INTERNATIONAL CUISINE

Contributed by Kristianna Marie S. Bautista – Orion, Bataan

Culinary expertise is a skill that won’t go amiss anywhere in the world. An opportunity is always available when there is mastery on any endeavor, one of which is the art of cooking. While we have to gratify our gustatory craving, the eyes are the ones that must be attracted since we eat with our eyes first.

China, Japan, France, Italy, American, Mexico, India , Thailand, Spain, England are considered as the Top Ten countries in the world who offer the best food with Italy being number 1. The Italian cuisine reflects the cultural diversity of its region. Italians are very particular in the food they serve with only the freshest ingredients being used not only for their hotels and restaurant but at homes as well. Due to the topography of the place, the soil and climate conditions favor farming and livestock.

As for the Chinese, they believe that food must be eaten not only to satisfy but also to achieve optimal health. Food prepared must be appealing to senses other than taste, with colors, ingredients, textures, attracting the eye.

For the Japanese, three factors must be met – art, taste, and serving dish. They do not much favor the use of too much spices but instead emphasize on pure, clean flavors of its natural ingredients.

The French, on the other hand, consider food as one of the greatest pleasures of life. Meticulous in their preparation, vegetables, herbs and fruits grown are carefully selected as ingredients. Many people consider French cooking as astonishing delicious. Foods are perfectly prepared with garnishing chosen painstakingly to appeal even to the most discriminating tongue.

Mexicans, Thais and Indians, all use a variety of spices with intense flavors and colorful presentation. Food preparations in these countries are characterized by the peppery and hot taste.

American and English cuisines, both with a variety of ethnic cultures, have food varying from region to region, with diverse and rich cooking styles equal only to ingredients used. With migrants from Asia and Europe, dishes are a fusion of all the palates of the races who migrated to the two countries.

In Spain, cooking is elaborately done. They do not take shortcuts that even the traditional Paella and Tapas are prepared with great care. Ingredients such as peaches, oranges, nuts, grapes are locally grown for the fruit being eaten as is or fermented into wine. The same is true with meat sources which are being formed; the Spanish being very particular on fresh ingredients.

These having been said, there are few things common among all the world’s cuisines. An emphasis on the preparation, the use of the freshest elements and the significance of taste are all given preferences.

Proficiency in the different styles and art of food development is a quality that could aid an individual soar to greater heights. As they say, “the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”.

References:

www.slideshare.net/aoifeboyle/american-cuisine

www.slideshare.net/rOdzLovesU/mexican-cuisine-39047519

https://opentextbc.ca/introtourism/chapter/chapter-4-food-and-beverages-services/

Culinary essentials(2010) woodland hills,CA: Glencoe/McGraw Hill.

Foundations of reastaurant management & culinary arts: Level one. (2011) Boston, MA: Prentice Hill.