Kitchens play asignificant part of our holiday traditions and are usually a place of warmthand delicious smells. Around the world, people gather in kitchens to carefullyprepare holiday dishes and share food with their loved ones. While many of us maynot be gathering in the usual fashion this year, people across the globe areplanning alternative ways to share their meals around the table safely.
In a similar way, thistime of the year is very special to CSOFT, as we send out our traditional wellwishes along with our specially prepared gifts. However, due to the pandemic,we have also had to adapt our annual traditions. Recently, CSOFT has reflectedon how people will find new ways to hold onto some traditions. In doing so, wehave put together a creative alternative to sharing our best wishes, as well askeeping our seasonal traditions strong.
For many years, CSOFThas put together numerous cookbooks featuring recipes from around the world.CSOFT appreciates how food, in all flavors and sizes, brings family and friendstogether in many ways (including virtually), particularly in times of hardship.Additionally, kitchens, no matter the size, are vessels of holiday traditionsand often where you will find items of cultural value and meaning. This year,CSOFT has created a fun-filled video showcasing our CSOFTers from around theworld and their culturally unique kitchenware.
In addition to ourvideo, CSOFT has selected an assorted array of kitchenware to highlight theimportant diverse cultures found in kitchens globally. The following sectionsheds light on some kitchenware tools that are used to create delicious dishesfrom around the world:
ChineseBamboo Steamer (蒸籠 zhēnglóng)
Bamboo Steamersare commonly used in Chinese cuisine, dating back almost 5000 years. The bamboobasket-like vessels are used for steaming and can be stacked on top of one another,with each vessel steaming various foods. Produced from bamboo soaked in water,these baskets are shaped into a circle and are held together with nails. As thebaskets sit above boiling water, the vessel allows for the steam to enterthrough the basket to gently cook the food, helping retain its color, texture,and shape.
Rolling Pin (擀麵杖 gǎnmiàn zhàng)
The Chinese rolling pinis a uniquely wooden cylindrical shaped tool used to roll out dough fordumpling skins, wontons, and cakes on flat surfaces. In addition todiffering from its Western counterpart, the Chinese rolling pin differsslightly across China: some pins are long and thin, while others are short andthick. In general, the longer ones are used for making noodles, while the shorterpins are used for rolling dough for dumplings.
Moroccan Tagine( طجين ṭažin)
The Moroccantagine, or tajine, is a Berber dish named after the earthenware pot in which itis cooked. The name tažin means 『shallow earthenpot』 in Moroccan Arabic. The dish itself is very ancient, first appearing inearly writings in the ninth century. Today, the dish is served primarily in theMiddle East and North Africa. The pot is sometimes intricately painted orglazed and has a circular base that is flat with low sides as well as a largecone-or dome-shaped cover that sits on top of the base while cooking over hotcharcoal or in an oven. The cover is designed to direct all condensation to thebottom of the pot.
Japanese Bento (弁當 bentō)A traditionalJapanese bento is a singleportion take out or home-packed meal, and contains rice or noodles, along withfish or meat and vegetables. Bento canrange from plastic disposable containers to traditional hand-craftedlacquerware containers that feature specific indented box-like sections forfood placement. While bento was initially intended for packed lunches at schoolor work, it has become an integral and symbolic part of Japanese culture. Ekiben (駅弁) bento is a specifictype of bento sold on trains or at train stations that comes with disposablechopsticks and spoons. Ekiben containersare made from wood or ceramic and often showcase regional specialties andcuisines, encouraging culinary tourism in Japan. Kyaraben (キャラ弁) bento is a styleof bento that iselaborately arranged, and often features food decorated to look like people,animals, and plants, as well as represent different seasons.
Korean Sujeo Set (수저 Sujeo/Sujŏ)
TheKorean sujeo set consists of a pairof oval-shaped or rectangular shaped medium-length metallic (often stainlesssteel) chopsticks and a matching long handled shallow spoon. The word sujeo is a portmanteau of the words sutgarak (숟가락, 「spoon」) and jeotgarak (젓가락, 「chopsticks」). Thelength of the sutgarak and the jeotgarak set are well balanced and are often used together.The sutgarak has a slightlyconcaved, yet firm handle at the end for graceful usage. The sujeo set can beused for eating traditional Korean food and for everyday usage.
Italian Wooden Pizza Peel (Pala/paletta per pizza)
Pizza making is a uniqueaspect of Italian culture. An Italian pizza paddle, or peel, is a shovel-liketool used by bakers to safely slide loaves of bread, pizzas, and pastries intoovens. The peels are typically made of wood with a flat surface attached to anextended arm and handle (similar to a shovel’s blade). Variations can be madefrom sheet metal attached to a wooden handle. The paddle allows for bakers inrestaurants or in the home to place baked goods deeper into extremely hot ovensand wood burning ovens. Before using the paddle, bakers will delicatelysprinkle flour over the spade so that baked goods do not stick to the paddle.Paddles come in a range of sizes often to meet the depth of one’s oven or thesize of the foods being placed in the oven.
Danish Æbleskiver PansÆbleskiver(aebleskiver or ebleskiver) are a type of Danish pancake cooked on the stovestop in a special cast-iron pan with spherical molds. Traditional designs ofthe pan date back over 300 years, and often have hammered cooper plating. Thename of the dessert means apple slices inDanish, although modern variations do not often use apple in the ingredients.The inside texture of Æbleskivers is soft, light and fluffy and the crust iscrisp and browned. Usually served in the home as an afternoon snack with acoffee, Æbleskivers are traditionally served in sets of three with powderedsugar sprinkled on top and the insides filled with berry jams. This snack isoften seen as a symbol of comfort and hospitality and is very popular duringcommunity events.
Mexican Mortar and Pestle (molcajete y tejolote)
Mexicanmortar and pestle are stone tools used for crushing and grinding traditionalspices for authentic guacamoles or salsas. The use of the molcajete dates back several thousand years to the Aztec and Mayanpeoples. Traditionally carved out of vesicular basalt (volcanic rock), the toolis usually circular in shape and supported by three stump-like legs.Traditional molcajetes are also decorated using various colors and designs. Thematching handheld grinder is made from basalt as well, creating an idealgrinding surface. Much like cast-iron skillets, molcajetes can develop a lineof 『seasoning』, carrying flavors from past preparations.
Greek Coffee Maker (Briki μπρίκι)
Briki is a pot used tomake the Greek version of espresso or Turkish coffee. The small post has a longhandle and a pouring lip. Typically, the pot is made from brass or copper, butit can also be of silver or gold. As a unique custom, when one is finisheddrinking their coffee, they can turn the cup over and let the grounds drip downto reveal one’s fortune.
A meal is never complete until we give ourthanks. So, from our table to yours, we wish you a happy and safe holidayaround the world. We hope that you still enjoy a holiday meal and create newmemories in the kitchen, even though they may be different this year. Join CSOFT in celebrating the holiday season together virtually read more. Be sure to also check out our holiday wishes board to leave yourseason’s greetings.