Food in Communities

Mary Ann O’Donnell and Sandra Cate explore the culture of food in different communities. Cate explores the different ways inmates create their own food and establish a community within the San Francisco County Jail. Ramen noodles are used to create spreads: a special meal the inmates create with whatever ingredients they have. These ingredients come from previous meals or from their own money, limiting an inmate’s creation.

These spreads have sparked innovation in inmates, allowing them to create their own special spread with their own name: Nacho Spread, Nutritious Spread, Sweat and Sour Spread, and Pie Guy Pie. The invention of the spread has allowed inmates to create a community within the jail. The inmates make spreads together; everyone puts in the same amounts of ingredients and gets the same amount out.  Jail food is nothing to rave about; the inmates view spreads as the desert to their meal. When dinner is served at four o’clock many inmates are hungry at night and then indulge in their creations.

This article was very interesting to read. I was amazed how much these spreads helped the inmates to overcome their addictions and to create friendships. It was also very interesting that some inmates still make spread when they get out of jail, even for their family. The spread has become a tradition to them.

Mary O’Donnell writes about food and culture in Shenzhen. Similar to the jail and spreads, throughout the 1980s, there was an inequality in food rationed between Shenzhen’s three different classes: Shenzheners, migrants, and locals. The Shenzheners were immigrants with a college-background and were thus able to buy and indulge in more expensive food. Early Shenzhen culture was full of inequality; individuals had to value self-sacrifice in order to be fed a decent amount. The story about Big Sister Liang’s sacrifice of water to fulfill her work quota for the day was very interesting. For the New Shenzheners, images of their hometown and culture have been passed on through food. In the Chinese culture, generations have passed with food ration inequalities but there is still the same culture being passed onto children.

These articles analyzed the role food plays in different communities. Whether it is in jail or in Shenzhen, food gathers individuals into communities.