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Essay On Appalachian Cuisine

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The Cuisine of Appalachia - Rooted in Culture
A cuisine is defined as “a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, often associated with a specific culture. Cuisines are often named after the geographic areas or regions from which they originate. A cuisine is primarily influenced by the ingredients that are available locally or through trade (Kocevski and Risteski).” Appalachian food is a cuisine that reflects the unique cultural and geographic heritage of the Appalachian region in the eastern United States. It is a cuisine that evolved from the early settlers who moved to the area in the 1700s and 1800s and adapted their cooking styles to the ingredients that were available in the region (Casey-Sturk). Over time, the cuisine …show more content…

These techniques are used to create dishes that are hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. For example, fried chicken is a staple of the Appalachian diet and is often served with biscuits and gravy, another classic Appalachian dish (Wharton). Baking is also an important technique in the cuisine, and many of the region's most famous dishes, such as cornbread and apple pie, are baked in the oven. The simplicity in the preparation of these dishes make the recipes easy enough that even those without much experience with cooking are able to prepare these dishes. Because almost anyone of the culture is able to prepare the food, the amount of people able to enjoy the dishes greatly increases. This then strengthens the cultural significance of the Appalachian cuisine, as every person of the culture is able to enjoy all of the dishes and share in the familiarity of the taste of many Appalachian …show more content…

It has been labeled as "hillbilly" or "country" food, and has been stereotyped as unhealthy and unsophisticated (Massey). In the book Appalachian Stereotypes: Cultural History, Gender, and Sexual Rhetoric, it states “Appalachian food is often stereotyped as being unhealthy, consisting only of fried foods, biscuits and gravy, and sweet desserts. This narrow view of Appalachian cuisine ignores the region's diverse culinary traditions, which include everything from foraged foods and game to heirloom vegetables and homemade preserves (Massey).” Because of this, many discredit Appalachian food as being a true cuisine. However, in recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for the cuisine and its place in American food

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