Category Archives: Week 4

Gabaccia’s basic argument in “Food Fights and American Values,” is this: native Americans only accepted ethnic cuisine into the mainstream because it was convenient, and did not alter any of their core values in the process. To which I respond: … Continue reading →

Before reading Gabaccia’s Food Fights article, I had the notion that it is only since the mid-half of the 20th century, following the post-WW2 boom of corporate enterprise, that the dietary practices and culture of the American lower classes have … Continue reading →

Gabaccia details in his article, “Food Fights and American Values”, how the concern for healthier, American eating amongst immigrants provoked a need to create a national cuisine for foreigners, and native-borns, to aspire to. After a wave of immigration in … Continue reading →

My family has always been a lover of cultures, and the food has sometimes been the driving force of this appreciation. The food of a people group is a defining factor, something that sets them apart from another ethnicity and … Continue reading →

While reading Orozco’s piece, “Everything About Assimilation,” I became interested in his discussion of the difficulties of assimilation for second generation Americans, the progeny of the initial wave of newcomers.  Orozco made the point, backing it up with cited studies, … Continue reading →

I found the linkage of dietary choices to assimilation discussed in Gabaccia’s article surprising and ridiculous. Cuisine is an important part of overall culture, distinct to each group of people and their traditions passed through generations. With this in mind, … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →