This episode is part of El Paso Food Voices’ special feature on "Culinary Heritage and Culinary Kinship.” Three graduate students from the University of Texas at El Paso coming from three different geo-political locations share their culinary stories: El Paso (Stephanie), Juarez—El Paso (Victor), and Nepal (Purna). These stories speak of empathetic passion, scarcity, and a deep yearning for home. Their conversation begins by sharing their typical “food choices” and come to a general conclusion such culinary choices have been influenced by a network of relationships not only with food but also people. Moreover, they come to a general understanding that food choice is part of developing a “culinary kinship” which goes beyond the socio-cultural legacy and expectations of heritage. Finally, the students explore the ways they embody such culinary kinship which manifests in different culinary occasions. Their stories speak of tasting new foods with childlike openness, overcoming scarcity of food, and longing for the warmth and familiarity of a homecooked meal away from home.

Works mentioned in the episode are:

Abarca, Meredith E. “Charlas Culinarias (Culinary Chats): A Methodology and Pedagogy Expanding a Food Consciousness.” Food, culture, & society (2023): 1–13.

Abarca, Meredith E., host. “Hugo Loera Cooking to Remember.” EL Paso Food Voices, August 14, 2022. https://youtu.be/1hitDyGnj-o

Abarca, Meredith E., host. “Roman Wilcox Full Interview.” El Paso Food Voices, December 22, 2022. https://youtu.be/_3aKYqjbfSY

Bittman, Mark. “What's Wrong with What We Eat.” TED, May 21, 2018. https://youtu.be/5YkNkscBEp0

Elebiyo-Okojie, Vivian. “There’s Something about Food.” TEDx Talks, October 28, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C6cRiHKCOg

Goldwyn, Samuel. East Side Sushi. YouTube Movies and TV, October 14, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt-OBSb_EGo.

Sheena, Iyengar. “The Art of Choosing.” TED, July 26, 2010. https://youtu.be/lDq9-QxvsNU