat food during important events, but also everyday life too.

They show who we are and what we value.

So food customs are rituals and traditions followed around the world, and it includes what we eat, when we eat, who we eat with, and why it matters too.

Now, these customs help people celebrate important life events, shows respect, and also generosity too, plus it keeps cultural and religious traditions alive, and it also can create a sense of belonging.

So let's have a quick check, shall we? So there's a missing word here.

Which word is it? Yes, well done.

It's food customs. Great work.

So let's have a look at a few food customs, shall we? Now, do you recognise this? Yes, that's right.

It's in the UK.

It's afternoon tea.

And it's a cultural food custom that includes tea, scones, cakes, and finger sandwiches too.

And it originated in the 1840s as a way for the upper class to bridge the gap between lunch and a late dinner.

How about another one? Can you guess what this is? Well, this is from Mexico, and it's a celebrate Day of the Dead.

And families remember and honour their ancestors, and traditional foods, like this bread, pan de muerto, which is bread of the dead, also tamales, are made and placed on altars to remember those ancestors.

And people believe that the spirits of their loved ones return, so their favourite foods are cooked and shared.

Another food custom is celebrated in China, and which is in the mid-autumn festival.

And this is celebrating the autumn to give thanks for the harvest, but also the full moon too.

And families exchange and eat mooncake.

You can see them on the screen here.

And those are often filled with red bean or lotus paste.

How about communal eating in Senegal, where you have communal dishes, such as thieboudienne, which is a rice dish with fish and vegetables, and it's shared by all, often eaten by hand.

And this reflects hospitality, humility, and respect.

And it's custom for the host to serve guests the best part of the meal.

Okay, so I've got a check for understanding here.

So which dish is made to give thanks for harvest and the full moon, A, B, C, D? Yes, that's right.

It's C, isn't it? Do you remember the mooncakes? Well done.

Another food culture is from a Morocco, a shared tagine.

And families often eat together from a communal dish, such as the tagine, which, you can see here, a slow-cooked stew.

And it's polite to only eat from your section of the shared plate using bread as a utensil.

And also this custom shows togetherness, manners, and hospitality too.

Another food custom is gursha from Ethiopia.

And in Ethiopian culture, it is common to eat from a shared plate called injera, which is a flatbread you can see it on the screen here.

And the gesture of love and respect is gursha, where one person feeds another by hand, and it really does symbolise trust and care.

The food customs really matter, as they can strengthen relationships, as people feel closer by eating together.

They can help celebrate identity through unique dishes and preparation styles.

It can also teach us values too, such as sharing, respect, thankfulness, and also celebration.

Plus it shows hospitality too, offering food to guests as a universal sign of welcome.

And as we looked at earlier, food customs are passed down from generation to generation, forming part of our intangible cultural heritage.

Okay, let's have another quick check, shall we? So in Ethiopian food culture, what is the act of hand-feeding another person called, A, B, or C? Yes, that's right.

It's C, gursha.

Well done.

Okay, so I've got a task for you here.

And what I want you to do is to reflect on the following questions.

The first one is, what food customs does your family follow? The second one is, have you ever taken part in a celebration where food played a big role? I want you to describe the celebration.

The third one is, why do you think sharing food makes people feel more connected? And lastly, can you think of a food tradition that has changed or been adapted over time? Okay, so I'm sure you can do really well.

Remember to pause the video, and we'll come back very soon to see how you've got on.

All right, so how did you get on? Well, let's look at an example together, something that you might have put.

I'm sure you've come up with some great ideas.

And this is gonna be different for everyone, what food customs as your family follow? Now, for example, it could be something like this, that, "We often have a meal together, usually on a Sunday.

And everyone is busy in the week, so it's a great time to be together and eat the food that we love.

And in my family, that would be a Sunday roast for example." How about the second question, about taking part in a celebration where food plays a big role? Or it might be that your family's from another country, like, for example, could be from Japan.

And at New Year, they have traditional foods like the osechi ryori, which is a lovely food full of things like beans, fish, vegetables, seaweed, and it's packed into little boxes.

And each of the foods has a meaning too, such as wealth and success, with smashed sweet potatoes and chestnuts too.

How about the third one? Why do you think sharing food makes people feel more connected? Well, you may have put something like, "Most people like to talk, and it's a way of meeting new people, as well as being with people that you like or love.

And you can also chat about the food too." And the last one, can you think of a food tradition that has changed? Although, again, this will be different for everyone, and one example could be the UK Sunday roast or a Sunday dinner, and that's changed over time.

And although it was very traditional and lots of people ate it, over time, it has changed.

And people eat lots of different types of foods now, because they might be busy, they might be working, or they just have other plans too.

So well done.

I'm sure you come up with some great answers for those four questions.

Great work.

Okay, so, now, we're gonna move into the third part of lesson, all around food inspiration.

Now, in our dynamic food culture, chefs, home cooks, and food creators often take inspiration from their own cultural roots and other food traditions too from around the world.

And they combine flavours, ingredients, and cooking styles to create new dishes that celebrate diversity and bring people together.

And this practise is often called fusion, innovation, or perhaps reinterpretation.

And when done with care, helps to honour and preserve culture identity, while also exploring new ideas too.

Now, these chefs, cooks, and food creators may take inspiration by doing some of the following, for example, recreating dishes from their own heritage, and adding a modern twist, or perhaps learning from other cultures through travelling, research, or working with international teams, or perhaps it's mixing ingredients and cooking techniques from two or more food cultures, or perhaps it's just responding to people's changing taste, so, for example, plant-based, gluten-free, or sustainable food too.

Plus it might be sharing stories through the food, maybe that's sharing their own or perhaps other communities that they admire too.

So true or false, chefs and others take inspiration from their own cultural roots and other food traditions around the world? Yes, that's true, isn't it? And why is that? Well, they can combine flavours, ingredients, and cooking styles to create new dishes.

And when done with care, this helps to honour and preserve culture identity, as well as exploring new ideas.

Great work.

So as people explore and enjoy food from different cultures, it's important to understand how to do this respectfully.

And chefs, cooks, and food creators, and everyday people can either honour a food culture or unintentionally disrespect it, especially if they do not understand the meaning behind the dish.

And therefore, there is a difference between inspiration and cultural appropriation.

So respectful cultural happens when someone learns about the history and meaning of a dish or a food custom, or perhaps credits the culture or community that the food comes from, uses the correct names and the ingredients, where possible, also celebrates the culture, not just the trend or the flavour, and also they listen to the people from that culture and includes their voices and stories too.

So, for example, a food blogger makes a ramen and shares it as a Japanese dish with a long history.

So they don't try to rename it, or they don't suggest that they've invented it either.

But they do show admiration for the cooking technique and also Japanese cuisine too.

However, cultural appropriation happens when someone takes dishes from a culture without understanding or acknowledging where it came from, or perhaps profits from a tradition that has been looked down on the past when practised by the original community, or perhaps they use stereotypes, changing the food in offensive ways, or represent it as exotic or weird.

Perhaps they've claimed that they've discovered it or invented a traditional food.

So, for example, this could be something like a chef creates a version of a South Asian curry and calls it a superfood fusion, and they mark as their own idea, but they don't mention about the thousands of years of tradition behind curries and crediting the region either.

So cultural appropriation matters, as many food traditions come from communities that have faced colonialism, for example, that's the rule of a country by another, perhaps racism or discrimination, also poverty or displacement.

Plus it can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, erase the original culture's contributions, and cause offence or harm to the group who the culture is being used.

So respectful sharing of food culture is important, and it builds understanding and appreciation.

So we can all learn about the history and cultural meaning of food and dishes.

We can use the correct names, ingredients, and preparation methods where possible.

Plus we credit and support businesses run by people from that culture, and we avoid stereotypes or exoticizing food.

And lastly, we celebrate the culture as a whole.

Okay, so let's have a quick check for understanding, shall we? So true or false, appropriation is just the appreciation and admiration of other cultures? Well, that's right, it's false isn't it? And why is that? Well, culture appropriation can be the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption or use of elements of a minority culture by members of a dominant culture, often in ways that are disrespectful, stereotypical, or exploitative.

Great work.

So, next, I want to go through three case studies with you.

And the first one is Nadiya Hussain, who you may recognise as a British baker and also TV presenter too.

And she draws upon her Bangladeshi heritage, often combining flavours and traditions of South Asian cooking with British classics too.

And she uses the food to celebrate her identity, share her food culture, and show how British food is shaped by many different traditions.

Plus, through her cooking, she brings people and cultures together.

The second case study is Gary Maclean, who is Scotland's first national chef.

Also, he's a winner of "Master Chef" too.

And he celebrates his Scottish culture by using local ingredients, like seafood, haggis, and root vegetables, while also reimagining traditional dishes with a modern twist.

And through his cookbooks, restaurants, and also teaching, he promotes Scotland's rich food heritage at home and around the world too.

And his work inspires pride in Scottish identity and also encourages young chefs to explore their own culinary roots too.

And the third case study is Adejoke Bakare, who is a Nigerian-born British chef and the first Black woman in the UK to earn a Michelin star, and in fact, just the second one in the world.

Through her cooking, she shares on the rich flavours and traditions of West African cuisine, drawing on her Yoruba and Igbo heritage, which are two distinct cultural and historic heritages in Nigeria.

And her dishes combine authentic ingredients and techniques from across the region, helping to educate and inspire others about West African culture.

Bakare uses food as a way to honour her roots while creating bold, modern dishes that celebrate diversity.

So by taking inspiration from our food culture to create dishes while honouring diverse backgrounds, we can help to preserve food cultures by keeping traditional ingredients and techniques alive.

Plus we can educate people about different backgrounds and stories too.

We also can reflect on how modern societies are diverse and connected, as well as showing that food is always evolving, like language and music.

Plus it can bring cultures together, with people trying a new dish, for example, and discovering a culture they didn't know much about before.

Let's have a quick check, shall we? So not only can new dishes be created by taking inspiration from food cultures, it can also what? Yes, that's right, it can, A, educate people.

Anything else? Yes, well done, bring cultures together.

There's one more, I think.

Yes, well done, reflect diverse societies.

Great work.

Okay, so I've got a task for you here.

And what I want you to do is, using the internet, I want you to write a case study about a chef, a cook, a food creator, or maybe an influencer, who takes inspiration from their own cultural roots and also from other food traditions from around the world.

So a little bit about their name, their background, their cultural roots or food traditions, and the types of food and dishes that they make.

And if you can, it'd be great to get a photo of them too.

So good luck to you.

Pause the video, and we'll come back very soon to see how you've got on.

Okay, so how did you get on? I hope you enjoyed that.

There are so many great chefs and cooks out there.

I'm sure you've come up with some brilliant ideas.

Well, let's look at one example together, shall we? And my chef that I've picked is a guy called Jeremy Pang.

And his background is, he comes from a long line of Chinese cooks, and influenced by his father and maternal grandparents' work in Cantonese restaurants.

And he uses his Hong Kong and Cantonese roots to cook home-style dishes.

So for him, the cultural roots of food traditions are things around his Cantonese heritage and family traditions.

So he combines classic Chinese techniques with modern twists to suit UK home cooks.

And Jeremy celebrates his cultural roots while encouraging people to appreciate the history and flavours behind each dish.

And his approach blends tradition with creativity, always honouring the food culture that inspire his recipes.

Well, I'm sure you come up with some great work too.

Congratulations to you.

Okay, well, that's the end of today's lesson, all around our dynamic food culture.

So let's have a quick summary of what we've learned today, shall we? Well, the first one is that food is deeply ingrained in our cultural identity, the passing of intangible cultural heritage from one generation to another.

Also, food cultures are the beliefs, attitudes, and practises related to producing and consuming food, and these change over time.

In traditional food, cooking and customs forms our cultural identity, representing the heritage, history, and values.

Also, we know that food plays a significant role in the social interactions and rituals, often being associated with celebrations and gatherings too.

And lastly, we've seen that chefs, cooks, and other food creators may take inspiration from their own or other food cultures, creating dishes and honouring diverse backgrounds.

And this should be respectful and avoid cultural appropriation.

Well, I hope you really enjoyed today's lesson.

It's been really interesting.

And I hope you come back very soon for another cooking and nutrition lesson with me.

Thanks a lot.

Bye.