Food For Thought

There is no sincerer love than the love of food.

ㅡ George Bernard Shaw

While many might beg to differ, it is true that we delegate much time and energy towards food consumption. Regardless of whatever emotional state that we are in, we eat. Though the ever-growing population of food outlets serving foreign cuisines within the country may stand to be the greatest testament of the intrusion of foreign cultures that have been accused for the corrosion of our own, how many can touch their hearts, or their bellies for the matter, and truthfully say that they’d rather do without the variety?

[Image Credit] The wide array of food choices available at the local food courts brings the world right to you.

 While majestic landmarks and structures may not be typical of Asian countries, unlike its western counterparts, we make up for it with a wide variety of delicacies that appeals to all aspects of taste.

Taiwanese Food Variety Program 《食尚玩家》 “Super Taste”

The Annual Singapore Food Expo attracts nearly 600,000 visitors each year

Food brings comfort with fulfilment; this cannot be more true to those who travel. Our physiological dependence on food has made it an obligatory travel activity, but its gratification is beyond that – food allows us to relate to people of other races and nationalities on cultural grounds. (Mak, Lumbers, & Eves, 2011) Being stranded in a foreign country, without a decent ability to speak the native language, the relief of stumbling upon something remotely familiar – a McDonalds – with a growling stomach is unimaginable.

If you think that McDonalds is nothing but greasy, think again.

‘Localization‘ of the McDonald’s International Menu

[Image Credit] Japan’s “EBI Filet-O“

[Image Credit] Model Ebihara Yuri 蛯原友里 advertising for the shrimp burger when it launched in 2007.

[Image Credit] The 100 Yen “McPork” burger unique to the japanese menu, undeniably cheap by Tokyo standards – its addition is unthinkable in Singapore, since all fast-food chains here are certified halal.

 Other notable variations include:

[Image Credit] Canada’s “McLobster“

[Image Credit] Israel’s “McKebab“

and last but definitely not least,

[Image Credit] Singapore’s very own “Beef Fàn-tastic” (or ‘Beef 饭-tastic‘)!

References:

1. Eves, A., Lumbers, M., & Mak, A. H. N. (2011). Globalisation and Food Consumption in Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1), 171-196.

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