Gastronomy: Food and Culture Relationship

This article explores the relationship between food and culture in gastronomy. It discusses the history of European gastronomy, key influencers, and influences. The case study focuses on The Dorchester, a luxury hotel in London.

Gastronomy

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Gastronomy refers to the relationship between food and culture in which rich as well as
delicate food is precooked according to different kinds of cooking styles of different regions
which are preferred. It involve both dining experiences as well as manipulation of food also. In
context with history of gastronomy it includes screening, tasting, experience, understanding
about both food and the associated culture. The concept of molecular gastronomy developed
which means a science that includes an investigation of physical as well as chemical
modifications in food elements involved in cooking(Aguilera, 2018). The below report includes
concept of gastronomy, history of European gastronomy in accordance with present day, its key
influencers and influences. The report is based on The Dorchester. It is a luxury hotel situated in
London and is considered as the most expensive hotel across the world. The hotel got opened in
1931and is known as the haunt of various writers.
MAIN BODY
Gastronomy is a word that got described in ancient times from the word “ stomach”. It is
an official study in relation to food as well as culture. Gastronomy involves many things like
preparation and serving of rich and delicate food, different styles of cooking and preferred food
in specific locations. It also relates to molecular gastronomy which is defined as a scientific
discipline that research about cultural transformations. The main reason behind development of
gastronomy is knowledge as well as perceptive of all food that they eats and ensuring that they
are delivering best food according to region preferences. Not all region people have same kind of
food preferences so according to that gastronomy got occurred in which their preferences are
been focused on and according to that food is delivered(Chisik, Pons, and Jaen, 2018).
According to present world, various kinds of innovations are done due to which cooking styles
also had to change. There are different kinds of people in various areas so their preferences are
also assorted and in context with that innovations are done.
There were two chefs who founded a term “ nouvelle cuisine” and it is related with doing
experiments with ingredients that are been used. Gastronomy is also involved in social business
which also relates to tourism. In today's world both food as well as personal identity are very
much connected and it is also refers to “ what we eat is simply adjacent to what we are , our
lifestyle. In accordance with UK areas whether it is London, New york and many more people's
preferences, their lifestyle are different and due to this food trends are also been changed.

Gastronomy also focuses on tourists as they prefer kind of food which is famous in that
particular culture. The concept of molecular cooking also occurred which means an oriented way
of cooking by most famous chefs. As there is culinary modification been done due to which cook
also used new elements, ways which got developed. The cooking style has changed on
continuous basis like some cities prefer beans in their food while some prefer pepper. Modern
styles should get accepted but it should also be done according to science. As the word is simply
associated with food been accepted in various regions like in UK people prefer beef so all dishes
include beef(de Albuquerque Meneguel, and et.al,2019). The study of gastronomy is most
important as its the basic attraction in tourist destinations. When any tourist comes then they love
to eat famous dishes in particular region. When people travel across different regions they
explore various restaurants who offer local cuisine very well. The main reason which is
considered behind travelling was gastronomy only.
In context with hotel Dorchester, their main focus was on delivering local dishes only.
As people living in London has different cuisines as well as tastes so they applied concept of
gastronomy. The trend in London is plant as well as vegetable based dishes and fulfilling
demand of people is hotel main focus so they serve mostly plant based dishes. The main food
preference of people living in London is classical accumulation with modern version because it
is considered as the main identity of British production. The dishes which is most famous in
region of London are fish, kidney pie and many more. So, the Dorchester serve such dishes and
applied the concept of gastronomy very well. Earlier people were not having much knowledge
regarding different kinds of dishes but as trend got changed the thought of gastronomy arise in
which all people living in particular area has same tastes in relation to various cuisines so hotel
also serve those dishes in order to move their hotel forward.
The history of European gastronomy means various cities has some kind of special
dishes which gets changed after some period of time. Italians, Europeans and so on has their own
cuisine culture. In context with Roman times, all people has different kinds of taste. People
living in that particular city mostly prefer cheese, olives, beef and fish. According to history of
European gastronomy right from breakfast, lunch as well as dinner dishes are different. All kind
of cuisines got changed in Europe as middle class people used to eat meat but rich people mostly
prefer fruit. In accordance with 17th to 18th century change was not much done and medieval
cousins were still been preferred. According to history of European gastronomy, both Europeans

and French people likes as well as dislikes in cuisine were also different. In case of dinner,
Europeans continued the service of “ a' la francaise while French divided their food into desserts
also. In 19th to 20th century classic cuisine was famous which is a mixture of all local meals and
various recipes(De Jong and et.al,2018). According to trend it also got changed use of just beans,
tomatoes was not done but desserts also changed as use of cocoa, vanilla introduced. In
comparison with present situations lot of change occurred. Earlier agriculture was considered
more important than production of food and farming moulded whole economic culture. All
hotels offered meat as well as seasonal dishes to Europeans .
According to present situation, as world is becoming more globalised and competition is
increasing agriculture also need to be changed. In accordance with European gastronomy, food
is the basic need of humans so according to that there must be enough food at cheap price. In
context with European gastronomy, many changes got occurred like earlier mostly dairy
products were used but now fruits and vegetables are been used. The European food industry has
seen many changes and is prospering in whole UK. British people are now offered many food
choices like Parmesan cheese, garlic but earlier only olive oil was been used. European
gastronomy also enabled free movement of ingredients in which food items such as peppers and
strawberries are delivered to all supermarkets(Gálvez and et.al, 2017). There are also some
Nouvelle cuisines which is still in trend in which new food products as well as techniques got
introduced. Nouvelle cuisine didn't arise from cuisine classic but considered as concept arise
from Japanese cuisine due to which time been involved in preparation of food got decreased. In
present situations all dishes are been presented in artistic manner as well as menus are
represented in detail. European cuisine got changed drastically because of many reasons. In
context with present situations people are leaving farms due to which food preferences also
changed. Instead of rabbit, people are now preferring spiced meat. The food consumed in Europe
is mostly animal protein re placer, sports drink, high fibre food and many more. In accordance
with present situation changes also arise in packaging as new foods are been packed in all kind
of shapes and sizes as now they are recyclable. European food industry also developed by
introducing the concept of Action plan due to which many changes got initiated and in present
situations healthy food and drinks are been initiated, promotion of healthy diet is been introduced
and various networks got established to assure that all policies are been innovated by
remembering healthy diet(Seyitoğlu, and Ivanov, 2020).

According to Roman times they used to prefer boiled food and stewing their meat. All
people had a taste in context with well cooked food and usage of oil in their dishes was only
olive but now as trend and culture got changed, people preferences changed so food culture also
made many changes. The innovations and changes been done is in relation to all things like
cooking place, tools been used and so on. Earlier meals were prepared in smoky rooms where
use of chimney was not done, dishes were grilled on brick surface with coals but now hotels
started using chimney and grilled on grill plate(Hussin, 2018). They not only focused on dishes
but also how food is been cooked. In European world, meat was the main thing in meal and
there was not fire safety which is the most important thing. Now according to present situation
food is prepared with proper safety and in fireplace. In context with cuisine classic changes were
made in 20th century. This kind of cuisine is traditional cuisine which is a mixture of both local
dishes and sophisticated recipes. This kind of cuisines enabled changes like new basics were
been introduced, local food stuff got changed.
In context with hotel Dorchester, they also faced many changes in relation to
gastronomy. As people in UK food preferences got changed, they used to prefer more saturated
food but now almost everyone started focusing on healthy diet . So, they also had to introduce
more healthy food in their menu to be more successful. Earlier food environment was not much
diverse but now it is diverse and fragmented too. Now, people are ordering food online so hotel
also focused on this concept and they made their services available on social media also.
European food culture faced an increase in out of home food environment also and this arise
because of digital technology(Jiménez Beltrán,López-Guzmán and Santa-Cruz,2016). In
comparison with past digital technology is been expanded as now food was delivered online due
to which many negative feedbacks also arise like people use to think that when food is delivered
it is not healthy. So, this gastronomy affected hotel very much. They had to apply those changes
but was also afraid of negative comments. In UK, all people have different choices regarding
local dishes so hotel staff need to take care of all choices, they should not rely only on past
feedback but also according to present situation. Seafood is very famous in Whole UK and trend
in that particular food is different as compared to past. So, changes which got initiated were like
species of marine got initiated and so on.
There are many key influencers of European gastronomy. Influencers got arise more
because of social media trend due to which many innovations been done in food industry also.

In context with eaters manifesto, they influenced it by capturing curated meals of
London based home cook which now includes occasional look like in hotel Dorchester. They
introduced this concept to deal with present times(Okumus, Koseoglu, and Ma, 2018).
According to go natural, they introduced a new health oriented concept chain which
focused on providing fresh and clean label food.
In context with Gimme some oven , it created a central location to face European
gastronomy as there are many changes which occurred in comparison to past so they expanded it
into the areas in relation to life advice.
According to Dana Shultz all kind of ingredients were simple so to deal with such
changes been arise it introduced a cook book, e Book and food photography course which also
initiated on their website.
In context with Laura Muthesius they used to deal in chocolate cakes but as changes
arise they introduced a gluten free chocolate cake. As per changes in European gastronomy
people preferences towards cake also changed so to deal with them they innovated a gluten free
cake(Leong and et.al,2017).
In accordance with Sally McKinney, earlier food recipes were used to be cosy but now
classic recipes are introduced to achieve audience preferences. In context with Sarah Brunella ,
many new food recipes got initiated and according to that food was also presented in that
manner.
European gastronomy also gets affected by certain key influences like traditional Italian
cuisine, traditional Lithuanian cuisine, traditional Polish cuisine.
In context with traditional Italian cuisine, it was influenced by many neighbouring
regions. According to Roman times, Greek bakers were there to produce food products like bread
and at that period of time food product like pasta was not there but as trend got changed it
became the most famous Italian dish. The Italian cuisine is most important and famous across
whole world and in accordance with hotel Dorchester, they also introduced and made certain
changes in their Italian dishes. Earlier only olive oil was used and beef dished were mostly
preferred so as trends got changed and people were more attracted towards sea food so they
established it in an innovative way(Mizrahi, and et.al,2016).
In context with Traditional Lithuanian cuisine, focus is mainly on animal husbandry
and fishing but it also faced certain changes. The change were because of German tradition due

to which pork and potato dishes also got introduced. It was considered as the main ingredient in
food so hotel Dorchester also applied that certain change as they started using potatoes in their
dishes and usage of wild berries also.
In context with Traditional Polish cuisine, they include elements of culinary traditions
like Czech republic and Ukraine . The cuisine also faced western influences. In accordance with
Polish cuisine the main element which is been considered is Regional diversity . Earlier dishes
which were been served didn't included soup in their meal but now change occurred and it also
get included in cuisine.
There are a lot of historical influences in context with traditional foods. In every country
there is something famous of that place which gets included in the diet and it represents whole
country preferences. These dishes get affected by many factors like availability of raw materials
which is very necessary because if there will be no agriculture then raw materials will not be
there due to which particular dish will not be provided whether to tourists or people of that
region only.
It is also been considered that dietary patterns has not get affected just by location but it
is influenced by history of that location also. In context with traditional polish cuisine, then new
vegetables were introduced which was initiated by the home country. Traditional food has
influenced whole Europe due to religious habits as well as beliefs.
Each country and region has some kind of famous dishes and there are numerous people
who come every day and want to taste the region most famous dishes. In context with hotel
Dorchester, they were also influenced by such cuisines. As, it is located in London there are
many tourists who come to spend some time and taste region special dishes so they also get
attracted by cultural as well as natural heritage attractions.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it is concluded that, gastronomy is very much important for food
and beverage industries. All people live in different areas and their preferences is also different.
Some regions in UK prefer meat and fish while other regions prefer something else. European
gastronomy also occurred which refers to the concept of changed dishes as compared to past. So,
according to above report, it is been concluded that various changes got arise like usage of
chimneys, the cooking style and so on. In today's world gastronomy occurs in various forms

whether the cooking style has been changed or due to different technology. Gastronomy also
occurs because people in today's world focuses more on healthy diet so especially hotels change
their working style, focuses more on healthy food.

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