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Plates of various Greek dishes and bread laid out in the bottom half of a light blue wooden table. At the top of the pic are the words, "My Food, My Culture."

My Food, My Culture

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I love food, and the foods I love I really love. Many of my favorite foods and meals are the ones I ate with my family and are part of my cultural heritage as the son of Greek parents and the grandson of Greek immigrants. It was a fundamental part of festivals, holidays, family gatherings, church life, and even everyday meals.

Plates of various Greek dishes and bread laid out in the bottom half of a light blue wooden table. At the top of the pic are the words, "My Food, My Culture."
Greek food, like food from many cultures, can differ from region to region depending on the influences.

Growing up, I learned very quickly how integral food is to one’s culture and as a means to express that culture. I also learned that even in a category like Greek food, there is a wide range of tastes and traditions based on where people’s families originated. The food of my mother’s family, who originated in the Pontos region that is now part of Turkey, was different than the food of my father’s family, who came from the island of Chios.

Furthermore, within a generation of living in the United States, American culture influenced and changed that cooking. For instance, my Pontian grandmother was initially very confused by the Thanksgiving foods, especially by the tradition of stuffing a turkey, which was unlike anything she had done before. After a disastrous mistake with the bag of giblets, she adapted the flavors and recipes she knew into a homemade stuffing that became a family tradition that continues to be passed down through the generations.

In the background, pair of hands tossing flour onto dough. Text reads, "Sharing our story through food and copyright, Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 10:00-11:00 AM eastern time. An online event. Featuring Bryan Ford, Host of the Artisan Kitchen and New World Sourdough. Adam Ragusea, YouTuber who createsvideos about foodrecipes, food science, and culinary culture."These traditions and stories are wonderful to share with others and, in many cases, these stories and traditions turn into and inspire copyright-protected works. That is why the U.S. Copyright Office explored food and culture with the virtual event Copyright Office Presents: Food and Copyright on October 27, 2021. This program centered on food and copyright by showcasing copyright-protected works and authors who focus on the culinary aspects of a culture and use food to tell diverse stories in various mediums, including film, blogs, photography, short stories, and more.

The event featured two engaging speakers. First was Bryan Ford, best-selling author of New World Sourdough, which critics say incorporates Ford’s Central American roots and changes the way we think about sourdough by making it more inclusive. Our other speaker was Adam Ragusea, a YouTuber who creates videos about recipes, food science, and culinary culture. His cooking videos have over 345 million views. Both have extensive experience in exploring and documenting their own experience in baking and cooking, while sharing stories behind recipes and traditions that influence cuisines through their blogs, social media, and cookbooks. Our moderator tied these themes to copyright, which encourages people to share those stories and, in turn, bring people together and inspire new works.

If you missed the event, you can watch it now on the event webpage or our YouTube channel. May you enjoy some great meals that celebrate your culture!

Comments (3)

  1. Steve, this resonated with me as I was also raised in a Greek home. My grandparents were from Rhodes, after fleeing Crete years before. Even the way my Mother formed the shape of goudapiethas was dictated by habit under the Ottoman Empire decades before. It was wonderful to read your commentary. My Great Uncle was an Egyptiote at age 10, he eventually brought the family over one by one along with his Egyptian overlay, mingling it with the Rhodian and Cretan existing flavor cultures. Great to be Greek!

  2. I am impressed by your post that make a new post and prepare a new recipe, it is not suitable for everyone but you have done it, I think you will become a more successful person in life.

  3. 🍽️🌍 Food truly bridges cultures and generations! πŸ§†πŸ‘¨β€πŸ³ Your heartfelt words beautifully capture the essence of how cherished family meals and cultural traditions intertwine. The evolution of Greek food in your family, influenced by both heritage and American culture, is a testament to the power of sharing stories through cuisine.

    It’s fascinating how recipes become heirlooms, preserving the flavors and memories of the past. πŸ“œβœ¨ And the connection between food and copyright, as explored in the Copyright Office event, emphasizes how culinary creations can inspire new works and unite communities. πŸ“šπŸŽ₯ Everyone says Culinary is Art. 🍴🎨

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