Stories
The Invention of Authentic Italian Food
Building on the myths of tradition and authenticity, Italian food has soared worldwide in terms of cultural prestige and commercial success. Representations in media, as well as changing performances of culinary identities both abroad and in Italy, have contributed to...
Cooking with Great-Grandma
After cooking my great-grandmother recipes on a wood stove, I have an all-new admiration and respect for the abilities of those women whose talents were not given enough credit, discounted as what they were supposed to do as wives and daughters. A vast amount of...
Cosmopolitan Snacking: Night Street Food in Warsaw
Street food at trendy night markets in large Polish cities reflects the desire to be worldly by eating the world. The line between a party and a meal is blurred. The food is integrated in a sense of fun and conviviality that marks the reclamation of public spaces and...
Food Heritage: Is It There or Do We Make it?
Food heritage inevitably changes. It does not make sense to turn it into a museum piece that does not reflect the reality of the people from which it emerges. Unlike other intangible aspects of culture that can be maintained outside of everyday life, for special...
A poem against Coca-Cola: welcome to 1950 Stalinist Poland
Food and politics are closely connected: that comes as a surprise to nobody. Certain iconic foods (or drinks) have a special place in our collective imagination. Some may be identified with a nation or a social class, others become symbol of economic dynamics that are...
Infinite Appetite: Food in The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy
Food satire in US TV comedy shows, animated sitcoms such as South Park, and Internet videos provides an outlet to reflect on social and cultural problems, including racism. It also offers a rather benign critique of the vices of the average American. After all, the...