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Dakota Turk
Mrs. Watkins
ENGL 1213 TR 10:30
23 February 2016
Building Bridges
Think back to any gathering or group event that you have ever attended and most likely
there is a common denominator between said events: Food. Nothing brings a community or
social group together quite like food does. Gastrodiplomacy is a movement to develop cultural
awareness through the communal act of sharing food. Some of the best memories that I can
recall consist of sitting around a dinner table with friends, some old and some new, and family
enjoying food. In my opinion, Gastrodiplomacy is a great way to bring various groups and
cultures together and unite bonds between people.
As said by Paul Rockower, the founder of the idea of Gastrodiplomacy:
Gastrodiplomacy is a form of public diplomacy, and public diplomacy is related to diplomacy
itself Gastrodiplomacy is a form of diplomacy using food as a form of international
communication. (1:38). It practically refers to using your national food as a way to broaden
political viewpoints and connections. The importance of countries finding ways to unite and
contribute to each other is substantial and what better way to do it than do to so while enjoying
their cultures finest cuisine.

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Although I havent done a vast amount of travelling, I have done enough to have
experienced great things and made everlasting memories. If I was asked about my greatest outof-country dining experience, I would relate that question back to my travels to a small island in
the Bahamas called St. Eustachia. My family and I spent a week at a family home on the island
for vacation back in 2010. Being a tourist destination the island was rich in cuisine, some that
was familiar to me and some that was not. Particularly diverse, there was a small seafood
restaurant that the locals on the island said was an excellent place to dine. The next day, my
family and I were snorkeling on a reef that was close to that restaurant and were aw struck when
we all saw a gigantic mound of conch shells bordering the ocean side of the building. Curiously,
we decided to go that particular place for dinner that evening and were not surprised when we
saw the special of the restaurant was a dish containing the inner mollusk of a conch. I was a bit
too troubled by the idea but my father decided to try the special and described it as different.
Although conch was something I could never see myself trying again, that was a prime example
of food at work. To somebody else, that may of been the best thing since sliced bread and their
going to cook it every Sunday for family dinner.
Although Gastrodiplomacy is still considered a new and upcoming idea in the United
States, some countries have already developed quite extensive gastro and culinary diplomacy
plans. According to Sam Chapple-Sokul in his article Culinary Diplomacy: Breaking Bread to
Win Hearts and Minds, he states that official government-sponsored culinary diplomacy
programs have been established in Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Peru, and the United States.
(161-183). Some of those countries, such as Thailand and Peru, have recognized the power of
food and bought into Gastrodiplomacy quite a bit earlier and are said to be accountable for the
widespread knowledge of the program today. (Chapple-Sokul). These countries are taking giants

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leaps in the progression of this program and I believe that it is really going to blow up and
expand vastly over these next couple of years. As more and more countries buy into the ideas and
opportunities through this program, I firmly believe that it can lead to treaties and peace between
nations. Perhaps even go as far as saying that Gastrodiplomacy is going to bring world peace.
Older folks have always said that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach.
I dont think most people realize the social power of food. Just think about all the events
in our day to day lives that are planned around food. When you host a party, you provide food.
When you go home for the holidays, you celebrate with food. When you finally get the nerve to
ask that special somebody out and you invite them to accompany you to that nice restaurant, to
eat food. In my opinion, Gastro diplomacy is a great way to bring various groups and cultures
together and more people and countries need to buy into this great organization.

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Works Cited
Chapple-Sokol, Samuel. "Culinary Diplomacy: Breaking Bread to Win Hearts and Minds." The
Hague Journal of Diplomacy Volume 8, Issue 2 (2013): 161-183.

Maher, Kelsey. Chapple-Sokol, Sam. What is Gastrodiplomacy? Culinary Citizen.

Culinary Diplomacy. SoundCloud. 4 November 2015. Web. 23 February 2016