Cassandra Kuplast

Professor Jesse Miller

ENG 110 H-5

30th, October 2019

                                                       Food Through Our Perspective.

           Perspective is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.” According to this definition, there are many ways that one can hold perspective about something. It is very subjective, and different people have different perspectives. How does this influence the way we view food? We can observe it on the miniscule level of one person loving broccoli, and another absolutely dreading it. This is a difference in perspective. However, we can also look at perspective through food at a global level. How does one society view food in contrast to a society in a different economic location? Is food viewed differently based on geographics or social class? These are all questions whose answers will be influenced based on our perspective. Michael Pollan is a journalist and an author, and he wrote the pivotal piece called “Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch.” It is interesting when you compare Pollan’s piece to the perspective of students. Looking at the writing of University of New England students Diego Fernandez, Angel Fendiana, and Kayla Lowe,  we can try to understand what food means to them as students. Food is more than just a meal, it is a symbol of family, relationships, and togetherness. 

           One of the best parts of food is arguably the fact that it is supposed to taste good. A warm, hearty, home cooked meal is an amazing aspect of life, and those who get to experience it are considered lucky. However, when we think about our favorite meal, is it only the taste that makes it our favorite? What aspects of the meal make it cherishable? In Diego Fernandez’s favorite meal essay, he explained what his favorite meal meant to him. He explains how his father’s cooking has transported him from his rural Massachusetts home, to his grandmother’s in Puerto Rico. In his words, “For me, the dish (Pastelillos) is a way of connecting with Puerto Rican culture and my heritage. Growing up in rural Massachusetts, my only way of experiencing hispanic culture outside of physically going to Puerto Rico was through food.” (Fernandez) Many people can resonate with his experience. When I taste gnocchis topped with the perfect marinara, I can almost smell my great aunt, and feel her hug. Food has ways of connecting us with our favorite memories and experiences. In Angel Fendiana’s Favorite Meal essay, she explains how her favorite meals helps her feel connected to her family as well. 

“The spicy chicken curry holds a special place in my heart, but my mom also has many memories that came from this dish. It is one of the dishes that my mom grew up with to cook and eat, and it always reminds her of her family. Most of my family live in Indonesia, including my grandparents, cousins, and other relatives. They’re across the world and we only see them from time to time. The spicy chicken curry made her think of her hometown and how it is always served in family gatherings.” (Fendiana)

It seems that Fendiana shares a similar perspective to Fernandez, even though they have different connotations. Food can connect people, even if they are thousands of miles away. When eating spicy chicken curry, Fendiana feels the same association to her faraway family in Indonesia that Fernandez feels while eating his Pastelillos. Through these two perspectives, we can associate the idea that the significance of food isn’t just related to the flavor. Fendiana explains that her dish makes her think of her family who is miles away, but still connected by their love for spicy chicken curry. The memories of the dish aren’t just of the marvelous flavor combinations, but of the people who are surrounded by the dish as well. 

           When I think of my favorite meal, I think of Butternut Squash Soup and a day spent surrounded by my family. Thinking of my favorite meal brings me back to autumn Saturdays in my childhood, which always ended in a heartwarming meal. My Butternut Squash Soup is not only a meal, but it is a comfort food as well. It is made by my mother, and she adds a touch of love to each meal that she makes. I believe that this is the element that makes the soup my favorite meal. It is not just the warmth of the soup itself, or the heavenly aroma it provides, but it is who makes it. My mom often lets me help her in the kitchen, and it is a way for us to spend time with each other. I have hundreds of memories of time spent with her in the kitchen, and I believe it’s what makes this soup so important to me. I think as people, we associate our favorite meals with memories as well. When Fendiana and Fernandez think of their favorite meals, it is not their favorite simply because it tastes good. The flavor certainly helps, but it is not the sole reason why the meal holds significance to them. For Fendiana, it is a way for her to connect with her family that is on the other side of the globe. For Fernandez, it is a way for his father and grandmother to teach him about where he came from. Both of these students have found ways to connect with their heritage, and it is, in part, due to food. Their parents and grandparents showed them both parts of their culture through food. 

           Food has the ability to highlight important aspects of life in an almost innocent way. You can see the changes through generations in the way that they view food. Pollan often talked about how his mother would watch Julia Child, the French chef, on TV and try and resemble her cooking. This is very different then how Pollan’s grandmother would prepare food. She would idolize her mentors, or maybe women that she knew around the neighborhood. She would look to cookbooks to prepare new meals. This is quite a contrast from how Pollan’s mother made her meals. This shows how much has changed through generations, and how each one sees food differently. However, there will always be connections from previous generations to current ones. As Kayla Lowe says, “My grandmother was a working mom trying to take care of her son so having food cost-effective food options was important.” Even though this was 50-some years ago, there are still connections made. As a college student, it is our goal to find quick, cheap meals that won’t take up much time between our studies. While this may be different from our favorite  home cooked meals that our parents and grandparents made, we are still familiar with them. Our parents didn’t always have time to come home and make stuffed shells, spicy chicken curry, or pastelillos. They would sometimes have to opt for a fast-food meal, or a bowl of cereal at home. While these meals may not be the most memorable, we can use them to better appreciate the home cooked meals that we do enjoy.

           Food isn’t just a source of fuel for our evolving bodies. It is a way for us to connect with our families and our friends, and to create memories that will last a lifetime. Even though there is a substantial difference between Pollan, an established journalist and author, and Fernandez, Fendiana, and Lowe, who are all college students, we can still see connections. Each one of these pieces has identified the link between a home cooked meal and memories with family. We connect our memories of time spent with our grandparents and parents with meals that we savor. Food is one of the necessities of life, but it also helps us to remember the joy in life as well.

Works Cited

Fendiana, Angel. “Food For Thought.” UNE Portfolios, https://afendiana.uneportfolio.org/food-for-thought/, 29th October, 2019

Fernandez, Diego. “Food For Thought.” UNE Portfolios, https://dfernandez1.uneportfolio.org/food-for-thought-2/, 29th October, 2019

Lowe, Kayla. “Food For Thought.” UNE Portfolios, https://klowe5.uneportfolio.org/food-for-thought/, 29th October, 2019

Pollan, Michael. “Out of the Kitchen, Onto the Couch.” The New York Times, 29th July 2009

“Definition of Perspective.”, Oxford Learners Dictionary, https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/perspective, 

29th October, 2019