How did gastronomic fashion change?
Exploration. India had the spices and China had the tea and those who went to remote places began to establish trade. However, much of the food we eat today originated in the Americas. The Pilgrims may have brought the turkey to the first Thanksgiving, but it was the Native Americans who showed up with the pumpkins, corn, beans, and sunflowers. While the potato may have saved the Irish from famine, it was Native Americans who first cultivated it.
Refrigeration. Although they were invented in 1805, refrigerators didn’t really become a must-have appliance until after World War II, when the average household could afford one.
Suddenly, food could be transported from one area or country to another. New Zealand roast lamb became a delicacy in England. It was fashionable to serve imported exotic food to impress guests.
fast food. Then the scrap hits the stage in a big way. The origins of the hamburger have been traced back to the meat grinder and many claim to have invented it. And it caught on, so people flocked in that direction and burger joints popped up everywhere.
People went from eating organic food to chewing on what Jamie Oliver exposed as MacDonald’s pink slime that processed unfit meat into burgers. yum.
Then there is the hot dog. It’s basically scrapings from the slaughterhouse floor stuffed into a condom with enough condoms to last forever.
Local, organic and seasonal
How local is local? Check out the farmers markets. But just because oranges don’t grow in Fargo, does that mean people should stop eating them? Supermarkets have their uses.
Organic is gaining momentum in certain circles. In 2002 the United States Department of Agriculture became involved. Translated, that means red tape, paperwork and permits to ensure there are no pesticides or antibiotics in the product. The advantage is that it prevents men who eat chicken from developing man boobs.
In season implies that fruits and vegetables are fresh. So again, they may have been sitting in the supermarket for two weeks and being sprayed with H2O three times a day.
Fortunately, in a democratic society people can make a choice about what they want to eat. Local, organic or pink slime: pass on to the consumer.
The last question
What will be the next gastronomic trend? All already popular in Southeast Asia, one trending tip that is local, organic, and in-season is insects: grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, wasps, since they are pure protein. And it may well be the next delicacy.