First steps into Mountain Foodways
What this blog is all about
Foodways refer to the eating habits and culinary practices of different groups of people, specific regions, or historical periods.
By examining the intersection of food with culture and history, scholars gain insights into studying "foodways." This encompasses many factors, including food preparation methods, ingredient choices, social customs related to eating, and the symbolic meanings attached to certain foods.
Studying foodways provides a deeper understanding of how food reflects and shapes cultural identities and social structures.
Here, we will focus on a specific foodways environment: mountains.
Embark on a fascinating journey through the enchanting world of mountain foodways. In this captivating blog series, we'll unveil the intricate tapestry of mountain gastronomy and delve into the vibrant contemporary practices that continue to shape these unique culinary traditions.
This publication will articulate along several research lines.
Our exploration of mountain gastronomy will unveil its unique cultural meaning and delve into the distinct aspects of mid-to-high altitude culinary and cultural practices.
We'll start Defining Mountain Foodways by examining the policies, regulations, and legal issues that shape these food locations and explore their intersection with other pressing matters like tourism, overtourism, and ecology.
Get ready to traverse the globe as we uncover Worldwide Mountain Foodways: from the majestic Alps to the culinary wonders of Japan, from the lofty Himalayas to the rustic Appalachian mountain range, and everything in between. We'll study these communities, gastronomies, and practices from both near and far, promising a thrilling adventure of culinary discovery.
Our journey will take us deep into the History of Mountain Foodways, a fascinating narrative from ancient mountain food to the post-war era. The mountain world is a treasure trove of unique and fascinating discoveries, and we'll uncover them all.
We will tackle Contemporary Mountain Foodways issues, such as the relationships between high mountains and productive lands and the ancient practices of alpine shepherding in this digital world.
One section is dedicated to the specific Restaurant Gastronomy and the Mountains. World-renowned chefs and hidden gem restaurants are developing links with their mountain environments, giving new meaning to old practices and infusing old techniques with contemporaneity.
Finally, we will conduct a Mountain Gastronomy Literature Review, reading journals, articles and books together.
Are you with us?
A bit of practical information: every first Saturday of the month, you will receive a chapter of this journey in your inbox. Depending on your reading preferences, you can arrange to receive only the newsletter in Italian (or only the one in English).
If you want to collaborate with me, send me a message!
I would like to have guests to write together about mountains, mountain food and foodways. The beauty of Substack is that we may be on different mountains, but we will always be in touch!
You can find the Italian version here.
Mountains are simultaneously communal and collective, solitary and individual. For this reason, I offer readings from someone else who writes about mountain food and foodways every month.
This time, I suggest you read this super interesting post by fellow Substack writer
who writes : “So when you think about what to eat at lunch, before practice, try to choose food that’s nutritious and satisfying, with complex carbohydrates that won’t burn through you fast, with some fat and protein mixed in, but not something super protein-heavy. For example, if you were going to have a vegetable stir-fry on brown rice with some protein such as chicken or tofu, or a large hamburger on a white bun, you’d want the stir-fry for more sustained energy.” To read the rest of this article:
I also suggest you check fellow Substack writer
’ beautiful blog on : “There is more than one way to engage with the food of the past. One approach is to use food as a way to learn about history, to learn about historical processes, to understand cultural and social dynamics of the time. The goal is to arrive at a better, sometimes different, understanding of the past. Another way is to indulge in culinary nostalgia. In that case, it doesn’t matter if we learn something, in fact, reinforcing already established ideas and beliefs might actually be the point.” To read the rest:
Thank you!
Thanks for the shout-out!