Food and identity

Food is strongly tied to identity. What we eat relates to our cultural heritage, where we live and the traditions that our family have passed down to us. Different cultures are often identified by the food within them. What country springs to mind when you hear pizza, fish and chips, curry or jerk chicken?

Compared to learning a new language, visiting a different country or learning about various traditions, food is an easy, cheap and accessible way to experience other cultures. Leicester is known for its diverse population and the multicultural restaurant scene that goes with it.

During our research, we discovered that it is rare to find a monocultural restaurant on Leicester’s London Road. Most of the restaurants in our sample serve dishes from different countries and cultures. In some cases, a restaurant’s multicultural nature was evidenced by different cuisines being served alongside each other. In others, dishes were more intercultural, combining ingredients and cooking styles from different cultures.

To find out more about historical articles from Leicester Mercury regarding multiculturalism, click here.