Abstract
The author notes that current scholarship seems to favor that cuisine cannot be described in this large a group, that cuisine can only be regional or local. In arguing that this is not so, the author investigates the meaning of cuisine, its genesis and its history. The author makes the case that despite the arbitrary political boundaries of a nation and the continual shift towards ethnic and cultural diversity within nations, national cuisine is a real and definable entity. The author notes that this does not mean, however, that nations have a national cuisine just by virtue of their existence; many nations have no national cuisine, and some have no definable cuisine at all, even at the regional or local level.

Tags:cuisine, gastronomy, food

Abstract
This paper discusses three types of cuisine. When it comes to finding a great restaurant, the first decision to be made is the type of cuisine. The writer maintains that it is important to determine what type of food, courses and environment is desired in order to select the restaurant and the cuisine, especially if the person wants something different than most menus offer. The writer discusses that Chinese, Caribbean and Danish are three great choices.

From the Paper
"Basically, what does the person want to eat? What type of environment does the person desire? What specific types of courses does the person want? These questions are vital to selecting the restaurant and the cuisine, especially if the person wants something different than most menus offer. Looking for a different type of cuisine than the western flair of steak of chicken? Think about one of these: Chinese, Danish, or Caribbean. What is Caribbean cuisine and why should it become a favorite food?"

Tags:cuisine

Abstract
In recent years, the popularity of Thai cuisine has soared in North America. This paper will consider Thai cuisine, its historical context and its unique appeal. This paper will provide the reader with an indication as to the diversity of this popular cuisine.

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the history of Southwestern Cuisine and its impact on American cuisine and culture, as well as information on how it is prepared and on which ingredients it relies.

From the Paper
"An examination of popular cooking magazines over the past years will show that food trends come and go quickly, but the proliferation of Southwestern Cuisine shows no sign of fading; rather, its popularity has remained and is growing its influence has expanded far beyond its regional origins. Its core ingredients of vegetables, legumes, meats and grains lend themselves to a variety of interpretation, from gourmet to vegetarian when combined with the spices, chilies and cheeses native to the Southwestern region of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona."

Tags:beans, tortillas, Mexico, Tex-Mex, Arizona, Colorado, Native, Americans

From the Paper
"Within the Japanese cuisine, there contains many strange meals but there are myriads of delights that would make anybody's tastes buds melt. Coming from a Japanese decent I have tried many of these tasty meals, but I would not take it too an extreme to say that I drink "snakes blood for longevity"(Steinberg 6). Japanese meals are actually considered very healthy and low fat considered to the traditional American, southern fried chicken. Japanese food is served in little portions and displayed in a very exciting way to liven up every aspect of each savory bite. To liven up these dishes we often cut vegetables or fruits into tiny designs or animals, or organize each piece of meat and each small vegetable in a way that flatters the plate. Cutting and Slicing, mostly vegetables into meticulous designs, makes a dish its own work of art. "

Tags:culture, food

Abstract
This paper examines Persian cuisine. It examines the symbolic nature, the cultural relevance and the medicinal value of the cuisine. The paper also explores traditional Persian food within the immigrant Iranian culture in the United States and culture-specific habits of recent Iranian immigrants. The paper identifies the symbols and meanings of Persian cuisine in both daily activities and ceremonies.

Table of Contents:
Background
Methodology
Focus Group
Questionnaires
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Special events, ceremonies and festivities will feature certain foods as they symbolize things from life, to peace, to fertility, to good fortune. Though many Iranian immigrants may not know all that the food they eat represents, they are very aware of the ingredients in the food, and that they are used together in certain ways for gastronomical health and inner balance."
"In looking at the research as a whole, it is not a complete study of Persian food, but rather a sample of recent Iranian immigrants and their beliefs and understanding of Persian cuisine. This study could be further refined and used in a longer-term study of eating habits, tradition, and transition from one culture to another."

Tags:ceremony, tastes, health, food

Abstract
The paper relates that the Mediterranean cuisine is a healthy diet that contains many of the vitamins and nutrients that help us lose weight and live longer, healthier lives. The paper focuses on the nutritional qualities of olive oil, tomatoes, vegetables, lean meats, fish and red wine that are all an integral part of this diet. The paper also discusses how the Mediterranean diet is low in sweets, desserts and deep-fat fried foods. The physically active lifestyle of the area is noted as well as the fact that the lunchtime meal is the largest of the day with the smaller meal being eaten in the evening. This makes it easier on digestion and the absorption of calories and nutrients.

From the Paper
"The Mediterranean diet of southern Europe is high in many items that many scientists and researchers believe help maintain heart health and a healthy weight. Olive oil, tomatoes, vegetables, lean meats, and even red wine all are an integral part of this diet, and studies indicate residents of the area live longer, with fewer heart problems, than residents of the United States. As more people learn about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, it seems that more people will begin to study and live this healthier lifestyle. One way to encourage the adaptation of the American diet is to help people learn the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, learn how to prepare healthy dishes at home, and provide low-calorie and fat alternative for dining out, using the principles of the Mediterranean diet as a guide."

Tags:olive, oil, tomatoes, vegetables, fish, wine, vitamins, nutrients, fat, calories

Abstract
This paper describes how Indian and Chinese foods differ from each other and how, although both carry strong characteristics, they can both be successfully combined with other cuisines.

From the Paper
"The cuisines of the world are being fused together in many restaurants, sometimes obscuring the simplicity of country cooking. However, the purity of national and regional cuisines can be expressed through the core dishes of each region. For example, Asian food is incredibly diverse. Indian food is being fused with many other cuisines and so is Chinese food but both Indian and Chinese food retain an essential character that distinguishes them from each other and from other world-class cuisines. Indian food is usually creamy in texture. Vegetables are cooked for long periods of time and only on rare occasion are served crunchy or raw. On the other hand, Chinese food features crisp vegetables and only rarely pulverizes them to the extent that they are in Indian cuisine. Both Indian and Chinese cuisine use meats sparingly, and in fact both countries have a strong vegetarian component. However, Indian food remains one of the most vegetarian friendly cuisines of the world whereas it may be hard to be a pure vegetarian in a Chinese restaurant. Finally, both Indian and Chinese foods emphasize spices and sometimes hot chilies. Indian and Chinese food share a lot in common but their overall presentation, texture, ingredients, and flavors are vastly different."

Tags:regional, vegetarian, spices

Abstract
The paper discusses how the modern history of Vietnam's society and culture is a complex narrative that covers not only the Vietnamese war against the French and later the Americans, but also deep cultural divisions within Vietnam itself and, more recently, between Vietnamese in Southeast Asia and the many Vietnamese immigrants who have settled abroad. The paper examines how the complexity of this history can be seen in the challenge of answering the fundamental question of Vietnamese identity: "What does it mean to be Vietnamese?". The paper analyzes whether Vietnamese identity is limited to those occupying a geographic space at the southeast portion of the Asian continent, or whether it can be considered a broader social and cultural identity.

Tags:vietnam, culture, society

Abstract
A short analysis of Anne Tyler's novel "Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant", focusing on the character of Jenny Tull and her dual personality in which she treats strangers lovingly and loved ones with distance. The paper presents many quotes to illustrate the writer's arguments.

From the Paper
"Anne Tyler's novel Dinner at The Homesick Restaurant brings to life a series of believable characters that we can all relate to, who to some extent remind us of ourselves or of people we have known. Perhaps one of the most vibrant characters in this novel is the lead character's daughter. Through vivid characterization, Jenny Tull is portrayed to the reader as being distant towards the most important people in her life, while at the same time she is highly caring and ambitious towards the more trivial issues that surround her."

Tags:analysis, anne, composition, disfunctional, english, family, jenny, novel, tull, tyler