CHEW: "Curry" October 7 @ 7:15 PM

Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW), October 7, 2009 Meeting, 7:15 PM

“John Bull Gave Us "Rice Covered with Spice-Flavored Sauce": How Curry Made it Big in Japan”

Please join us on Wednesday, October 7, to hear Ayako Yoshimura’s presentation on transnationalism and transnational cuisine. John Bull, the fictional personification of Great Britain’s Everyman, promoted all things British ever since his creation in 1712. Curry—the very emblem of South Asian cuisine—was introduced into Japan only in the late 19th century as part of the Western cuisine conveyed via the British. Since then this savory dish has tantalized the Japanese palate, such that it has become one of the most beloved foods in the nation. From fancy restaurants to casual eateries, curry appears everywhere in Japanese food culture. This presentation traces the history of curry in Japanese foodways, examining myriad ways of ingesting and projecting West and East.

Ayako is a native of Japan who earned her B.A. in the U.S. and her M.A. in Canada. She is currently pursuing a special committee PhD in Folklore at the UW–Madison. Her research areas include material culture (arts and crafts and foodways), folk beliefs, personal experience narratives, and applied/public folklore. As a college student living on American dormitory cafeteria food, finding something palatable to eat became more important to her and she was hard pressed to find appealing meals.

Meeting Venue:
Goodman Atwood Community Center, Bolz Room A; 149 Waubesa Street, Madison 53704; 608-241-1574.

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