Understanding The Meaning Behind Fusion Dining
Ethnic dining in this country is a slippery slope of authenticity. From the predictability of Chinese restaurants to the unique aspect of eating an Ethiopian meal, sometimes it can be hard to tell what comes from a chef who grew up in the tradition and what is a ploy to cash in on a popular trend. It does not help when certain buzzwords gain in popularity. Just like many bars will put an O' in front of their name to make people think it's an Irish pub, some restaurants call their food "fusion." The question is: just what exactly does that mean?
The literal definition of fusion is the bringing together of two items and making them one. The holy grail of renewable energy is nuclear fusion - as opposed to the fission process that is at work in nuclear power plants today - where atoms are combined instead of split. Thankfully, a restaurant that specializes in fusion dining is not playing with anything radioactive but something much more flavorful.
In the world of restaurants, fusion refers to pairing the traditional forms of food preparation with ingredients that are unique to a locality or a culture. A Latin Fusion restaurant, for instance, will feature flavors and ingredients that are typical to Latin America, but present them in ways that are more familiar to people. A typical fusion restaurant menu will feature meats, seafood and pastas, but the seasonings and preparations will be atypical to what a diner could expect at a more conventional restaurant.
As buzzworthy and made up a word as it may sound, fusion dining is responsible for being the leading factor in the explosive growth of the restaurant business and help to establish many successful communities throughout the country. Instead of featuring purely traditional dishes from their home country that may have a limited appeal, fusion restaurants create an enticing experience for people looking for an introduction into an authentic style of cooking and food preparation. Not only is this great for people who enjoy dining out, it also has a secondary sociological benefit.
By creating restaurants that encourage people to try something new, they are helping to introduce individuals to new cultures and the people behind them. This fosters an understanding and helps to build a stronger community. Just like fusion cooking brings together two seemingly disparate elements and create something new and special, they help to bring together populations as well. Who knew that fine dining in a family owned restaurant could help to make the world a better place, one dinner at a time?
About the Author
Jack Terry is a freelance writer who has been writing about the food and beverage industry for over 20 years. http://www.osorioslatinfusion.com
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