Foods are changed not only by those who produce and supply them, but
also by those who consume them. Analyzing food without considering
changes over time and across space is less meaningful than analyzing it
in a global context where tastes, lifestyles, and imaginations cross
boundaries and blend with each other, challenging the idea of
authenticity. A dish that originated in Beijing and is recreated in New
York is not necessarily the same, because although authenticity is often
claimed, the form, ingredients, or taste may have changed. The
contributors of this volume have expanded the discussion of food to
include its social and cultural meanings and functions, thereby using it
as a way to explain a culture and its changes.