Fusion cuisine is a broad term to describe mixing different cooking elements. Each element comes from unique regions, countries, or cultures. The result is a dish with new and unique flavors! Though chefs can create fusion cuisine, it can also occur unintentionally. There are many examples of specific foods or cuisines being a product of influences throughout history. For example, Filipino cuisine is influenced by Thai, Chinese, Spanish, American, Mongolian, and other world flavors.
Throughout the years (and perhaps, centuries or longer!), fusion cuisine has altered people’s perspectives on food and opened people’s eyes to unique ingredients and cooking methods. Thanks to fusion cuisine, foodies of the world can appreciate different flavors and the places (or people) that influenced these dishes. As a result, fusion cuisine is more common than people think!
An Overview Of Fusion Cuisine
Fusion cuisine can be a dynamic way for chefs to combine ingredients or cooking methods to craft a unique dish or food item. According to Chef Rocci Di Spirito, he argues that younger chefs can be “bored” by the traditional ways of cooking. A young chef can turn to fusion cuisine to learn new cooking methods and ingredients, which is dynamic and fun. However, fusion cuisine has also occurred as long as humans have consumed food—which is a very, very long time. In some ways, fusion cuisine can illustrate a history about a specific place, culture, or country. Even food enjoyed today—that is tied to a particular culture—was crafted thanks to fusion. For example, tacos are a well-loved food that is heavily tied to Mexican cuisine. However, the history of the taco also suggests some influences from Spanish, American, and some Arabic cuisine.
- Did You Know? Ramen is well-loved in Japan and throughout the world today. There are over 30 regional varieties of ramen to enjoy today! Despite being a proud Japanese dish, it was invented in the 18th century, created by Chinese settlers selling noodles outside the ports in Japanese cities. After eating at these stands, locals began creating their variation of the Chinese noodle dish, selling their version on a pushcart or yatai. Today, ramen is enjoyed in Japan and worldwide!
Who “Invented” Fusion Cuisine?
It isn’t easy to pinpoint when, who, and where fusion cuisine was invented. However, many chefs enjoy taking the claim to fame. Some say that internationally acclaimed chef, Wolfgang Puck, brought fusion cooking to North America due to his restaurant, Chinois. Located in Santa Monica, Wolfgang’s restaurant was inspired by the diversity of Southern California, combining elements of traditional Asian cuisine with French and American-style flavors. Meanwhile, like Florida’s Chef Norman Van Aken, other chefs claim to have coined the term in the 1980s. At the time, he was referring to creating food that combined the elements of European and Caribbean cuisine, the supposed cornerstone of Floribbean flavors.
Otherwise, others argue that the art of fusion cuisine is not tied to a specific creator because it’s existed for millennia. Cultures have mingled for centuries, which include not only the people but also their food. Even food that is heavily associated with one culture—for example, Indian curry—has influences stemming from fusion cooking. As long as humans have eaten and travelled to other places, fusion cuisine has always occured, usually unintentionally.
- Did You Know? People often argue whether noodles or pasta came first or from each other, citing that Marco Polo introduced noodles in Venice after traveling to China in the 13th. The truth is, despite their similarities, they aren’t derived from one other! People speculate that Italian pasta had some origins in Ancient Greece, whereas noodles in Asia originally came from China.
Enjoying Fusion Food Today, Anywhere In The World!
It isn’t easy to pinpoint where fusion cuisine can be best enjoyed today because people can enjoy it everywhere in the world! From the skyscrapers of New York City to the elegance of Paris, foodies can find fusion cuisine in any corner of the world. For example, in Santa Monica, Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois offers guests an eclectic menu of Asian fusion, using California ingredients and French cooking techniques, all combined with traditional Chinese cuisine. Meanwhile, in Dubai, Chef Akira Back’s restaurant serves up a dynamic Japanese cuisine menu using Korean and international influences! It’s easy to find fusion cuisine in many International cities—due to their diversity.
Without fusion cuisine, many of the world’s greatest food inventions would never exist, from the comforting bowl of Japanese Ramen to the rich flavor of Indian curry. At the same time, a chef's take on fusion flavors is always an enjoyable experience for foodies everywhere. Whether it’s a product of cultures unintentionally mingling or due to a chef’s ingenuity, fusion cuisine is more common than people think.
