136. Trending Fusion Cuisines | 無國界的飲食趨勢
– Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 5.16.2022
As we emerge from the pandemic and return to normal life, restaurants are starting to fill up with people. In our neighborhood, the faces of these restaurants seem to have changed. Some of the ethnic eateries have disappeared and been replaced by fusion food. There is Asian fusion, French fusion, vegan fusion, and many other combinations of ethnic foods. The food and decor of these places are a mixture of traditional flavors. New menus and dishes are being created. The chefs are not bound by the definition of authentic Chinese food, Italian food, Mexican food, or other foods. They are willing to experiment and create. The customers are also changing now; they are younger, more metropolitan, and of mixed races.
These fusion foods are a good reflection of what is happening in society. On the one hand, the chefs and restaurant owners are more creative and not bound by traditional ethnic foods. They are fusing the best of many different foods to create special dishes. On the other hand, the demographics of the customers are changing. There are more second and third-generation immigrants whose tastes for food are not limited by their ethnicities. We also see more restaurant tables with people of different ethnicities.
Food is a good reflection of society at large. More people are in relationships of mixed races, people are traveling to different parts of the world, and people are exposed to a variety of cultures and food through TV programs and social media. Restaurants and food can be viewed as mirrors of society’s diversity and inclusiveness.
The world is getting smaller and more harmonious. The demarcation and apprehension between people seem to disappear across a nice table of fusion food.
Let’s hope that the popularity of fusion food is not only good for our taste buds, but also an indication of a more accepting and inclusive world.
無國界的飲食趨勢 (2022/05/16)
-作者 許俊宸博士
-中譯 薛乃綺
隨著我們逐漸擺脫疫情、生活開始恢復正常，餐廳又開始擠滿了人。在我們周遭，這些餐廳的面貌似乎發生了變化。有些民族風味餐廳消失了，取而代之的是無國界的融合料理。有亞洲融合、法式融合、素食融合，和其他許多民族飲食的融合。這些餐廳的料理及裝飾，結合了傳統的民族口味。許多創意料理及菜單出現了。廚師們不再受限所謂的中國菜、義大利菜、墨西哥菜或者其他食物的原本定義範疇。他們很願意嘗試新的東西。現在的消費者也有變化；他們更年輕、更都市化，而且很多是混血兒。
這些創意料理正好反映了現在社會的變化。一方面，廚師和餐廳老闆們更有創意，不受傳統民族食品的束縛。他們融合了各家不同風格的菜式來製作料理。另一方面，消費者的樣貌也在改變。有更多第二代、第三代移民，他們的口味不受種族的限制。我們也看到許多不同種族的人們在同一家餐廳餐桌上用餐。
飲食可以很好地反映出整個社會的狀況。人們會有異族通婚、也會去世界不同的地方旅遊。我們透過電視節目和社交媒體，接觸到多元的文化與飲食。食物跟食客就像是對照出社會多樣性和包容程度的一面鏡子。
世界變得越來越小、越來越融合了。人與人之間的分界及憂慮，似乎在一桌好吃的無國界料理中消失了。
讓我們期待無國界料理的熱潮，不僅對我們的味蕾帶來享受、更預告著一個更加包容与和谐的世界展現。
