Food is often deeply connected to culture. From recipes to dietary traditions, it can convey important cultural messages and strengthen social bonds.

Penn physicist Arnold Mathijssen and his colleagues authored this review article exploring how kitchen experiments can provide fascinating reflections on history, physics, and human ingenuity.

From tasting mouth-watering gazpacho in Andalusia to visiting Picasso’s visionary paintings, this real-food adventure is sure to delight!

Regional Cuisines

From the smoky spices of India to the bold flavors of Mexican dishes, regional cuisines offer a glimpse into a culture’s history and tradition. Explore the ingredients, recipes and cooking techniques that make each cuisine unique.

The foods of a region are shaped by many factors, including climate, the trade of different countries, religious food laws, and culinary culture exchanges among immigrant communities. For example, when Iranian writer and photographer Saghar Setareh moved to Italy, she discovered similarities between her homeland’s Middle Eastern food culture and the traditional Italian cuisine.

And in Drive-Thru Dreams, journalist Adam Chandler reveals the complexities of the American fast food industry, from how White Castle became the first fast food chain to a teenager’s plea for a year’s supply of Wendy’s chicken nuggets that went viral on social media. Discover how local food traditions give places a deeper meaning instead of simply being marked off an international checklist. Food can also help us connect with new cultures — and even ourselves if we’re open to it.

Asia

The cuisines of Asia - from the spicy seafood of Vietnam to the sweet-and-sour of Singapore, from the fragrant curries of India to the grilled skewers of Japan, from the fermented kimchi of Korea to the delicate green tea dishes of Japan - have never been fully explored in the West. This book, which takes an almost anthropological approach to recipe collecting, reveals the diverse food traditions of this huge and complex continent.

In this stunning new cookbook, Saghar celebrates two of her lifelong passions - travel and vegan cooking - in recipes that highlight the gastronomic harmonies of Asia. From a simple Iranian breakfast platter to a celebratory Persian feast and from Sicilian-style stuffed artichokes to a luxurious Middle Eastern milk pudding, Pomegranates and Artichokes brings a dazzling array of flavors to the table.

Europe

From the fresh seafood of Italy to hearty German fare to traditional Spanish tapas, each European region has its own distinct cuisine. Culinary traditions can serve a number of purposes: they can solidify cultural bonds, transmit knowledge, and even provide insight into personal identities.

Whether you’re looking to sample authentic pad thai in Thailand, sip a glass of wine with the locals in France, or munch on fig nougats in Belgium, a culinary journey will leave your taste buds craving more.

UNESCO recognises 30 food-related traditions as part of its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Learn more about these traditions as you prepare for your next trip to Europe.

America

Discover the hidden gems of international culinary traditions by exploring a variety of dishes, ingredients and cooking methods. This exploration broadens a person's culinary horizons and fosters a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity.

From the heartwarming comfort food of the Southern United States to California’s bold fusion cuisine, American cuisine is a rich and diverse tapestry. The diverse influences of America’s multidimensional population are reflected in the country’s ever-evolving and exciting culinary landscape.

From food-themed documentaries to celebrity chefs’ travelogues, these shows are sure to please any adventurous eater. They highlight a range of cuisines and cultures, and address important issues such as the authenticity and appropriation of foods.