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The art of cooking and eating is one of the most powerful bridges between cultures. No matter where we come from, the act of sharing a meal allows us to experience different traditions, flavors and histories. From sushi in Japan to tacos in Mexico, from Italian pasta to Indian curries, every dish carries a story of migration, adaptation and connection. In a world that often focuses on differences, food reminds us of our shared humanity.    

Rose Dang is a junior at Grand View University and a Multi-Cultural Ambassador.  

“Food brings everybody together and that is how you start conversations and how you get to know people. Food is a really good way to connect with people that you don’t know in the beginning,” Dang said.  

Food is much more than a necessity for the human body, it is a way of human connection. It is what brings people together. Most people are brought together by food at home when their parents make dinner, when they go on a date with their significant other or even a casual sweet treat with their friends; but it can go much further than that. Food can bring people together worldwide.   

Alex Piedras is the Director of Community Outreach at GVU. 

“We had a spring rolls and spicy noodle challenge event that was organized by diversity alliance. The club wanted to expand the knowledge and, in a way, the taste buds, of their peers,” Piedras said.  

There has been a rise of cross culture food appreciation, especially within Generation Z. Gen Z has grown up with many different food choices from around the world, giving them a broader taste than older generations. For them, traditional dishes are more than just a meal: it is about the experience. They enjoy international dishes in places that reflect those cultures. This trend is leading experts to suggest that stores and restaurants should focus on their atmosphere as much as on the food, helping them connect with Gen Z on a deeper level.   

Social media has played a huge role in creating this rise.  The thoughts and opinions around social media have been growing in the direction of negative and label as a “bad habit.” The side many people, mostly millennials and older, do not see is the positive impacts. There are many aspects of social media that influence diversity and having an open mind.    

Phones are needed for the dinner table, but not for what you think. Gen Z use social media to capture their food and experience with friends, family and the world. This promotes different cultures by what they have to offer on their menu and how they connect.   

 “It’s a good learning process for people enjoying certain items and/or products from different cultures,” Dang said.   

 Taking this one more step, it has become more common to video document experiences stepping out and exploring different flavors. Take TikTok for example, there are countless creators on the app who encourage people to try their cultures food, people who promote going out of your comfort zone to go try other cultures foods or simply creators documenting themselves trying other cultures foods.    

More recent high popularity creators who have encouraged engaging in other culture foods, one of these creators would be logansfewd on TikTok. Logan went viral when he made countless videos about “How to eat an entire cucumber.” He started with Korean flavors and recipes which influenced many people to try those recipes and flavors themselves. Apart from the cucumbers, he has shared his experiences traveling the world and trying many different delicacies. After returning home, he would display on social media how he continues to embrace these cultural flavors and foods in his everyday life. 

How can you get involved? 

There are many ways you dip your toes or take even continue to embrace different cultures’ foods.    

Attending the Multi-Cultural Ambassadors and Diversity Alliance events on campus that provide foods and activities from many other countries. This is probably the easiest thing to do since it is put on by your peers on campus and is created to encourage students to go outside of their comfort zone.   

Explore international grocery shops and look to see what fits you. Des Moines has so many options to choose from. On University Ave, there is an international grocery store called “C Fresh Market.” They service food from other countries like Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, Africa and other countries.   

Visit restaurants that serve authentic dishes from different cultures. Near GVU’s campus, there is authentic Mexican restaurants including “Pueblo Viejo” and “El Rincon.” There are also authentic Asian restaurants nearby. There is a Vietnamese restaurant called “Pho All Seasons,” a Thai restaurant called “Thai Flavors     ” and a Szechuan restaurant called “Cheng’s Garden.”   

“I would start with something that is not as exotic. Many restaurants do more of a fusion meal because they know that people may not be able to experience traditional meals,” Piedras said.  

An Asian fusion restaurant down the road from GVU is “Teriyaki House.” 

Try food trucks or pop-up events featuring global cuisines. Also, near GVU’s campus, there are multiple authentic Mexican food trucks including “Los Pinos Taqueria,” “El Forastero” and “Tacos La Papa.” 

“Every August in Des Moines, we are blessed to have the ‘World Food Festival.’ If you go down there, they have one-dollar samples of their dishes which is a good way for you to try it yourself without pushing yourself too much,” Piedras said.