Food is a language, therefore, it’s translatable!
Don’t we all feel a certain way when eating specific dishes?
For example, gratin is my awe dish, for it reminds me of the time I was punished for not eating it when young.
“Kousa mahshi” is my happy dish, because it’s what my late grandmother always cooked for me.
Pomodoro pasta is my love dish for it is the dish that I always share with my loved one.
Each dish makes me feel something; therefore, eating it is a language. My favorite language, may I say!
Words in a pot, the translation broth
Translation, on the other hand, is what guarantees that any message in any language reaches all people around the globe.
And if cooking is a translation, then Lebanese are the biggest target-oriented translators, for they adapt and mold the foreign dish, until it suits their taste buds.
However, this form of translation happens everywhere. For instance, “to please American audiences, cream and butter, two staples of traditional Indian cooking, have been cut from recipes to make food less heavy and more “light” and “low fat.”.
Confined, but always refined
Now that we’re all in confinement, and with most imported products going extinct in our supermarkets due to the economic crisis, I’m sure that all of you, little chefs-wanna-be, know what I’m talking about; unless you didn’t go the extra mile and stuck to baking cinnamon rolls.
From Turkish Shawarma with “extra toum (i.e. garlic)”, to Italian pasta “Kattir (i.e. lots of) shredded mozzarella”, and cookies with Tahini instead of softened butter; we’re doing it all wrong!
Can you guess what dish is the biggest victim of the Lebanese target-oriented translation and also the topic of my next article?
Hint: It is round, triangular, and square-shaped, all at the same time!
Beautiful and creative article , I love it.
Thank you!
Awesome idea Hanin
Waiting for your next article
Thank you so much! 🙂
I liked the analogy between language and food.
I’m glad you liked it. Thank you!
Very good keep going
Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Creative work. Keep going!
Thank you! 🙂
Bien pensé!
Merci Mira 🙂 !
great work Hanin we are proud of you keep it up
Thank you so much Mohammad! 🙂
Very nice article….but Kousa mahshi is another story ❤️ And we would not be Lebanese if we didn’t put extra toum with the Shawarma…hehe
Thank you so much! And yes that’s our specialty! 🙂
Smart, creative, interesting
Thank you, it means a lot! 🙂
It’s amazing
Thank you!
Great article. Very interesting.
Thank you so much! your feedback means a lot!
I love your approach on translation!!!
Thank you! 🙂
Really very interesting specially the writing style! I liked it.
Thank you so much! It means a lot!
So interesting. Keep going!
Very fun to read and intresting at the same time
Thank you so much! 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
So beautifully written!! And maybe pizza ?
Thank you! Bingoo!!
Lovely article Hanin Hashem, waiting more n more creative ideas, love it
Thank you so much! It’s coming your way, wait for it!
Very nice keep going
Thank you!!
J’adore le concept ! Kousa Mehchi will always be my happy dish
Merci beaucoup! You should join me and Gaelle then!
Nice keep it up
Thank you! 🙂
Pizza akiddd m3 zayton w corn, etc….
And we have a winner!!
Woww very interesting article. Keep it up Hanin!
Thank you so much!
Love it Hanin!!
Thank you so much!
I’m wondering why pizza isn’t mentioned … oha wait, there it is … very creative keep it up
Can’t write a text about food without mentioning pizza! Of course unless there is a reason 😉
Very nice and creative! Keep it going
Thank you! 🙂
Wow hanine! Love your writing style !!
Thank you for your feedback!
Very nice
Thank you!
Very very creative ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! I appreciate it! 🙂
Bravo hanine very nice
Thank you! 🙂
Adoro l’articolo, ma non mi piace più la pasta !!!
You know it!
nice article, impressive
keep going
Thank you so much! 🙂
“Kousa mahshi” is my happy dish too for the same reason! Love it Hanin ❤️ Just waw
Thank you Gaelle! 🙂 Let us be happy together after Covid then!!!
Sorry about the gratin thing ! Very interesting article!
No worries mom!Thank you! 🙂
Interesting article Hanin!
Thank you Rana! Glad you liked it!
so creative!!
Thank you!!
I love how you compared translation and cooking. Very creative idea! Can’t wait to read your next article!
That’s what happens when you’re always thinking about food! Thank you!
Lovely article
Thank you Yara! 🙂
very nice article
Thank you! 🙂
Loved your take on translation and food ! I never thought of it that way, but I love the idea ! Very nice article
Thank you so much! Wait for my next article, I have some half-baked ideas that I’m sure you’ll love! 🙂
Excellent work hanine I love the idea and it’s very helpful and enjoyable!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
The most creative form of translation. Love it!
Don’t we all!
“Confined but always refined”! I like your post Hanin!!!
We do it the Lebanese way! Thank you for the feedback! 🙂
Creative work hanine !!
Thank you! 🙂
very creative hanin amazing