Food porn, culture and Lifestyle
FOOD IS UNIVERSAL
It brings us together …
Food is the fuel that gives us life, it is medicine and becomes part of us. For generations we were so connected to how, where and why we collected, nurtured and prepared our food. For generations food was to be celebrated and the source and connectedness of the celebration for which family and friends gather together. Over time we have now become connected with frequent shopper cards, weekly specials and shopping trolleys. Food has become something we have to do, fix and often for some feels like a mundane task that we do or seek for convenience and survival multiple times a day.
There are some cultures more renowned for food, where their culture, lifestyle and food are intrinsically intertwined.
In the Mediterranean - The locals walk the hills of nourishing soil to gather and nurture the crops. The landscape provides life and life provides the landscape in the hills of fertile soil. The table is the centre of a family’s space and all the food is sourced and shared. Bustling conversations, to catch up and socialise. The original paddock to plate philosophy where the senses are enlightened by the smells of the quality produce.
In China - Tea is not just a beverage, it is a culture of its own with social norms and rituals. It is just as much the preparation of the tea as the experience and occasion to which you gather for the ceremony.
In the Middle East - You enter a buzzing bazaar filled with mountains of spices, nuts and legumes. The senses are enlightened as the colours are as intense as the scent of the goods. The experience and culture of food here is just as much about sourcing the food and the social aspect of gathering the food, while sampling the breads along the way, as it is to lovingly cook what you have sourced.
In France - If ever there was a culture that shows us that it is not butter, bread and cheese that makes us fat and have cardio vascular disease, but instead our lifestyle and degraded hollow ingredients that make us fat, it is the French. As the popular cook book tells us, French women are not fat. France is an absolute foodie’s paradise, where deliciously creamy cheese, that is heaven forbid unpasteurized, sits on top of bread that is crunchy, chewy and bread full of taste in itself. A meal using a few simple ingredients is topped with a wine where you can smell and taste the soil that emanates the region to where the grapes are grown.
All of the above cultures have the same underpinning philosophy about food; quality, flavour and experience. These cultures live breathe and centre their day around food. Most of the cuisines and cultures below gain the finest quality of ingredients and are cooked as simply as possible.
They live for food and food provides them with their life, health and wellbeing.
We can't all live in the Mediterranean and for many of us the supermarket is a reality. While we cannot escape the alarming obesity rates in the first world, it doesn’t mean that for many food has and always will be part of our life and lifestyle. Throughout Australia there are microcosms of 'foodie' suburbs, regions and specialty shops were like-minded people flock. Food shows flood the TV’s for adults, children and families, categorised not just by sweet and savoury, but by cuisine, season and purpose. Connection and career in food is an acceptable career held in high esteem. If there was ever something that signified that food is a part of our modern lifestyle, it is the food trends, food porn and brunch that have swamped Instagram.
There has been the obvious brunch culture with smashed 'avo' on toast, baked eggs, sous-vied eggs, the maple bacon phase, indian dosa, and pulled pork on everything. There have been trends on drinks such as turmeric and coloured lattes with all types of milk and mylks. Grains and seeds, granola, bircher, congee, chia puddings and ricotta hot cakes. The 'Superfoods', goji berries, the wheat grass shot phase and green smoothies. Of late the resurgence (that has been around for centuries) of fermented foods, buzz words such as 'paddock to plate', 'locally sourced' and 'seasonal produce'. Fabulously enough even Australian natives such as finger limes, sea vegetables and salt bush featured in more Australian eateries.
Food is even if you didn’t think it, always was and is indeed a lifestyle element. Not all 'avo' on toast is equal and some strive for the ultimate trendy bunch. Many line up for hours to get the squeezy spot in the trendy new local to eat their brunch at 11am on a weekend. Food is a culture and culture is centred around food. Next time you put fork or finger to mouth consider why food is important to you, as its part of your lifestyle. What you eat reflects you and is just as much an extension of you, as the trendy shades you hide behind on a sunny morning or after an indulgent evening. To read some food lifestyle books see here.
Words By
Anita La Forgia
Life learner, multipotentialite, lifestyle elevator and creator
A treechanger who cooks to elevate life. Anita is passionate foodie using local, quality and seasonal ingredients. Living in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria she frequents the local farmers markets each week, with her beloved luggy. Her grandparents instilled the life skills of sustainable living, before sustainable living was a buzz word. She grew up in a restaurant and completing her International degree at César Ritz colleges in Switzerland, the heart land of hospitality, food and service.
Feature image: Upsplash