Eating is the universal pastime. When we celebrate a birthday, cake is a key feature of a party. When we watch a movie, munching on popcorn and candy is almost a necessity. At the holidays, people gather together for traditional meals. Food unites people because all people need it to survive. It triggers pleasure centers in our brains. America is unique in how it does not have a national cuisine. Instead, present-day Americans celebrate culinary pluralism. When the author of Food Fights and American Values brought up this fact, I realized that food has the potential to bring Americans of different cultures together in a way that biologically causes us pleasure. As we eat, we can associate our pleasure not only to the food, but also to the people, atmosphere, and culture that surrounds us! So, what better way to appreciate a culture by tasting its cuisine?
Stephanie Azzopardi
