Contrasting Marxist and Durkheim
Japanese food is a huge totem in my life specifically izakaya food. Most places I go to here in America are farm-to-fork and tell you exactly where and how they get their meats and produce-which I appreciate, and love as part of my food experience.
Izakaya food to me is of much higher standard then regular American bar food relying mostly on local ingredients and what is in season at the time. I also really admire the Japanese for their love of seasonal ingredients and making the most out of them! Another reason I love izakaya food, is the vibe in general. You can see in the kitchen and see the chef working; or even talk to him as he cooks. All the while having some some delicious sake, with a free range jidori chicken skewer (yakitori or tskune my personal favorite) and most plates are shared. The communal vibe with the people you are eating out with is another reason I love Asian food culture. Most food is shared; people often look at me and my boyfriend weird at American restaurants cuz we order “individual entrees” and share everything! -some even will say theirs an extra fee for sharing. I’ve always been extremely connected through Japanese culture by my own doing. It’s a culture I can truly identify with from their food- to how they interact with one another. This is why it’s a totem to me, and I’m glad most things revolving commodity fetishism in American izakayas are rarely present or at least limited to which one you go to.
A side note to say; I could have written about how horrible McDonald’s is; but that was more of a totem when I was a picky child, who only ate chicken nuggets, but I rarely eat fast food anymore- because of how disgusting our food industry is in America.
necikait 