Discover the ways in which food influences community well being in El Paso. This section investigates the role of food in family bonding and heritage preservation, and its adaptation to social, economic, and environmental transformations.
Environmental & Economic Factors
Oxford and his co-authors highlight the ways that climate stress through water scarcity, soil degradation, and increasing temperatures limits people’s ability to use nearby ingredients, since those products are no longer viable. As a result, people either change their traditional dishes or turn to goods that are imported from other countries.
This environmental pressure modifies which foods are inexpensive or accessible and changes the culinary identity of a community.
The Four Dimensions of Traditional Foods (Rocillo-Aquino)
Rocillo-Aquino details four dimensions that construct and shape culinary identity:
1. The first dimension is historical, where traditions are transmitted from generation to generation.
2. The second dimension is social, where food acts as a bonding element within families and communities.
3. The third dimension is gastronomical, which encompasses flavors, textures, and preparation modes.
4. The last dimension is symbolic, where food serves as memory, pride, and cultural appreciation.
These four dimensions work in conjunction to establish what “traditional food” is and means within El Paso.
Why This Matters to El Paso Identity
Food holds the essence of family memory, cultural legacy, and emotional symbolism. It serves as an anchor for individuals moving across borders, adjusting to new circumstances, or dealing with financial hardships.
In El Paso, food is a mirror to the past and an answer to the present, a shared identity that unites communities across cultures, generations, and borders.
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