Dinner or Menu Comparison

Questions: 1. Identify the festive/cultural dining experience event from your cultural background that you want to compare with another culture. Briefly describe the significant of the event? 2. Describe 5 key points about your cultural background and customs/traditions. Research and list 5 key points from the culture you are comparing? 3. Develop a traditional dining experience at your chosen event and design a formal meal menu for your own culture and then prepare an alternative formal meal menu for the alternative culture you have selected? 4. For each of the two menus developed an appropriate food and wine/drink pairing that aligns with each food course of your selected menu items? 5. Finally, state 2 interesting points reflecting upon what you learned about the dining and drinking habits of the 2 cultures menu you have compared? Answers: 1. Christmas dinner is the special meal which is eaten at Christmas. This meal can take place any time from the evening of Christmas to the evening of Christmas day itself. They are rich in nature and become the part of the Christian feast day celebration. These meals are the important part of parties which are held to celebrate Christmas. In some areas many religious customs are associated with Christmas meal. Usually, Christmas meals are different in every part of the world and prepared on the basis of regional cuisines and their local traditions. Therefore, Christmas meals are influenced by the culture of the country. In Canada, Christmas dinner is influenced from the culture of England. Christmas dinner includes turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and vegetables such as carrots, turnip, parsnips, etc. some other type poultry items are also used such as roast beef and ham. In deserts, many things are used such as pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcakes are most important. Deserts which are influenced with alcohol are also prepared such as Eggnog which is milk based punch. Many other things such as Christmas cookies, butter tarts and short bread are baked before the holidays in traditional manner and these are served to visitors on Christmas and New Year parties. In French Canada, meals are inspired by tradition of France (Potter, 2016; Tucker, 2015). 2. Cultural background in Canada: 1. In Canada people open their gifts on Christmas Eve, and some only open their stockings. 2. In Canada, people decorate their houses their houses with Christmas trees and they also hung Christmas stockings by the fireplace. 3. Christmas meal includes roast turkey and mashed potatoes and vegetables. 4. Christmas desert includes Christmas plum puddings and mincemeat tarts. 5. If there is snow then they go for skiing, skating etc (Brown, 2014). Cultural background in Australia: 1. In Australia, people hang wreaths on their front door. 2. Australians decorate their houses with bunches of 'Christmas Bush', which is considered as traditional tree in Australia with small green leaves and cream colour flowers. 3. In each state candlelight service arrange large carols. 4. In Australia people believes that Santa gives rest to reindeer and use kangaroos and six white boomers. 5. On Boxing Day people visit their friends and also arrange barbecues on beach (Why Christmas. Com, n.d.). 3. Menu for Christmas dinner in Canada: Eggnog- on Christmas Eve this drink is perfect, and as an adult a little shot of rum and a pinch of cinnamon turned this appetizer in amazing beverage. Eggnog introduced in England, where it was known as Egg Flip. Tortiere- this dish is traditional French Canadian meat based pie, and the meat is of pigeon. This dish was prepared from last many years and usually people used beef based tortiere but there are number of people who also used pork, veal, and fish. Turkey- turkey is considered as most important dish for Christmas meal from traditional point of view. According to farmers of Canada almost 3.8 million turkeys are purchased in 2014. Shortbreads- Christmas meal in Canada is influenced by the culture of England, and these shortbreads are also come from UK. On cookie tray these cookies are the beauty of Canadian Christmas (Canadian Living, n.d.). Menu for Christmas dinner in Australia: Glazed Ham- it is a traditional Christmas recipe which is famous in all over the world, and this dish is very important from traditional point of view in Australia. Roasted meat- turkey is the most loved dish of Christmas Eve in Australia and served with roast chicken, lamb and beef which are the important part of Australian Christmas traditions. We can also pair the Christmas feast with different types of vegetables such golden roast potatoes and honey yard carrots. Pudding- after completing the roasted lunch, there is much need of classic pudding to compliment and complete the Christmas dinner (Kumm, 2015). 4. Wine which is appropriate with Canadian menu items are: Mulled Wine- With the turkey dinner the most suitable wine is mulled wine. This drink is very essential on Christmas. Mulled wine is the important part of European traditions which still followed by many peoples. Different methods are used to prepare mulled wine but it must involve wine doused with spices, sugar, and pinch of orange slice for flavor. This drink play very important role on Christmas Eve, and Wine has starring role on dinner tables. The origin of mulled wine is very easy because people add sugar and spices when wine went bad. This wine is associated with the Christmas tradition and relation becomes stronger. Therefore, this wine is suitable with the menu items which are set for Christmas dining (The Times, 2016; Aggarwal, 2016). Wine which is appropriate with Australian menu items are: We can choose similar wine for both turkey as well as chicken, but wine must have more flavours and gaminess than the flesh of the bird. Pinot red is the most suitable red wine with the menu items for Christmas Eve. It contains tannins which make it compatible with most medium to full flavoured savoury foods such as with roasted meat with flavour of cheese, pasta and risottos. It is also served with different types of sauces and marinated fish and other sea foods, glazed ham, etc. With multiple items of dining, this wine would match perfectly. This wine is consistent wine, and there are many peoples who use this wine from many years (Hooke, 2015). 5. Canadian culture: There are number of peoples in Canada who are working on Christmas Eve, but it is also a last day of preparation for the holidays. Peoples who are planning to have traditional meal on Christmas day then they start preparations on Christmas Eve. Christmas meal includes roast turkey or goose with squash, different type of vegetables etc. however, in Canada people like to eat dishes such as clam chowder, spicy chicken wings, and different type of foods which are belonged to different cultures and presented by modern Canada. In Quebec, the traditional meal provided after Christmas service is a pie of meat, potatoes and onions known as In Canada, there was large number of European settlers from different backgrounds and these peoples have their own customs and traditions. Dining culture of Canada is influenced from different type of cultures (Time and date, n.d.). Australian culture: In Australia, Christmas season begins in late November, and Australian prepare English food on Christmas. Turkey, pork and ham are traditional dishes of Australia on Christmas eve. In desert Australian peoples like Christmas pudding which is also influenced by English culture. Christmas meals are served in afternoon at lunch time, and because of warm weather in Australia people celebrate their day on beaches with barbecue (Mackeinell, 2016). References: Potter, J. (2016). 15 Traditional Christmas Foods Across Canada. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/great-canadian-cookbook/traditional-christmas-foods-across-canada/#!Pecan-Butter-Tarts-recipe. Tucker, R. (2015). How to make a truly Canadian Christmas dinner. Retrieved on 4th February 2017 from: https://news.nationalpost.com/life/food-drink/how-to-make-a-truly-canadian-christmas-dinner. Brown, N. (2014). How do Christmas celebrations differ between the US and UK. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.quora.com/How-do-Christmas-celebrations-differ-between-the-US-and-UK. Why Christmas.com. Christmas in Australia. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/australia.shtml. Canadian Living. Traditional christmas dinner made easy. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.canadianliving.com/food/cooking-school/article/traditional-christmas-dinner-made-easy. Kumm, W. B. (2015). A Traditional Australian Christmas Menu. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://deliciousfoodandwine.com/a-traditional-australian-christmas-menu/. The Times, (2016). Mulled wine. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://wellingtontimes.ca/mulled-wine-3/. Aggarwal, K. (2016). Whats in your Christmas cup. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/luxe/whats-in-your-christmas-cup/article9438338.ece. Hooke, H. (2015). Matching wines to food on Christmas Day. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.goodfood.com.au/drinks/matching-wines-to-food-on-christmas-day-20151207-glcr4b. Time and Date. Christmas Eve in Canada. Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/christmas-eve. Mackenell, I. (2016). What do Australians eat during Christmas. . Retrieved on 4th February 2017from: https://www.quora.com/What-do-Australians-eat-during-Christmas.