Ethinc Food Fetishes

The cultural applications of "Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan are very prevalent; however, I found the basic topic of ethnic foods intriguing. Tan describes her ethnic food in the way the typical white American, played by Robert, would: "appalling mounds of raw food"(Tan). She had squid that "resembled bicycle tires," tofu that "looked like stacked wedges of rubbery white sponges," and "slimy rock cod" (Tan). Her negative diction describing her own ethnic food derives from the fact that she is only thinking of how Robert will see their food and culture. In truth, those were all of her favorite foods. This contrast in how cultures view their own ethnic food compared to how they view other cultures' got me thinking. According to the European Food Information Council (EUFIC), food preferences are based on more than taste and appearance. In fact, the most important thing is how we experience the food. When food is associated with a positive experience like sugary cake and ice cream on a birthday, it is more likely a person will enjoy that type of food and similar flavors. The opposite is true for food associated with negative experiences like an argument over dinner. In addition to associations with experiences, food preferences and aversions are influenced by exposure to food, even prenatally. Through repeated exposure to specific foods, taste preferences to them are often developed. Also, there exists an innate neophobia, fear of new food (EUFIC). Although neophobia is often easy to overcome for older children and adults, these concepts may explain another influence on Amy and Robert's Christmas Eve dinner.