Global Kitchens 2016/2017
Forum for Languages and Cultures in the Buffett Institute
The culture of food is present in every country, culture and language group. Food is often the center around which
humans gather, whether to celebrate a festival, or a milestone, or to just spend time together. Food provides
comfort, brings back old memories, and satisfies. Consequences of lack of food, on the other hand, can range from
general crankiness to malnutrition and disease. Food is, therefore, an important and integral part of our lives.
Food ingredients and their preparation often point to the geography of the culture, as well as to the available
resources. The traditional American Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey, squash and corn dishes, all of which are
native to the Americas. Tropical climates, where foods tend to go bad soon, often have spicy dishes, as hot peppers
have anti-parasitic and anti-microbial properties. Additionally, things like access to refrigeration determine cultural
attitudes towards how we deal with leftover food.
The Forum invites individual professors or language programs to develop a participatory cooking project
that allows students to practice cooking techniques using the target language while also learning about
special historical, economic or social aspects of the target culture.
Guidelines for participation in the Forum's Global Kitchens Project
A "cooking experience" should attempt to introduce students to the unique cultural traditions
associated with the target culture, and may focus on using the target language as the medium of
instruction as students prepare one or several dishes.
Faculty participating in the Global Kitchens project may apply for up to $100 for ingredients that will be
used during the cooking experience. This amount would be appropriate for a group of 10-15 students.
Faculty Member:
email:
Department/Program:
Language Program:
Audience group:
Level:
Number of students:
Proposed on-campus cooking venue (mandatory):
IF requesting Shepard or Elder kitchen, please provide THREE possible dates for the activity (No Friday,
Saturday or Sunday dates please). For other on-campus kitchen reservations, you need to make the
arrangements yourself.
1st Choice:
2nd Choice:
3rd Choice:
What is the objective of this cooking activity?
What will happen during the "cooking experience”?
Amount requested: