difference in food cultures? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**raysen** · 07-03-2006, 05:37 AM

Ok, my mum iss doing a sort fo NVQ thingy for her job and one of the things she needs to find out before she finsihes is the the way different cultures prepare their food and
Such as what cultures don't eat things or only eat thigns on certain days or only eat thigns with certain food, etc

Or just some linsk to websites would be a grand help and off now to google. But would appreciate all help with this.

cheers guys

Raysen

**lauren313** · 07-03-2006, 05:42 AM

Here are a couple of links I food through google!

Chinese

Muslim

Hope they help.

**lauren313** · 07-03-2006, 05:42 AM

Hah, Freudian slip there, I meant to write "links I FOUND through google"!

**raysen** · 07-03-2006, 05:45 AM

cheers thanks alot, these are wiked. Got a few myself as well. Still any orthers appreciated guys

**Joker** · 07-03-2006, 07:47 AM

Not sure if its applicable, but a lot of cultural rejection of certain types of food is based in ancient sanitation, IE Kosher and Halal butchering process, pork being out of the question, etc.

For instance: Pork has always been out in Kosher terms because pigs were filthy animals. Anything that wallowed in its own crap and ate whatever you put in front of it could get you very sick if cooked improperly.

For that matter, mixing meat and dairy products on the same utensils, plates, cutting boards, etc. could potentially cross-contaminate each other since there wasn't any anti-bacterial soap available when Moses was around, so you get the idea.

If an animal was slaughtered improperly and the blood sat in its carcass too long, it could go septic and potentially infect the meat with dangerous bacteria that could kill someone that eats it. Therefore a Rabbi had to be present to make sure the butcher was doing his job, etc etc etc.

Therefore, religions and societies developed certain dietary laws to not prevent the enjoyment of a good baked ham, but to prevent the destruction of their communities via food-borne illness.

The advent of modern antibacterial soaps and advances in animal husbandry have effectively made these dietary laws no longer valid except within the traditional observances of religion. But even those have been whittled away. I used to go over a Jewish friend's house every Sunday for "Hamover," where we'd eat a very non-Kosher meal of baked ham, homemade mac & cheese, etc... :D

(Even up until about 30 years ago in the US, pork was potentially unsafe, slopped with whatever scraps were around, and generally living in their own excrement. The Agriculture Department stepped in, changed that, and through modern animal husbandry has nearly (within 99%) eradicated any pork-based food borne illnesses. I wouldn't eat raw pork, but eating it medium is definitely in.)

**raysen** · 07-03-2006, 10:00 AM

Thanks alot, my mum is well chuffed with the amount of info.
Shud keep her quiet for a while ;-) nah just joshing good to help out.
And thatnks alot for all your replies guys greatly apprecaited and informative!

xx

**florencia9699** · 07-03-2006, 06:01 PM

I dont remeber this very clealy (i mean with much detail... perohaps your mum should look it up) but when I lived in Syria, for Ramadan oron the last day of the fasting they had lamb, they killed it, hung it and let the blood drain down the streets. I remember cause my mum was so disgusted she didn't even let us go out and watch. This happened 10 years ago, but the more than likely keep this tradition in smaller towns.

Echeverry · 07-05-2006, 08:50 PM

I'm just gonna give away the name of my favorite cusine genius. yep you got it! Leonardo Da Vinci, just so you know he invented the napkin and oh so many other things, dishes, utensils, blah blah blah he is the biggest in my eyes! do a little research on him within the Culinary aspect.