Food and Multiculture

Book excerpt: With its 8.3 million occupants, London is a bustling and diverse metropolis characterized by rich histories of socioeconomic change, multiculturalism and diversity. The multiplicity of smells and tastes which can be experienced in the city are integral both to an understanding of its history and the reality of the city's urban present. From the mangos sold by street grocers and links with years of cultural exchange, to the rise of culturally hybridized foodstuffs and dishes such as the chicken katsu wrap, the exploration of sensory experience in the urban context is key to understanding the complex cultural genealogies of the city and its social life. Sociologist Alex Rhys-Taylor charts a groundbreaking new sensory ethnography in an urban multicultural context, exploring the relevance of sociological concepts such as gentrification, multiculturalism, sustainability and globalization whilst each chapter offers micro histories of ingredients and narratives of individuals, providing a vibrant demonstration of the evolution of taste and culture through time and space.