Free Food And Culture Essay Example

Food is important in every family structure. Food is something that all human beings need to live, but it is also something that humanity as a whole uses to build friendships and bonds. Although every culture places extreme importance on food, different cultures express cultural bonds with traditions and practices regarding food, community, and eating. In the Middle East, traditional practices of preparing food and eating food are extremely important within the family structure— and many of these practices remain the same across the cultures of the Middle East, regardless of the country.
The cultures of the Middle East are very old, and there are many different cultures in the region. Iraqi culture is very different from Turkish culture, but many of the tastes and flavors of the food in the region are similar, although they are not the same. The way that people eat foods in this region are also similar, even though the Lebanese and the Tunisians are very different culturally. Part of the reason for this is geographic proximity. The region is large, but it is all generally in the same climate zone, so many of the spices and types of foods are utilized across the region.
Middle Eastern food uses a lot of barley, pistachios, figs, honey, dates, garlic, and turmeric. Olives and olive oil are also very common in the Middle East, and this is one of the fundamental things that Middle Eastern people share when they are first beginning to eat in a Middle Eastern meal. Kebabs are also popular foods, and can be eaten alone or shared, which is important in the culture. Sharing is very important in Middle Eastern culture, particularly between members of the same family and between friends and loved ones.
Sharing the same food creates a bonding experience for the people who are eating. Sharing a drink like coffee is also very important in Middle Eastern culture, and Middle Eastern coffee— particularly Turkish coffee— is very unique, and there is almost nothing like it anywhere else in the world. People like to sit together and share coffee or other sweet drinks, particularly during Ramadan, when Muslims are not allowed to eat between the hours of sun up and sundown.
Because many people in the Middle East— although not all— are Muslim, many of the traditions surrounding food are related to religious practices, particularly during Ramadan when many people cannot eat during normal hours of the day. It is traditional to arrive to eat on time, and to remove one’s shoes; it is also important to show the appropriate respect to the elders and respected individuals in the household who are sharing the meal by allowing the most respected and honored individuals to be served first during the serving portion of the meal
Muslims and individuals from the Middle East as a whole take food very seriously, and consider the excellence of a meal before serving it to a guest. There are many cultural rules regarding etiquette, but the most important thing is to share and be grateful for the opportunity to share a meal with friends and loved ones, because it is a bonding experience that should always be taken. Meal times are family times, and they are times when Middle Eastern people pay respect to those who are honored within their social network and family group.