The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Abstract Gastronomic identities are dynamic and continuously evolve as they adapt to new sociocultural and environmental contexts. This is particularly evident in migration processes, such as the late 19th-century Italian migration to South America. This study examines the evolution of Local Gastron...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Food |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00519-y |
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| author | Dauro M. Zocchi Giulia Mattalia Odara Boscolo Valter Guiggi Gabriele Proglio Andrea Pieroni |
| author_facet | Dauro M. Zocchi Giulia Mattalia Odara Boscolo Valter Guiggi Gabriele Proglio Andrea Pieroni |
| author_sort | Dauro M. Zocchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gastronomic identities are dynamic and continuously evolve as they adapt to new sociocultural and environmental contexts. This is particularly evident in migration processes, such as the late 19th-century Italian migration to South America. This study examines the evolution of Local Gastronomic Knowledge (LGK) among the Venetian-descendant community in São João del Rei (Minas Gerais, Brazil), focusing on the mechanisms underpinning the adaptation and hybridisation of their culinary traditions. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 20 Italian descendants, this research identifies 50 distinct dishes categorised as Brazilian (46%), Italian (26%), or hybridised Brazilian-Italian (20%). Brazilian and hybridised dishes emerged as the most frequently mentioned (39% and 32%, respectively). Three principal mechanisms of hybridisation were identified: ingredient modification (replacement, addition, and the use of cultural marker ingredients), culinary technique adaptation, and recontextualization of dishes within meals. Based on these findings, we propose a gastronomic adaptation strategies model, which conceptualises the maintenance, adoption, hybridisation, and abandonment of culinary practices in migratory settings. This study contributes to the broader discourse on food heritage, migration, and cultural adaptation, offering a framework for analysing the transformation of gastronomic practices in transnational contexts. Moreover, it underscores the role of hybridised culinary traditions as a valuable cultural asset with implications for heritage preservation and local economic development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-44a172ec347f4cbaac18ba006604b97c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-4286 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Food |
| spelling | doaj-art-44a172ec347f4cbaac18ba006604b97c2025-08-20T04:03:01ZengSpringerDiscover Food2731-42862025-07-015111510.1007/s44187-025-00519-yThe entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, BrazilDauro M. Zocchi0Giulia Mattalia1Odara Boscolo2Valter Guiggi3Gabriele Proglio4Andrea Pieroni5University of Gastronomic SciencesInstitut de Ciència i Tecnología Ambientals (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaLaboratory of Economic Botany and Ethnobotany, Department of Biology, Fluminense Federal UniversityUniversity of Gastronomic SciencesUniversity of Gastronomic SciencesUniversity of Gastronomic SciencesAbstract Gastronomic identities are dynamic and continuously evolve as they adapt to new sociocultural and environmental contexts. This is particularly evident in migration processes, such as the late 19th-century Italian migration to South America. This study examines the evolution of Local Gastronomic Knowledge (LGK) among the Venetian-descendant community in São João del Rei (Minas Gerais, Brazil), focusing on the mechanisms underpinning the adaptation and hybridisation of their culinary traditions. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 20 Italian descendants, this research identifies 50 distinct dishes categorised as Brazilian (46%), Italian (26%), or hybridised Brazilian-Italian (20%). Brazilian and hybridised dishes emerged as the most frequently mentioned (39% and 32%, respectively). Three principal mechanisms of hybridisation were identified: ingredient modification (replacement, addition, and the use of cultural marker ingredients), culinary technique adaptation, and recontextualization of dishes within meals. Based on these findings, we propose a gastronomic adaptation strategies model, which conceptualises the maintenance, adoption, hybridisation, and abandonment of culinary practices in migratory settings. This study contributes to the broader discourse on food heritage, migration, and cultural adaptation, offering a framework for analysing the transformation of gastronomic practices in transnational contexts. Moreover, it underscores the role of hybridised culinary traditions as a valuable cultural asset with implications for heritage preservation and local economic development.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00519-yFoodwaysCulinary hybridizationLocal gastronomic knowledgeMigration |
| spellingShingle | Dauro M. Zocchi Giulia Mattalia Odara Boscolo Valter Guiggi Gabriele Proglio Andrea Pieroni The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil Discover Food Foodways Culinary hybridization Local gastronomic knowledge Migration |
| title | The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| title_full | The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| title_short | The entangled gastronomic identities of the Italian diaspora in São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| title_sort | entangled gastronomic identities of the italian diaspora in sao joao del rei minas gerais brazil |
| topic | Foodways Culinary hybridization Local gastronomic knowledge Migration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00519-y |
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