Food Cosmopolitanism: Conflicting Peacemaking Kitchen in Pittsburgh
Food Cosmopolitanism: Conflicting Peacemaking Kitchen in Pittsburgh

Video: Food Cosmopolitanism: Conflicting Peacemaking Kitchen in Pittsburgh

Video: Food Cosmopolitanism: Conflicting Peacemaking Kitchen in Pittsburgh
Video: Harry Goes Under The Knife For The Art Of Knife Massage Therapy | Taipei City Mall Taiwan - YouTube 2024, November
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Conflicting cuisine in Pittsburgh: a menu from Venezuela
Conflicting cuisine in Pittsburgh: a menu from Venezuela

Where, if not in the kitchen, talk about politics is good. Perhaps it was this belief that guided the artists John Peña, Jon Rubin, and Dawn Weleski when they decided in 2010 to open Pittsburgh Conflict Kitchen - a restaurant that sells takeaway food. The organizers decided to serve their customers dishes from those countries with which America is in conflict. Visitors not only get to know someone else's national cuisine, but also receive information about the politics and culture of the rival country!

Conflicting cuisine in Pittsburgh: a menu from Afghanistan
Conflicting cuisine in Pittsburgh: a menu from Afghanistan

Every six months in the Conflict Kitchen, the entourage and menu are changed, choosing a new country for "food" reconciliation. It traditionally hosts "joint" dinners of Pittsburgh citizens and experts, documentary filmmakers and activists from conflicting countries, which are held in real time using Skype.

Online conference in Conflict kitchen
Online conference in Conflict kitchen

The Conflict Cuisine menu consists of both traditional and vegetarian dishes. For two and a half years of its existence, Pittsburgh residents have already been treated to food from Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba and North Korea. During each project, the name of the institution is written in the language of the country to which the reconciliation action is dedicated. Food is packed in special wrappers with information about the country, its culture, food and traditions.

Special wrapper with information about the country, its culture, food and traditions
Special wrapper with information about the country, its culture, food and traditions

The restaurant is open seven days a week, anyone can have a snack here. This way of spreading the ideas of cosmopolitanism is convenient, easy and, most importantly, does not provoke aggression. After all, it’s great when you can not only learn more about other countries, but also “rise” above political conflicts, overcoming the stereotypical perception of foreign cultures, imposed by not always objective media headlines.

Conflicting cuisine in Pittsburgh: a menu from Iran
Conflicting cuisine in Pittsburgh: a menu from Iran

Apparently, ironic attitude to politics is a hallmark of American fast foods. A striking example of this is an advertisement for a fast food restaurant, which is based on the encouraging posters of Barack Obama!

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