1. National Culture is not an independent variable which is processed from inside the
borders
Breaching the Great Wall of National cultures
Maginot Lines Great Wall of China

2. From the classroom we are observing the world and making
connections beyond boundaries
Understanding with local realities and their connections with other
cultures and then
Bridging the culture beyond the boundaries

3. Why should we be teaching Global
issues?
Why should we be using Food to
do it?
• Because cultures are always evolving
• Cultural norms are permanently
evolving very fast
• The Information Technology era
speeds up this evolution

4. Teaching Global Issues through Cuisine. There are changes in every country going on and people do
not realize it
Chinese, Mexican and Indian food became part of the heritage in the US only in the past 30 years!
The same happened in France with Couscous and Italian food.
Tapas is becoming a global way of cooking, eating and socializing!!
So it makes perfect sense for kids to cook and learn new cultures!

5. Trade roads and cross cultural
influences

6. One example we discovered in
class and in the kitchen about
Chinese Cuisine
While we have to grant China for
inventing chopsticks, rice
noodles,tofu, the stir-fry
method of cooking
However:
Chinese cuisine was constantly
evolving and enriching itself in
contact with the other
civilizations

7. Plants introduced by Yuan (Mongols) in China between the 13th and 14th
Centuries
high-quality
granulated
sugar,

8. • Hong Kong, through its role as a port and trade
center reflects a mix of cooking styles from a
wide range of foreign influences
• Foreign influences (arabs, Indian, Portuguese,
British…) arrived in the city and survive in
modern times
• The reason for Canton's pre-eminence in
Chinese cuisine are manifold (climate,
agriculture, etc..) But one of the more
important factors is that it was always a port
open to foreign influences.

9. Indian cuisine : a heritage from the Central Asia
influence and the Mughals
Tandoori chicken Indian Kebab
Donner kebab Greek Souvlaki

10. Ottoman Cuisine: cooking and looking for connections
beyond boundaries

11. Turkish Cuisine and Beyond

12. Building a map of those cross-
cultural connections:
Eggplant From India
Western World (arabs and Ottomans) early 15th
Century
Tomatoes From Aztecs
16th Century
Chick Peas From Syria to India 15th Century
Chilli Pepper From Americas 16th Century
Harissa From Americas and India (Spices)
Paprika From South America (16TH CENTURY)

13. Cooking and Eating are building a
new kind of Social Connections

14. Going out and eating at restaurants is a way to connect virtually with
other cultures.