Bite by Bite: The Global Story Food Tells

Through the past decades, food has connected cultures around the world, and because of growing international trade and travel, different foods are becoming available to different parts of the world. And not only at high end restaurants, but at street vendors, or even fast food chains.

The rapid spread of fast food escalated from a domestic scale to an international one. In seventy five years, McDonalds has grown from one location to over 40,000 restaurants in 100 countries. Although they only originally offered the classic American meal, they have adapted to many other countries with their own unique items. In India, many of some of the most classic McDonald's specials have been altered to match some of the local tastes; for example, the big mac was changed to the Maharaja Mac, an Indian twist, featuring chicken or paneer instead of beef. In Japan, many items are made with seafood like the shrimp burger. In the UAE, McDonalds sells falafel with hummus. In this way, McDonald’s and other chains seamlessly combine modern fast food with centuries-old culinary traditions.

The scent of the sizzling grill spreads through the air; a makeshift stand is tucked between two stalls, like an ingredient in one of the biggest melting pots in the world: New York City. Unlike global fast food chains, street vendors offer a transparent view into a culture’s culinary soul. Millions of immigrants travel to huge cities like New York City because of the American Dream, but the American Dream isn’t just about earning generational wealth: it is about being happy, and almost nothing brings more joy and connection than food does. The small urban food stands bring their cultures to their new home, allowing many to get the same edible satisfactions as they got in their hometowns. Food stands also bridge between cultures, allowing people to experience authentic dishes from far-off places. It’s a beautiful and delicious way to preserve tradition while adding to the area like a cultural tapestry.

Because of huge mixing pots of different traditions, fusion dishes are becoming more common and popular throughout the world. In Dallas, Texas, Tex-Mex (Texas-Mexican) has diffused itself into every part of the city. In fact, queso, a melted cheese that was created from the fusion of Texas and Mexican cultures, is so popular that many Americans treat it like a classic, forgetting its origin. Other famous Tex-Mex dishes include the fajita and chimichanga. In addition, Mexican culture has mixed with countries all over the globe. Korean BBQ tacos, featuring bulgogi with salsa, cilantro, and lime, are a street vendor staple in NYC. Other fun fusions include the Sushi Burrito, a large piece of sushi wrapped in a Mexican Burrito style, and Indian twist on pizza, which includes masala, saffron, and curry with the traditional pizza dough, and the matcha latte, a japanese twist on a milk latte. Fusion dishes are also becoming more accepted and accessible through technology.

Because millions of people do not have time to dine at a restaurant, or they prefer home cooked meals, technology has helped spread cultures to every kitchen and household. Recipes are available for almost any food, and because of this, people can enjoy food from countries all over the world, with only a couple taps. Websites like Pinterest or cooking shows allow one to gain experience in the culinary world. With these tools, one can make and enjoy a new twist of their favorite food from another city, or try something completely different from the other side of the world that they would not have tried otherwise. The rapid spread of social media is facilitating that process. The billions of people that use apps like Youtube, Instagram, X, Facebook, Tiktok, Snapchat, and Quora are able to learn many new recipes by just scrolling through a feed, and if their favorite influencers try something new, they might too. All it takes is one video to change how they view food.

In today’s colorful and rich world, food has become one of the most powerful ways for people to connect. Food is like a universal language, one that people do not have to speak to understand; one that involves more than just one sense; and one that is constantly changed with no boundaries. From fast food to local tastes, great food can be found everywhere, and every morsel of food tells a story: it can brighten up someone’s day, tell someone thank you, or even remind them of home. Food is more than just a necessity; it is an expression of love, culture, and identity. As the world becomes more linked, people from different places will meet, which will create new traditions and flavors. And so the next time you try a new dish, ask yourself: What story does it tell, and what cultures are you tasting?