At the Table

What''s for dinner? Not just in America but around the world? And how is it cooked what''s the historical significance of that food how is it served and consumed and who gets to clean up? This book provides fascinating insight into how dinner is defined in countries around the world.Almost universally dinner is a key meal in most countries around the world whether it be a simple dish of rice and beans a slice of pizza on the go or a multi-course formal meal. What do the specifics of how a meal is eaten-by hand instead of with utensils for example-say about a specific culture? This fascinating one-volume reference guide examines all aspects of dinner in international settings enabling insightful cross-cultural comparisons and an understanding of the effects of modernization and globalization on food habits.Some 50 countries are covered in chapters focusing on present-day meal habits in Europe Asia the Middle East Africa and North and South America. The commentary covers everything about the meal such as the time the cooking and preparation shopping for ingredients the clean-up process gender-based participation roles conversation or other social interactions and etiquette-just about everything that happens at the table. The book is ideal for classroom teaching and learning as the entries and photos are conducive to teaching students about other cultures directly supporting the National Geography Standards. Students will be able to make informed comparisons between their own lives and the various cultural experiences described in the book.