CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Around the World in 10 Dishes: Which of These Have You Tried?

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Food is one of the most important aspects of human life. Not only does it provide nourishment, but it is also the way we have of sharing and show affection for each other. The different flavors and ingredients found in cuisines around the world, with all their diversity and their particular history, are a living testament to how people live and feel in different corners of the map.

In this article, we have compiled a list of 10 national dishes that, if you haven't tried yet, are worth knowing. So, get your taste buds ready to discover some of the most delicious food the world has to offer!

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Cheese fondue is considered one of Switzerland's national dishes. However, not many people know that until a few decades ago fondue was virtually unknown in most parts of the country. Although its origins date back to around 1699, it was not until the 20th century that the necessary equipment became available in most households.

The success of this recipe, and its subsequent designation as a national dish, is mainly due to a marketing campaign by the Union Syndicale Suisse du Cheese (USCF). La Fondue, c'est bon et ça met de bonne humeur (which translates to: "fondue is good and puts me in a good mood") was the slogan used to popularize cheeses such as gruyère and vacherin, previously only affordable to the upper classes. So, from the mid-20th century onwards, fondue became a popular dish, an excuse to get together and share food among family and friends.

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Pho is a traditional Vietnamese dish based on broth, noodles, and meat. In Vietnam, Pho is considered a national dish and is celebrated every December 12. Its origin is not ancestral, but rather cross-cultural: according to Vietnamese-American teacher and author of The Pho Cookbook, Andrea Nguyen, it was born in northern Indochina at the beginning of the 20th century. The French, who dominated the territory until 1954, ate a lot of beef, so the Vietnamese quickly made use of the leftover bones to prepare a noodle soup they would sell to Chinese workers.

In addition to being the national dish of Vietnam, pho is gaining popularity around the world, and this is especially so in the United States, evidenced by the fact that there are currently more than 8,000 Vietnamese restaurants across the country.

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Paella —from the Valencian paella, meaning 'frying pan'— is a popular dish throughout Spain and served in restaurants around the world. As a recipe, it is a dish of humble origins born in Valencia and a product of different cultural influences. Paella’s main ingredient, rice, first arrived in Europe from Asia in 330 B.C. However, rice was not cultivated in Spain in large quantities until the arrival of the Arabs.

The first documented mention of paella as the dish we know today appears in a recipe manuscript of the 18th century. Later, in the 1960s, a tourist boom in Spain led people from other countries to try the dish, triggering a high demand throughout the country. And so, in a few years, the dish we now love and adore spread all over the world. Finally, in 2021, paella was officially declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the City Council of Valencia.

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Although Japan does not have an official national dish, sushi is considered one of the greatest representatives of Japanese cuisine in the world. This typical dish is based on rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt and combined with other ingredients such as raw fish, seafood, and vegetables. The history of sushi in Japan dates back to the 8th century. Originally, sushi was a method of fermenting fish with rice in order to preserve it. Over time, this preservation technique evolved into what we know today as sushi.

While sushi gave Japanese cuisine its worldwide fame, it is also important to note that Japan has a rich and diverse culinary tradition, and there are many other popular dishes worth trying: Japanese curry, tempura, ramen, udon, and yakitori are just some of them.

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Often referred to as Brazil's national dish, feijoada is a black bean stew that represents the rich history and cultural diversity of this South American country. Feijoada comes mainly from African and Portuguese culinary traditions. It is believed that it was a dish originally prepared by slaves who mixed black beans ("feijão" in Portuguese) with leftover meat.

Over time, the recipe evolved and absorbed influences from other European traditions, such as various examples of pork stews from Italian, French, and Spanish cuisines. The modern version found today in Brazil is very different from its humble origins and is considered a popular meal to enjoy with family and friends.

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There is much discussion surrounding Britain's national dish, but many agree that the classic fish and chips beat any other concoction —although tikka masala is a strong contender. The origin of this battered fish and french fries dish is also tinged with controversy. One theory indicates that fried fish was introduced to the British Isles by Jewish emigrants from Spain and Portugal. The origin of fried potatoes, on the other hand, is not so easy to pinpoint.

The dish became popular in London and southern English circles throughout the 19th century, as can be seen in a mention of a fish frying establishment in Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist, published in 1838. By 1900 fish and chips were already a staple of Great Britain's culinary culture, reaching its peak in 1920 with 35,000 establishments selling it. Today, fish and chips are still a very much alive and kicking British symbol and a dish you can accompany with salt and malt vinegar or even ketchup and curry sauce, we won’t judge!

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Cameroon, located on the West African coast, offers an eclectic mix of African food that reflects its****rich cultural diversity. From peanut soup and bobolo (fermented cassava rolls) to miondo (cassava sticks) and fufu (mashed yam or plantain), Cameroonian cuisine is known for being rich and exquisite.

Among the various culinary treasures the country has to offer, ndole, Cameroon's national dish, stands out. A flavorful stew, blend of greens, peanuts, and a variety of meats and fish, ndole is as nutritious as it is tasty. The star ingredient of ndole is the bitter leaf, a vegetable found mostly in West African countries. In ndole, the bitterness of the leaves is balanced by the sweetness and richness of the other ingredients, resulting in a harmonious dish. Culture and traditions, all in one pot!

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Ceviche, one of the most representative dishes of Peruvian gastronomy, consisting of raw fish or seafood marinated in a citrus sauce, was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco. In addition, in 2008 the Peruvian Ministry of Production declared June 28 as National Ceviche Day.

Like many of the dishes in this ranking, it is not known exactly where ceviche was born and it is possible that many cultures and immigration waves contributed to its evolution. One theory indicates that between the 2nd and 5th centuries, the Mochica culture prepared a dish based on fresh fish. After the conquest, it was the Spanish, who did not consume raw fish, who incorporated lemon to "recook" the ceviche. Later, other ingredients such as sweet potato, red onion, corn, and chopped cilantro were added to the dish, contributing to its authentically Peruvian identity.

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Historically, there’s been a heated debate about the USA’s national dish. Although there is no final consensus and no specific recipe has officially been designated as a national dish, there are several contenders that are considered representative of American cuisine.

One of the most iconic American dishes is the hamburger. Over the years, this delicious ground beef sandwich has become a symbol of American comfort food and is widely consumed throughout the country (and the world). Some claim that the first hamburger was made in the German city of Hamburg, while others believe it was created in the United States. Nevertheless, most historians agree that the modern hamburger as we know it today was first served in the late 19th century in the United States. Whatever the case, there is no denying the burger is a timeless American staple and national icon, a symbol of friendship and celebration.

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Last but not least, the fragrant, hearty couscous. This fluffy concoction made with wheat semolina, a staple food known for its versatility and rich cultural significance, is the national dish of Morocco.

The roots of couscous can be traced back to North Africa. It is believed that the indigenous people of this region, the Berbers, began preparing couscous in the 7th century AD. Over time, it spread throughout the continent and became a cherished ingredient of Moroccan cuisine. In Morocco, couscous is not just food, it is a tradition and a symbol of hospitality. Serving it to guests is considered an honor and a sign of generosity: it is a way of bringing people together.

Hidden quirks

Offbeat Anatomy: 15 body oddities you may not know about

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With its labyrinthine systems and intricate mechanisms, the human body is full of surprises, hidden quirks, and mysteries. Take blushing, for example, did you know that only humans are capable of such a thing? And what about earwax? We all know our body produces it to prevent bacteria from getting in, but did you know it is a type of sweat?

Until now, you may have thought you had a good handle on your body, but you probably have a few things to learn about it. Read on to find out fifteen weird facts about the human body and its endless wonders.

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Have you ever wondered why you're a tad taller in the morning? That’s right, it’s not just your imagination playing tricks on you! Just as our weight is not the same throughout the day, neither is our height.

That is because, during the night, when we sleep horizontally, the soft cartilage between our bones gets a chance to decompress. The temporary relief from gravity leads to a slight increase in height by morning. But enjoy it while you can because it’s all downhill from here!

As the day progresses and we stand upright and carry out our daily activities, gravity compresses our spine back, causing our discs to flatten, and ultimately leading to a minimum loss of height.

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Our noses are not only adept at sniffing out scents but also possess an astonishing memory. To put it simply: our noses are just like a built-in scent database in the middle of our faces.

How does that work? The nose is armed with up to 400 scent receptors, which means that we can identify millions of different odors, from recently baked chocolate cookies to the stinky odor of sweaty gym socks!

Now, this is mind-blowing: the average human nose can distinguish and remember up to 50,000 different smells. On a less friendly note, it still hasn’t quite mastered the ability to forget about the unfortunate smells of life!

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Did you know that the core of your spinal discs is primarily composed of water? That’s right, the little discs between our vertebrae are like sponges. The water makes them plumpy and healthy. This means that, as long as our body is properly hydrated, our discs will be able to absorb shock and protect our spine like a pro.

As a natural consequence, when we don’t drink enough water or keep hydrated, these discs start to feel the squeeze. With no water to plump them up, they lose their main function and our spine bones are prone to rub against each other. And that’s when the back pain comes rushing.

If there weren’t enough reasons already, here is just another one to keep up with your water intake.

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It’s a known fact that our left and right sides are not exactly the same. And this rule also applies to our internal organs. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that the left lung is approximately ten percent smaller than the right lung.

This has quite a simple and logical explanation to it: for starters, our heart is not perfectly placed in the center of our chest. Considering it is slightly tilted to the left, the left lung is smaller in order to give the heart some space, making it smaller than the right.

Moreover, because the liver sits high on the right side of our body, the right lung is wider but a tad shorter than the left.

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Crying is the first thing a baby does. The minute they are welcomed into the world, they put their lungs to work. But have you ever noticed they don’t shed any tears? As you can imagine, this is not because they are holding back, it is because they physically can’t!

Tear ducts, the ones responsible for this, are still developing in newborns like many other body parts. It is not until they have reached full maturity that babies will be able to let the tears fall, regardless of how loud they can get.

This process can take up to a month, and in some cases, even longer. So, if you see a crying baby with dry eyes, don’t worry! They are just waiting for the tear ducts to catch up!

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The most elaborate cobweb has absolutely nothing on our circulatory system! The intricate network of blood vessels within the human body is truly astounding. Here’s a fact: if we were to lay all of our blood vessels, end to end, they would span a distance of 60,000 miles.

In case you can’t quite picture that, think of this, that’s enough to wrap around the Earth’s equator not once, not twice, but four times over!

Think of all those blood vessels weaving their way through our body, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every last corner of it. It leaves you thinking, right?

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Believe it or not, growth is not just reserved for childhood. While overall growth ceases in adulthood, certain body parts continue to exhibit growth throughout life. The nose and ears, for instance, have a mind of their own when it comes to this and they tend to grow larger with age.

Now, here is the trick about this oddity: it is not actual growth, it is all work of the relentless force of gravity!

Our ears and noses are mostly made of cartilage, which is highly flexible. As we age, even though it may seem as if they never cease growing, it is just gravity causing that cartilage to sag and stretch out making them look bigger.

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Since earwax is highly considered disgusting by society, it is no surprise we know close to nothing about it. Contrary to popular belief, earwax is not simply a collection of dirt and debris and it is definitely not wax, that’s for sure!

Earwax is, in fact, a type of sweat. Our ear canal has two types of glands, the ceruminous and the sebaceous glands. The former is a sweat gland and it is the one responsible for producing this waxy substance. Therefore, the name.

Now, earwax, embarrassing as it may be, serves to lubricate and protect the delicate skin lining the ear canal, preventing dryness and irritation. So, rather than removing it, embrace it!

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Just like fingerprints, each person's tongue boasts a unique and distinct pattern. So, there are no two fingerprints that are the same, and neither are two tongues.

These tongue prints, formed by a combination of papillae and taste buds, contribute to individuality and our identity. And get this, tongue prints are often used in forensic investigations for identification purposes.

And that is not all! As it turns out, color and shape are also unique features of each individual making the tongue a key tool for identification. And let’s not forget the rainbow of flavors we can taste thanks to it!

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You may be quite skeptical about this, but human teeth are remarkable and stronger than you think!

Human teeth are incredibly durable, and their strength is comparable to that of shark teeth. Scientific studies show that when comparing the micro-structure of both, our teeth are no weaker than that of sharks. And it all comes down to one single element: enamel.

This discovery is attributed to the dense enamel covering the tooth's surface, which serves as a protective barrier against wear and tear.

Mind you, equally strong doesn’t mean equally sharp! You might not be able to slice through prey, but you will most certainly win the battle over a crispy apple.

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We are all very much aware that blood has a vital role in maintaining our body at top performance. It is in charge of physiological balance and transporting essential nutrients and oxygen to tissues throughout the body.

One can also easily imagine that we have a fair amount of it circulating inside our bodies. But what you probably didn’t know is that it constitutes approximately eight percent of the average adult's body weight.

The number is not set in stone, depending on factors like age and size, this percentage can naturally vary. For example, blood takes up to ten percent of a baby’s body weight.

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You may not notice it, but you typically only breathe through one nostril at a time. You have nothing to fear, this is completely normal and it is due to a congestion pattern that switches every couple of hours. During this cycle, one nostril becomes congested making it a bit harder for air to flow through it while the other becomes decongested.

This alternating pattern of nasal airflow, known as the nasal cycle, ensures optimal filtration, humidification, and warming of inhaled air, promoting efficient respiratory function. Noses are not just a scent database, they are also our air conditioning system.

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Now that you read about it, you may be blinking on purpose, aren’t you? However, most of the time, blinking is an involuntary reflex of the cornea, that is, we don’t even notice we do it. Now, this is the quirky fact about it: blinking occurs around 20 times per minute, which actually equates to over ten million blinks per year!

This reflex is not just a habit, it is essential to keep our eyes healthy. Blinking serves to moisturize and protect the ocular surface, preventing dryness and debris accumulation.

Moreover, blinking is a defense mechanism. When things get too close to the eye, this instinctive action protects our eyes from potential damage.

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Contrary to popular belief, the brain never clocks out, not even when we go to bed. It is quite the opposite, our brain is often more active during sleep than when we are awake. And this is key to our overall health and well-being!

During REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the stage usually associated with vivid dreams and high cognitive function, the brain becomes notably active. It initiates the neural activity that triggers key cognitive processes such as memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

Unlike us, our brain never goes to sleep and we should thank it for feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

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When we feel embarrassed or ashamed, our mind is not the only one at play, our bodies are quick to catch up with some significant transformations. We sweat, we move around in discomfort and we blush!

Blushing is the result of the dilation of the blood vessels and a physiological response to certain feelings. Now, what you probably didn’t know is that, despite its involuntary nature, humans are the only species known to do this.

This uniquely human response is triggered by emotions such as embarrassment, shame, or excitement, highlighting the intricate interplay between the mind and body. Remarkable, isn’t it?