Gastrodiplomacy: When Food Becomes a Tool for Peace

Can a bowl of curry or a plate of sushi do more than just satisfy hunger?

What if food could help solve political tensions and build friendships between countries?

Welcome to the world of gastrodiplomacy—a growing form of diplomacy where nations use their food culture to foster understanding, promote peace, and boost their global image.

In this lesson, you’ll explore real-life examples from countries like Thailand, Peru, Australia, and the Nordic region. You’ll also practise vocabulary, causative verbs, and reading comprehension.

🍽️ What Is Gastrodiplomacy?

Gastrodiplomacy is the use of national cuisine to build bridges between cultures and create positive international relations. Gastrodiplomats use dishes’ preparation, history, and shared meals to break down political and social barriers—metaphorically “breaking bread to break down borders.”

But gastrodiplomacy isn’t just enjoying global food trends like sushi or tacos. It’s about strategic cultural sharing, led by governments and organisations to influence how a country is viewed abroad.

📖 Sushi, Stereotypes & Soft Power – Reading Comprehension Check

Read the short passage below carefully, then answer the true or false questions that follow.

Reading Text:
The first sushi restaurant in Los Angeles opened in 1966 in Little Tokyo. Initially, it was mostly frequented by Japanese families. Over time, Japanese business professionals began taking their American colleagues out for sushi. At a time when many Americans still held bias from World War II, these shared meals created a new kind of connection. Warm service, friendly conversation, and an open exchange of cultural expertise helped break down stereotypes. Sushi became more than just raw fish—it became a way to start diplomatic dialogue. This type of cultural exchange, where a dish becomes a doorway to deeper understanding, is the very heart of gastrodiplomacy.

✅ True or False Quiz

1.   The first sushi restaurant in Los Angeles was mainly visited by Americans in the beginning.

2.   Japanese businesspeople helped introduce sushi to their American colleagues.

3.   Some early American guests still had personal memories of World War II.

4.   Food service staff played no role in cultural exchange.

5.   Gastrodiplomacy means using food as a tool to build connections between cultures.

✅ Quiz Answer Key

1.   False

2.   True

3.   True

4.   False

5.   True

📈 Fast Facts & Global Trends in Gastrodiplomacy

Gastrodiplomacy is more than a passing trend—it’s a global soft power strategy.

Here are some interesting facts:

· Over 30 countries have launched food diplomacy campaigns, including South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Turkey.

· South Korea invested over $100 million in “Kimchi Diplomacy,” promoting dishes like bibimbap and bulgogi worldwide.

· Taiwan’s “All in Good Taste” initiative used chef exchanges and free cooking classes to build cultural relationships in Southeast Asia and the U.S.

· UNESCO recognises national cuisines like those of France, Peru, and Mexico as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, helping boost cultural diplomacy.

· In 2023, Thailand opened a government-backed culinary diplomacy school in Bangkok to train chefs in culture and cuisine.

· At Expo 2020 Dubai, food pavilions became cultural showcases. Peru’s pavilion alone drew over 1 million visitors, many coming specifically to try its national dishes.

These initiatives show how food is now used not just for hospitality—but as a serious diplomatic tool.

🗺️ Gastrodiplomacy Nations: Who’s Leading the Table?

Several countries have launched national campaigns to promote peace, trade, and tourism through their cuisine. Let’s take a look:

🇹🇭 Thailand – “Global Thai” (2002)

Goal: Expand Thai restaurants globally and brand Thailand as a culinary destination.
The campaign aimed to cultivate economic partnerships and support Thai chefs and food exports.

🇩🇰 Nordic Region – “New Nordic Cuisine” (2004)

Chefs and food experts from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark united to boost local culinary identity.
By 2011, it evolved into Nordic Food Diplomacy, officially recognised as a diplomatic tool to attract tourism and investment.

🇵🇪 Peru – “Perú Mucho Gusto” (2006)

This campaign launched cookbooks, food festivals, and new Peruvian restaurants abroad.
Peru’s aim? To boost its national brand and have its cuisine added to UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage.

🇦🇺 Australia – “There’s Nothing Like Australia” (2014)

With $10 million allotted, Australia’s tourism ministry ran a year-long gastrodiplomacy project called “Restaurant Australia.”
Influencers frequented top food destinations and shared their experiences, ending with a diplomatic dinner for 250 guests.

🧠 Vocabulary Builder

All words appear in bold in the reading sections above:

· bias – a strong opinion that is not based on reason

· current affairs – events and issues happening now

· expertise – deep knowledge or skill in a subject

· impetus – a force or influence that causes something to happen

· allot – to give or assign a portion

· boost – to improve or increase something

· cultivate – to encourage development or growth

· foster – to help something develop or grow

· frequent – to visit often

· impose – to force something on someone

· launch – to start something officially

· resolve – to fix or settle a problem

· seek – to try to find or achieve something

🔧 Grammar Focus – Causative Verbs

Causative verbs show that someone causes another person to do something. They are common in formal and diplomatic English.

🔹 Examples:

· The campaign made chefs travel abroad to represent the country.

·  Thailand had its Ministry of Culture design a global branding strategy.

·  Peru got international chefs to attend food festivals.

·  Australia let influencers post about their food tours freely.

📝 Practice:

Write a sentence using:

1.   make

2.   have

3.   get

4.   let

💬 Discussion Questions

· Why might food be more effective than politics in building peace?

· Do you think gastrodiplomacy works better for some countries than others? Why?

· Should every country have a national food campaign? Why or why not?

· What food would represent your country best in a global campaign?

✍️ Express Your Opinion

Task:
Summarise what gastrodiplomacy is and give your opinion using at least 3 vocabulary words from the list. Try to include 1 causative verb.

Example:

I believe gastrodiplomacy helps resolve conflicts by allowing people to share experiences through food. Campaigns like Conflict Kitchen get people to talk about current affairs, which helps foster peace.

Final Reflection

Gastrodiplomacy shows that diplomacy isn’t always conducted in conference rooms—it can begin around the dinner table. As we've seen, nations are increasingly using food not just to boost tourism or exports, but to foster dialogue, cultivate understanding, and resolve tensions.

Food is personal. It carries stories, memories, and identity. When shared, it can break down stereotypes, challenge bias, and bring people together in ways politics alone often cannot.

Whether it's a Thai curry, Peruvian ceviche, or Australian wine, national dishes can serve as powerful tools of soft power—inviting conversation rather than conflict.

So, next time you sit down to eat an international dish, ask yourself:

What is this food teaching me about another culture?

And how can we use everyday experiences—like sharing a meal—to build a more connected, peaceful world?

✝️ Biblical Perspective

As technology and diplomacy evolve, Christians are reminded of the importance of hospitality, compassion, and reconciliation. The Bible teaches that peace begins with relationship, and Jesus often used meals to build trust and share truth.

Gastrodiplomacy aligns with Christian values when it seeks to understand others, promote peace, and foster dialogue—not when it is used to impose cultural dominance.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18

When food becomes a way to cultivate peace and break bread with those we misunderstand, it becomes not only a diplomatic act—but a spiritual one.

👉 Visit Henry English Hub to explore more reading comprehension posts, vocabulary builders, grammar tips, and real-world English content for motivated learners like you.

Whether you're working on fluency, focus, or just want engaging topics to read about, you’ll find it here.

Real English. Real Stories. Learn, Think, Eat.

©2025 Henry English Hub. All rights reserved.