Conversations: Eating American: Food and Culture in Dialogue

Catalog description

Food has been the source of conversation and cultural exchange across centuries and continents. Knowing about food and knowing how to talk about food helps us to challenge and transform cultural boundaries. Such active engagement with food cultures no only allows us to foster unity in diversity but also matures our mind and plate. We learn what we eat and why and how we eat. This course is primarily designed to help us learn how to engage in constructive conversation about food, eating, and cooking in America. Since the USA is often described as a melting pot or a salad bowl, such an engagement must involve learning (to talk) about the tremendous diversity of cuisines, ingredients, food cultures, and culinary histories that surround us. We will talk about ways in which we can present food with meticulous attention to beauty and detail. Keeping in mind that cooking is also performance art, the course incorporates preparing and presenting dishes designed by students. The grand finale will be a multi course meal served to selected members of the Le Moyne Community. Course will meet full semester.