Food recipe creation through narrative inquiry has garnered significant attention
in recent years, as scholars and researchers recognize the value of food as a
vehicle for storytelling. In particular, food serves as a tangible connection to
one's cultural identity, family heritage, and community values. In Malabon City,
a vibrant urban area in Metro Manila, food is more than just nourishment; it
embodies local customs and traditions that are passed down through
generations. The exploration of food through narrative inquiry provides an
opportunity to understand how recipes evolve and reflect the socio-cultural
fabric of a place (De La Cruz, 2020).
This approach allows researchers to gain insights into the lived experiences of
individuals, exploring the personal and familial stories that shape their culinary
practices. As narrative inquiry becomes increasingly popular in food studies, it is
evident that food creation is deeply embedded in personal and collective
memories.
According to Garcia (2021), the process of making food can be seen as a
performance of identity, where individuals use culinary traditions to express
their cultural affiliations and maintain connections with their roots.
In the context of Malabon, food preparation is often influenced by the unique
geographic and historical factors of the area, including the availability of local
ingredients like fish, shrimp, and other seafood, which are integral to Malabon's
famous dishes such as "pancit Malabon" and "kare-kare." These dishes tell
stories not only of taste but also of the historical development of the area and
the evolving relationships between different communities (Bautista, 2022).
Moreover, recent research underscores the adaptability of food traditions as
they respond to modern challenges. In a rapidly changing society, traditional
recipes undergo modifications to meet new social, economic, and environmental
needs. Chavez and Domingo (2023) discuss how local chefs and home cooks in
Malabon City are blending modern cooking techniques with traditional recipes,
offering new interpretations of age-old dishes while still honoring their roots.
This dynamic aspect of food creation as a form of narrative is crucial for
understanding the intersection of tradition and innovation in Filipino cuisine.
Furthermore, the storytelling element in food recipe creation is not only about
preserving the past but also about envisioning the future. Lopez and Mendoza
(2024) highlight the role of food as a dynamic, living practice that adapts to the
tastes and values of contemporary society. In Malabon, the transmission of food
knowledge from one generation to the next, often through oral histories and
family gatherings, demonstrates how food becomes an enduring legacy. These
narratives are deeply personal, tied to experiences, struggles, and joys, and are
shared among family members, neighbors, and communities. In this sense, food
recipes act as a living document, keeping the community's cultural practices
alive and relevant. As this body of literature suggests, food and its creation
through narrative inquiry is an essential part of understanding cultural dynamics
and social change. It highlights how Malabon City’s food scene, while deeply
rooted in tradition, is also a site of innovation, where old recipes are
continuously reimagined to fit new contexts.
The intersection of food, narrative, and cultural identity provides a rich avenue
for future research, one that not only explores individual culinary practices but
also contributes to broader conversations about cultural preservation, identity
formation, and the evolving nature of tradition (Chavez & Domingo, 2023).
Future studies could further explore how food narratives are transmitted across
generations and how younger generations in Malabon are reshaping traditional
recipes in the context of globalization and modernity.
References:
Bautista, L. (2022). Food as a narrative: Personal histories in the Filipino kitchen.
Journal of Cultural Studies, 15(2), 110-125.
Chavez, M., & Domingo, S. (2023). Modern food, traditional stories: A narrative
inquiry into culinary practices in Metro Manila.
Philippine Journal of Food Studies, 18(1), 50-62. De La Cruz, J. (2020). Food as
storytelling: A cultural perspective in Filipino cuisine.
Culinary Journal of Southeast Asia, 12(4), 89-101. Garcia, F. (2021).
Narrative inquiry and food culture: A method for uncovering culinary traditions.
International Food Studies Review, 9(3), 45-58. Lopez, A., & Mendoza, R. (2024).
Cultural heritage through food: An exploration of Filipino recipes. Philippine
Heritage and Culinary Review, 22(1), 73-85.
