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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Roger Basick.
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And I’m Paula Devis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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French-fried potatoes covered in meat gravy and fresh cheese curd. Pickled jalapenos with black beans and creamy avocado fruit. Soft pork and corn in warm, spicy broth. Moist sponge cake with dried date fruit. These are comfort foods from around the world. Each dish has a different name. But they share a common purpose. They make people feel happy. They help the lonely remember their homes and families. They reconnect adults with their youth. They remind everyone that they are not alone. They bring comfort to those in need.
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Today’s Spotlight looks at comfort food dishes from different parts of the world. We explore why these meals mean so much to people. We talk about why a dish is called “comfort food.” We examine food instructions that have been passed down through generations. We celebrate the power of food made with love.
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What is comfort food? The term “comfort food” was first used in 1966 in an article in the Palm Beach Post. Yet the idea behind comfort food has existed for much longer. There are certain meals that make a person happy. Maybe it is a warm dish that a mother makes for her son when he feels tired. Perhaps it is a meal that a family eats together every week. Comfort food dishes are different around the world. But they all make people feel better. Writer C.A. Pinkham says:
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“An American might reach for a grilled cheese sandwich. Someone in Vietnam might crave a bowl of pho. An Italian could feel comforted by some risotto. But the idea of food that makes you happy is a basic part of the human condition.”
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The smell of a specific dish can make people remember the past. It could be the smoky smell of meat cooking slowly for hours in Austin, Texas. Or it could be the delicious scent of chicken, rice, garlic, onions, and bell peppers in the Cuban dish arroz con pollo. Some dishes just smell like home. Dr. Shahram Heshmat writes:
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“There is a strong link between scents and emotional memory. The smell of foods can help us remember detailed emotional memories of our past.”
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Shirley Karasawa is a Japanese cooking instructor. Her mother was a teenager when she first moved to the United States. She learned to bake by watching neighbors. She made everything very large. Her cookies were huge. Her cupcakes were too big for the pan. Later, she taught Shirley her method. Shirley says:
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“They were not perfect and beautiful like other American moms’ baked goods. But they always tasted the best. I asked Mom why she made everything so big. She told me, ‘So you do not have to eat so many. And it is bad luck to make anything too small.”
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Poutine is a popular comfort food in Canada. It is French-fried potatoes with meat gravy and cheese curd. Chilaquiles are part of many Mexican breakfasts. Cooks prepare them by placing black beans, avocado fruit, pickled jalapenos, cheese, and salsa on thin flatbread. Bobotie is a national obsession in South Africa. It has a base of spiced meat and bay leaves. Cooks cover the dish with dried fruit and a sweet custard sauce. Then they bake it.
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Pozole dates to the Aztec Empire in the fourteenth century. It is a thick soup with pork, corn, garlic, and spicy chiles. Pho is a comforting Vietnamese broth served with vegetables, noodles, herbs, beef, or chicken. In the United Kingdom, sticky toffee pudding is a treat. It is made with sponge cake, dates, and toffee sauce. People often serve it with ice cream or custard.
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Instructions to make these delightful comfort foods are passed down through generations. Writer Nancy Mock tells of her grandmother’s recipe for Green Tomato Pie. The simple ingredients include sugar, cinnamon, pie crust dough, and green tomatoes. But when put together in the oven, something special happens. Nancy says:
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“When green tomatoes are baked with sugar and cinnamon, the change is almost magical. The tomatoes settle as they cook. They lose their sour taste. But they keep some of their shape. The filling almost tastes like apple pie.”
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The secret of comfort foods is that they really are magical. They can never be forgotten or replaced. One smell can carry someone home. They can feel like a hug from someone you loved years ago. They are a faithful reminder that no one ever needs to feel alone.
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What is your favorite comfort food? When do you like to eat it? Is it a recipe passed down from your parents? You can leave a comment on our website at www.spotlightenglish.com. You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. You can also get Spotlight episodes delivered directly to your Android or Apple device through our free official Spotlight English app.
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The writer of this episode was Peter Anderson. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this episode and voiced by Spotlight. No AI or artificial intelligence was used in this episode. Spotlight episodes are written, voiced, and produced by real people for real people, no matter where in the world they live. This episode is called “The World Takes Comfort in Comfort Food.”
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We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight episode. Goodbye.
Questions:
What is your favorite comfort food? When do you like to eat it? Is it a recipe passed down from your parents?
