Abhijit Banerjee in Tasting Economics: When the menu is the message
Economist Abhijit Banerjee reflects on the cultural implications of menu planning, using a recent controversy over a vegetarian state dinner as a starting point. He argues that hospitality should balance guest preferences with the host's desire to showcase their own culture.
Why it matters
It offers a sociological perspective on diplomacy, cultural etiquette, and the role of food in international relations.
Twenty years ago, a pucca Lucknawi gentleman was talking about life in the old days. His family was Muslim, but they had many Hindu friends who would come for family celebrations. Since many of them would not eat otherwise, brahmins would be hired to cook and serve them in a separate shamiana.In other words, you could be close friends and yet be respectful of cultural distances. It was a gracious expression of tolerance and liberality, but it made me uncomfortable: is it necessarily okay to indulge the abhorrent prejudices of your guests? If brahmins refuse food served by lower castes, should they stay home?I was reminded of that slightly troubling discussion by the recent controversy about whether it was appropriate to serve our Brics visitors a (pretty wonderful) fully vegetarian meal.
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