Culture shock
Summary
This episode of The Food Chain explores how moving abroad transforms one's relationship with food, featuring chef Kelvin Chung, cookery teacher Miwa Kishi, and teacher Jen Ballantyne. They share stories of initial culture shock, such as navigating unfamiliar supermarkets and missing specific ingredients, while also discussing the joy of discovering new local flavors. The guests reflect on the concept of "reverse culture shock" upon returning home, noting that food often evokes memories of people and places rather than just taste. Ultimately, the discussion highlights how culinary adaptation…
Topics discussed
Sponsorship and introduction
The challenge of finding familiar food abroad
Juanita Rees: Missing Colombian staples in Canada
Guest introductions and initial reactions
Jen Ballantyne: Navigating Japanese supermarkets
Miwa Kishi: Subtle differences in Dutch ingredients
Kelvin Chung: Sourcing specific potatoes in India
Miwa Kishi: Adapting Japanese meal structures and kids' bento
Kelvin Chung: Street food and packing essentials
Miwa Kishi: Bringing back koji and snacks
Jen Ballantyne: A failed Christmas dinner in Japan
Sponsorship break
When to stop recreating home food and embrace local
Kelvin Chung: Learning to navigate local markets
Kelvin Chung: Defining 'third culture' cooking
Kelvin Chung: A dish combining six cultures
Jen Ballantyne: Reverse culture shock upon returning home
Miwa Kishi: Dutch influences on future Japanese cooking
Jen Ballantyne: Making sushi with smoked salmon
Juanita Rees: Craving feelings rather than just food
Miwa Kishi: Maintaining identity through food etiquette
Conclusion: Food as a vehicle for nostalgia and identity
Promotion for World of Secrets podcast
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