HELLO, WORLD! THE GCI NEWSLETTER Issue 6

Hello, World! THE GCI NEWSLETTER

PROGRAM PLANNING IDEAS FROM THE GLOBAL CULINARY INITIATIVE COMMITTEE May 2017 The Power of Culinary by The Global Culinary Initiative Committee

Culinary Diplomacy tions on cultural traditions and foodways, and tional relations. Co-Speaker Lauren Bernstein to promote national image. In 2002, discussed the Soft Power of food and the role Diplomacy is the art and practice of cultivating pioneered the practice of Gastrodiplomacy, of official ambassadorial entertaining, work- peaceful, international relationships by foreign followed by , , , the U.S. ing lunches, and State Department dinners ministries and . Culinary Diplomacy, State Department, and other countries. through Culinary Diplomacy. Margaret Hap- an emerging field in diplomatic studies, uses pel-Perry reviewed the program in the winter cuisine and hospitality as powerful tools to Soft Power issue of the Quarterly (page 25). engage and unite during official diplomatic Soft Power, a term coined by international functions. At the diplomatic table, good food relations scholar Joseph Nye, is a persuasive The Migrant Kitchen and good moods are essential to developing diplomatic approach used by state-channels, The definition ofmigrant is broad but gener- cross-cultural understanding, mutual trust, and non-government organizations, and private productive relations. Hillary Clinton called ally, it’s a person who leaves his/her country of citizens and includes the use of cultural influ- origin to seek temporary or permanent res- food “the oldest diplomatic tool.” Historically, ences, values, policies, and reputation. it has played a significant role in promoting idence in another country. The word migrant peace and shaping the world since the time of Conflict Cuisine ® is sometimes used for immigrant. The Migrant Greek philosopher Aristotle. Explore “Cu- Kitchen in Los Angeles’ explores the booming Dr. Johanna Mendelson Forman says Conflict linary Diplomacy: The nexus between food, food scene through the eyes of a new gener- Cuisine and the use of food to persuade and culture, and international relations” through ation of chefs whose cuisine is inspired by the educate is a form of soft power. During the essays, blog posts, and podcasts, which focus immigrant experience. Seattle’s Project Feast Global Culinary Initiative (GCI) program at on culinary, cultural, and public diplomacy, food provides culinary job training for immigrants LDEI’s 2016 Conference, she discussed two studies, culinary history, communication, and and refugees (mainly women) so they can find forms of Conflict Cuisine: food in conflict nation branding. A new perspective identifies sustainable employment in the food industry. zones and the food of diaspora populations “three pillars” of Culinary Diplomacy. Unlike an immigrant who voluntarily leaves his/ transferred to new countries. Johanna asked, her country, a refugee is compelled to flee to Gastrodiplomacy “Is the Kitchen the New Venue for Foreign a foreign country or power to escape danger Policy? Shift the conversation to the transfor- Public Diplomacy is an interactive dimension or persecution. This site further defines the mational role food plays as a proxy for un- terms emigrate, immigrate, and migrate. of Diplomacy in which sovereign countries derstanding the political dynamics of interna- or organizations communicate directly with foreign citizens. Gastrodiplomacy, an important subset of Public Diplomacy, works in tan- Click on the links to explore a wealth of stories, ideas, and resources. Hospitality, dem with Culinary Diplomacy. It is practiced food, and wine are among LDEI’s greatest sources of soft power. Leverage these through people-to-people connections and tools to design chapter programs that allow Dames to embrace and share cultural builds “soft power” to educate foreign popula- diversities and promote cross-cultural understanding in communities. HELLO, WORLD! THE GCI NEWSLETTER Issue 6 2

Culinary Diplomacy in Action Diplomats to prepare Native a few years ago, Seattle has been trying to for events in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2016. find a great use for the building’s second • The UN Delegates Dining Room in New York • Seattle Dame Jerilyn Brusseau has done floor. The nonprofit MarketShare proposed City offers a chance to dine alongside ambas- transforming it into “a permanent interna- sadors, delegates, and international dignitaries. considerable cultural and culinary diplomacy through her nonprofit Peace Trees Vietnam. tional street-food market that incubates • French Talleyrand told Napoleon Jerilyn and her 92-year-old mom, Rae Cheney, micro-restaurant startups run by low-income Bonaparte, “Give me a good chef and I shall honor their brother and son, an Army heli- immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs.” give you good treaties.” The celebratory copter pilot shot down in 1969, by building • The League of Kitchens is an immersive state dinner has been used worldwide as the bridges of peace and friendship between the culinary adventure in which immigrants teach most notable form of culinary diplomacy to people of Vietnam and the . cooking workshops in their homes. engage others in a formal setting. • Sweet Home Café at the National Museum • Culture may be at the heart of a solution • “If politics divides people, a good table al- of African-American History and Culture in to world conflicts. London’s Conflict Café ways gathers them.” The Club des Chefs des Washington, D.C., gives visitors a first-hand is a pop-up restaurant serving cuisines from Chefs (CCC) brings together chefs of vari- taste of African-American foods and dishes countries that experience conflict. It was or- ous heads of state from different countries inspired by immigrant populations like the ganized by the peacebuilding charity Interna- around the world. large Caribbean and West Indian communi- tional Alert. Diners have the opportunity to • “Food is our common ground…a univer- ties that settled in the north. Dame Carla break bread together and build bridges. sal experience.”—James Beard. In 2012, the Hall (Washington, D.C.) is the museum’s • EatWith creates a community of passion- Diplomatic Culinary Partnership launched at culinary . ate hosts and enthusiastic guests allowing the State Department in partnership with the • In an era of globalization, health issues have travelers to connect in new ways with locals James Beard Foundation, and with the support become increasingly preeminent in the evolving in countries around the world. There are of Susan Ungaro (New York), to engage in global health diplomacy agenda, as leaders in over 200 cities to dine in including London, high-level, formal Diplomacy by collaborating academia and policy consider how to structure City, Los Angeles, Paris, Vancouver, with a network of renowned chefs. Chefs of and use diplomacy for global health goals. San Francisco, , and Washington, D.C. the American Chef Corps participate in Public Diplomacy programs to bring together foreign A Dash of Diplomacy For Further Study publics. • Kitchens don’t recognize borders. The initiative, ✦ American University’s School of International • Culinary Diplomacy is alive and well in Recipes for Peace, aims to discover and raise Service offers coursework in, “Conflict Cuisine: Ottawa, Canada, where there are about 130 awareness of similarities between the culinary An Introduction to War and Peace Around the embassies and high commissions. cultures of Armenia and Turkey. This may con- Dinner Table.” Food is examined as a form of • Asif Ahmad, the British Ambassador to the tribute to long-term reconciliation efforts. Smart Power as well as a driver of conflict. Philippines, practices effective “Culinary • Northeast Dame Dorie Greenspan’s recipe ✦ Steizer, Cita. Dinner With Churchill: Policy Mak- Diplomacy” of a different kind. for World Peace Cookies appears in Dorie’s ing at the Dinner Table. Pegasus Books, 2013. Cookies, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016). Grassroots Diplomacy Decadent with chopped, bittersweet chocolate Diplomacy on the Plate • The Gastrodiplomacy campaigns of six na- and fleur de sel, fans believe a daily dose can Chapter Ideas to Explore tions are mapped and compared for strategic bring about planetary peace. Dorie says, “What • Explore the protocols for communication planning in branding themes, I know for sure is that everyone who has these global diplomatic meals. message appeals, strategies, and for pro- cookies smiles, and smiles are pretty powerful.” • Invite local consulate moting their national cuisines and culinary • An Iranian immigrant baker finds success cultures to the world. offices to discuss food through Project Feast. and nation branding. • As a spin-off of the 2015 Milan Expo World • An all-woman team of Syrian refugees has Fair, 105 Italian embassies and consulates • Seek out and support new ethnic restau- become Canada’s hottest new catering rants and refugee chefs who are fleeing from around the world planned a Worldwide company. Week of Italian Cuisine in 2016 with 1,300 global hot spots. food-related events. • The Syria Supper Club in New Jersey reach- • Support and partner with a woman chef who es out to refugees, one dinner at a time. • “Hunger is a weapon of war; food is a weapon is a recent immigrant. of peace,”—World Food Programme (WFP). • Theresa Lin serves as an unofficial culinary • Participate in the World Food Programme Rather than handing out generic grain rations, diplomat for Chinese cuisine, and spreads and World Food Day, celebrated yearly on the WFP’s voucher program allows families, gastrodiplomacy in a foreign policy bid to October 16. including refugees, to buy ingredients they help global gourmands better understand China’s culture and cuisine. prefer in order to cook their own meals. GCI Committee Susan Fuller Slack • The Korean government helps spread its influ- • Using food as a tool of diplomacy, German (Charleston) and Roberta Duyff (St. Louis), ence by supporting Korean people to estab- and Turkish women cook together to bridge Co-Chairs; Martha Marino (Seattle); Teresa lish Korean restaurants throughout the world. cultural boundaries. The Buttercreme und Farney (Colorado); Trina Kaye (Los Angeles); They also encourage the export and popu- Börek cookbook is a collection of their Gail Forman (Washington, D.C.); Sandy larization of the most ubiquitous of Korean recipes. Hu (San Francisco ) and Suzanne Brown foods—kimchi. The Korean Cultural Center in (Atlanta), advisors. Resettled Kitchens Egypt sponsors cultural culinary contests to Cover Art: Flags represent countries with promote Korean culture and cuisine. • Eat Offbeat delivers authentic, home-style, LDEI Chapters. By CiCi Williamson. Lauren “off-the-beaten track” cuisine. Ethnic meals • China wields “chopstick diplomacy” to promote Bernstein (L) and Johanna Mendelson are conceived, prepared, and delivered by Forman; and a GCI workshop. By Susan Chinese culture throughout Latin America. those who have resettled in Slack. The GCI Handbook is available in the • Chef Walter Whitewater from the Diné from other countries. member’s section of the LDEI website. (Navajo) Nation was one of several Culinary • After the renovation of King Street Station