Authenticity of Cuisines

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word authentic means “made or done the same way as an original” and provides the example “authentic Mexican fare.” This simple definition gives us some insight as to why this term is so contentious. How can one determine what is the original? When discussing food, is it even possible to define whether or not a particular dish is authentic or not and according to whose standards? Although one can easily imagine the difference between an “authentic” Taco Bell taco reheated in a microwave in 30 seconds and one carefully prepared by a trained taquero on the streets of Mexico City, the term remains problematic when used to label something as constantly changing and geographically specific as cuisine. This entry ...