the connections between food and culture

After reading the article “The Cultural Politics of Eating in Shenzhen” which is written by Mary Ann O’donnell and the article “ ‘BreakingBread with a Spread’ in a San Francisco County Jail” which is written by Sandra Cate, I find some connections between the food and the culture. Food sometimes even can change people’s habits in their daily life.

In the first article which introduces the food and culture in Shenzhen, the author tells us how the food affects their life. He tells us the difference between the food eating by northern and southern people. People from the northern China lie to eat pork or beef, but people from southern part of China like Shenzhen like to eat fish. Catching fish is a really hard skill, you must have a quick eye and hand, so, people in Shenzhen is cleverer than people from other places and especially good at business. There are also some different between old Shenzheners and new Shenzheners when they choose their food. Old Shenzheners have their own culture, and they like to eat in some small restaurant like they always do before. New Shenzheners do not have their food culture, they come to Shenzhen because they have more chances here, and they want to have a better life. So, new shenzheners more like to eat in some big restaurant which is cleaner.

            In the cate’s article, he tells us a food culture in the prison. At that time, the food in the jail were terrible and the time schedule were also not enough logical, so, the prisoners would feel very hungry at night. In order to solve this problem, prisoners began to cook by themselves and they called this food “spread”. They material they used to cook the spread were from the food they saved or buy from the store. This spread had become a culture and taught them how to work together.

            After reading these two articles, the thing that interest me most is that because Shenzheners always catch fishes, so, they become clever and good at business. I think something that makes you have a good habit or practice a skill is really good for your life.