2024-25 Library Newsletter Issue 2

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Editor’s Words

Have you ever wondered how foods are made? I’ve always been interested in the range of food from different cultures - from one’s favourite comfort meals and snacks to more exotic ones that some might have never heard or seen before.

In this issue, we’ll look at the history, origin of foods and how they came to life, becoming some of the most famous foods ever known, as well as some interesting foods that may or may not weird you out.

Besides all of that, we’ll also take a look at a museum for food, introduce some cooking reality shows and the most interesting of all “forbidden foods”. If you’re a foodie at heart, make sure to grab a snack and enjoy this issue about all things food!

OriginsofFood

Every country has its own distinctive, unique types of food, like hamburgersintheUS,pastainItaly,croissantsinFrance.WhatifItellyou that the above matchings are all wrong? In the following, let’s travel around the world to investigate into the real origins of some popular foods andfindoutiftheyarereallyasauthenticaswethink!Watchout,youmay question every piece of knowledge you have possessed after reading this article!

Hamburgers

Often seen as a symbol of American culture, the origin of can actually be traced to Hamburg in Germany. By the 19th century, beef from German Hamburg cows was minced and combined with garlic, onions, salt and pepper, then formed into patties (without bread or a bun) to make Hamburg steaks. When German immigrants began to arrive in New York and Chicago, many earned a living by opening restaurants, which featured Hamburg steak, an Americanized version of the German offering. During the Industrial Revolution, to make it easier for factory workers to eat while standing, one creative cook sandwiched the meat patty between two slices ofbreadandthisishowthemodernhamburgerwasinvented.

OriginsofFood

Pasta

Carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e Pepe — they are just so western, if not Italian. Never could you imagine that the origin of pasta is actually from China? Pasta was brought to Italy from China by Marco Polo during the 13th century. In his book, The Travels of Marco Polo, there is a passage that briefly mentions his introduction to a plant that produced flour. The Chinese used this plant to create a meal similar to barley flour. Over time, because of pasta's affordability, shelf life, and versatility, it becamefirmlyrootedinItalianculture.

Croissant

A lazy morning beside a river, a small round table, reading with a steamy cup of chocolate, and of course, a croissant that is crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. Croissant is just a synonym for France, isn’t it? However, its history begins in Austria with a pastry called “kipferl”, often crescent-shaped. The story goes that during the Siege of Viennain1683,bakersinthecitycreatedthispastrytocelebratethedefeat of the Ottoman Empire. The concept eventually made its way to France, where it was embraced and transformed. In the early 20th century, French pastry chefs popularized the flaky, buttery version we know today as the croissant, solidifying its status as a beloved breakfast staple and a symbol ofFrenchcuisine.

ForbiddenFood

With the advancement of technology, cultures from around the globe have been spread lickety-split, to a point where a wide range of fusion foods involving various cuisines have been developed to adapt to different regions of the world. Even at somewhere only a stone’s throw away from, like Lok Fu Plaza, diverse types of cuisines can be found in a breeze. Per contra, have you ever dived intothe“notsodiverse”sideofcuisines?

China

From chickens to ducks and geese to pigeons, all kinds of birds seem to find their way onto the Chinese dining table, roasted, fried or boiled. However, a particular species had luckily escaped from thefateofbeingcookedandeaten—theravens.Asamatteroffact, ravens are regarded as one of the rare “forbidden foods” in China despite being edible. In ancient China, ravens are believed to bring misfortune owing to its many characteristics. For instance, the raven’s unpleasant calls were often conceived as ill omens as they chill people. Its pitch black appearance also reminds people of uninvitedaccidents.Otherthanthat,althoughravensareomnivorous creatures, they are often seen ingesting carrions. Consequently, its edibility and hygiene are greatly questioned by the ancient Chinese andisregardedasa“forbiddenfood”.

India

Do you know that India is one of the world’s largest beef producers? As many may view as general knowledge, most Indians don’t eat beef. Controversially, India is the world’s largest beef exporter in spite of the fact that over half of its population is strictly forbidden to consume beef. However, have you ever wondered why beef is taken as a “forbidden food” to the large population in India? To begin with, the majority of the Indian population is made up of people of two different religions, namely Hindus and Muslims. While Muslims “have no beef”, the Hindus avoid eating beef as much as possible. It is because cows are considered sacred in the Hinduism and it is seen as a sin to consume beef.

According to the Pew Research Centre survey, 72% of the Hindus believed that people who eat beef were not eligible to be Hindu. On top of that, 80% of the Indian population are Hindus. As a result, beef is reckoned as a “forbidden food” to mostIndians.

Japan

Wandering in a street in Tokyo, sushi, ramen, and various types of wagyu are all over the menus, blinding customers and making them oblivious to the absence of lamb and mutton. As a matter of fact, mutton is scarcely ever found in the menus of Japanese eateries because of its history and culture. In the 6th century, Buddhism was introduced in Japan and it extended its influence on the Japanese culture in the 7th century. In the year 675 AD, the consumption of red meat was legally banned. In consequence, red meat faded out of the Japanese’s diet gradually with different types of seafood taking its place. In short, mutton, lamb, and all other kinds of red meat were “forbidden” by the law. The consumption of red meat was popularised again in Japan only during the Meiji Restoration. Unfortunately, mutton generally requires longer processing and cooking time than other meat, while lamb is simply smaller in size and seasonal, thus more demanding to yield. In view of this, lamb andmuttonarerarelyseeninmodernJapanesecuisine.

WeirdFoodCombinations

Foodhasbeenessentialinoursurvivalsincethe dawnoftime,andduringthatperiod,humanshave come up with unique, and sometimes outright ridiculous,foodcombinations.Inthefollowing,we will dive into some of the weirdest food combinations we have ever invented that will for suremakeyourjawdrop!

BalsamicVinegar +

Icecream

Wait… vinegar with ice cream?

Yes, you heard it right. When I say ice cream, you probably thinkofitssweettastethatworks wondersagainstablazingsun,or even when you’re feeling down.

That is the opposite of balsamic vinegar, which provides a tangy, savory taste. The mere thought of the contrast in their flavours may make you resist this combination, but as the saying goes,don’tknockittillyoutryit —somesayit’sreallygood!

CarrotsandPeanutButter

Surprisingly, some enjoy dipping their pieces of carrots into peanut butter before eating them. The mere thought of the sweet and creamy peanut butter coating the carrots may make the weaker ones among us shudder. Wouldyougiveitago?

ButteredToastandTea

I’m sure we’re all familiar with dipping garlic bread into soup, but some have taken that to a new level by dipping their morning buttered toast into hot tea before eating it. This leaves a layer of buttery grease on top of the cup of tea along with soggy buttered bread. Some say they especially enjoy the grease along with their hot tea.Whatdoyouthink?Isthisyourcupoftea?

There are thousands more weird food combinationsallaroundtheworld,perhaps you also have come up with your own quirky combinations. Embrace your imagination!

DisgustingFoodMuseums

“Ew!”isthesoundweexclaimwhenwefeeldisgusted.

It is a universal experience that we straight up refuse to consume foods we find unappealing — some may loathe the nutty undertone of mushrooms, while others may gag at the fishy scent of seafood. Personally, I take a huge step back when I smell celery or durian, as I just can’t stand the earthy bitterness and the strange odour. That chunk of broccoli or those eye-watering onion slices may appear appalling, but what if I tell you there are ample unique yet “disgusting’’ cuisines around the globe that render the everyday foods we dislike as ordinary? As the cherryontop,amuseumthatunitesthemalltogetherlikeacollection?

The Disgusting Food Museums, located in Malmö, Sweden and Berlin, Germany respectively, display a plethora of distinctive food items beyond your imagination. Upon entering the museums, you will be given a paper bag in case of any throw-ups and be greeted with some products of humanity’s creativity — some examples include mouse wine, which is basically baby mice drowned and brewed in rice wine; gomutra, involving cow urine; sheep eyeball juice, which is soaked in tomato juice and has a jelly-like consistency; surströmming, which is revealed to be Baltic Sea herring fermented in brine and carries the title of the worst-smelling fish in the world; and lastly, Casu Marzu, meaning “Rotten or putrid cheese”, involves the practice of cutting open a block of cheese, letting cheese flies lay eggs in it and having maggots feast on the cheese so as to produce a creamy texture and a highly pungent taste. Be careful when indulging in this otherworldly delicacy, as the maggots can leap up to 15 cm and attach to your eyeballs, as well as bear through people’sintestinalwalls.

BonAppétit!

The Weirdest Food in the World - Insects!

Have you ever considered the fact that insects have been part of human diets for centuries in various cultures? In the past, people ate insects due to their sustainability and vital nutritional values. Nowadays, folks might find the idea of eating insects quite strange and odd. Yet, there are some countries that still continue to use insects as a food source. Let me introduce a variety of the weirdest insect cuisines around the worldthatwouldtotallyastoundyou.

The Mosquito Burger

The mosquito burger, also known as kunga cake, has emerged as a local delicacy in the Great African Lakes region like Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique. There are at least 100 million mosquitoes appearing in Lake Victoria during the rainy season.Whatacatastrophe!Nevertheless,inaplacelikeAfrica which suffers from a shortage of food, insects become valuable resources in terms of protein consumption, since a mosquito burger (containing around 500 thousand edible mosquitoes) contains seven times the nutritional value of a beef burger. Typically,the mosquito burgers were usually served in fried or boiled way. Some even commented that the mosquito burger actually tasted like caviar or fried grasshopper. So, would you liketotakeabiteofthismosquitoburger?

Casu Marzu

A controversial and the most dangerous cheese — Casu Marzu, also known as “rotten cheese”, is a traditional Sardinian cheese that contains live insect larvae. It is made from sheep’s milk because it is a type of pecorino cheese. The crucial step of creating Casu Marzu is to involve live larvae from the Piophila casei fly in the cheese. The fat in the cheese is broken down by these living larvae, giving it a soft, creamy texture and develops an unique flavour. Furthermore, there are different risks in eating casu marzu. Those live larvae will bounce into your eyes since they can bounce at most 15 cm. Besides, there is a digestive issue that the larvae may possibly survive in the intestine, causing gastrointestinal discomfort or enteric myiasis. Additionally, thelarvaeofthecheesecancarryparasitesthatmayleadto infections.Despiteitbeingatraditionalculturalcuisine,Casu Marzu is now an illegal delicacy because it poses health risks. If Casu Marzu becomes legal again in the future, wouldyouhavethegutstotryitforonce?

Fried insects

In Thailand, fried insects are common snacks. You can find street stalls that sell fried insects everywhere.These fried insects are particularly eye-catching for tourists. Among the wide array of options, there are three types that stand out as the weirdest choices — chapuline, fried tarantula and fried scorpions. Chapulines, or fried grasshoppers, are actually a Mexican cuisine that is widely consumed in Thailand. They are crunchy, and are served as a high proteinsnack,seasonedwithdifferentspices.Friedtarantula basically just means fried spider, a regional snack in Cambodia.These tarantulas will be deep fried until golden brown. The crispy texture and the savoury flavours of spices would definitely arouse your appetite! Tarantula actually tastes like crab or shrimp, and to many, it seems to be surprisingly delicious. Although scorpions are poisonous, when the tough pincers and venom bulb are removed, they become edible. Fried scorpion usually goes with a dash of lime juice or spicy sauce, and it tastes like beef jerky with a slightlyfishytaste.Wouldyouliketotryone?

Ms Angel Leung’s book sharing

Mr Galen Cheung’s book sharing

BelleWu4C(23)

Wicked-TheLifeandTimesoftheWicked

WitchoftheWest

Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, is a dark story recreated from the classic tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The novel explores the backstory of Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west, who suffers from social ostracism in Oz.

Elphabawasbornwithemeraldgreenskinandapowerfulaffinityformagic.She navigates a world filled with prejudice and discrimination. Her journey begins at Shiz University where she forms a complicated friendship with the popular Galinda (later on changed to Glinda). At first, as roommates, they loathe each other. Then, during the Oz ball, Galinda finds out that Elphaba gets sorcery lessons which she has wanted for a long time. She also engages in a silly dance together with Elphaba alongside other students. It symbolically represents Elphaba’s acceptance by Galinda. As Elphaba goes to the Emerald city to meet the wizard, she finds out about the political corruption in Oz under the wizard of Oz. Thus, Elphaba decides to handle things by herself. She disappears and joins an Emerald City-based underground terrorist organisation which is against the Oz. Aftertheincidentsdescribedin The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,DorothykillsElphabawith abucketofwater.

Elphaba’s journey offers a thought-provoking exploration of morality and the nature of evilness. A profound question posed in the novel, “Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” leads the readers to consider the social conceptionsofgoodnessandevilness.

I would highly recommend this book to those who appreciate fantasy and imaginative worlds. Or, if you have watched the Wicked musical or film, you would probablyreadthisnoveltoo!

IrisHsieh4A(9)

Dracula

Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a timeless literary masterpiecethathasprofoundlyinfluencedthegenreofgothic horror. First published in 1897, the novel ingeniously weaves together suspense, terror, and a richly atmospheric setting, which will captivate any reader looking for a thrilling experience.

Set in the late 19th century, the story begins with Jonathan Harker, a young English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to assist Count Dracula with the purchase of an estate in England. Harker’s journey takes him to Dracula's remotecastle,wherehesoondiscoversthathishostisnotjust an eccentric nobleman but a centuries-old vampire with sinisterplans.Dracula’smovetoEnglandmarksthebeginning of a chilling adventure that engulfs several characters, includingMinaHarker,LucyWestenra,DrJohnSeward,and theenigmaticProfessorAbrahamVanHelsing.

What makes Dracula such a compelling read is its epistolaryformat,comprisingletters,diaryentries,newspaper articles, and ships’ logs. This narrative style allows readers to delve into the intimate thoughts and experiences of multiple characters,creatingamulti-layeredandimmersivestorytelling experience. The various perspectives heighten the sense of dread and suspense, as readers piece together the horror that unfolds.

Stoker masterfully creates an atmosphere of gothic terror, with vivid descriptions of eerie landscapes, haunted castles, and moonlit nights. The novel’s portrayal of Count Dracula as a sophisticated and charismatic yet monstrously evil antagonist has set the standard for vampire fiction. Dracula’s ability to shape-shift, control animals, and exert a hypnotic influence over hisvictimsaddstothecharacter'smystiqueandmenace.

Beyond its spine-chilling plot, Dracula also explores deeper themessuchastheclashbetweenmodernityandsuperstition,the fear of the unknown, and the struggle between good and evil. The novel’s rich symbolism and allegorical elements invite readers to ponder the complexities of human nature and the eternalbattleagainstmalevolentforces.

Foranyonewhoappreciatesclassicliteratureorisafanof gothic horror, Dracula is an essential read. Its enduring popularity and influence on subsequent works of fiction, film, and popular culture are testaments to its brilliance. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is not just a novel; it’s a haunting journey into the depths of fear and the darkness of the human soul. So, if you’re ready to be both enthralled and terrified, pick up a copy of Dracula and let yourself be drawn into the shadows of Transylvania.

The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a poignant exploration of the American Dream set in the 1920s. The story is narrated by Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate who moves to West Egg, Long Island, seeking success in finance. His neighbor, Jay Gatsby, is a rich and mysterious man known for his extravagant parties, which attract the elite of NewYork.

At the heart of the novel is Gatsby's obsession with Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin, who represents his ideal of love and success. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, a rich and arrogant man who reflects the money elite of the old days. As Nick becomes entangled in their lives, he witnesses the complexitiesofloveandbetrayal,andthemoraldecaybeneaththeglittering surfaceofwealth.

It is a critique of the American Dream, showing that the pursuit of wealth often leads to emptiness and disillusionment. Gatsby's journey from humblebeginningstogreatwealthisultimatelyinvain,ashecannotreclaim the past or achieve genuine happiness. The tragic ending, marked by Gatsby's death and Daisy's return to her privileged life with Tom, underscoresthefutilityofhisdreams.

Fitzgerald's lyrical prose and vivid imagery bring the Jazz Age to life, making characters both relatable and tragic. The themes of love, social class, and the fleeting nature of dreams resonate with readers, prompting themtoreflectonthetruemeaningofsuccess.

Inconclusion, TheGreatGatsby isatimelessclassicthatoffersacritical lens on the American Dream and the complexities of human relationships. Fitzgerald’s work remains relevant today, reminding us of the dangers of idealismandtheharshfactoflife.

Acknowledgement

MsCaraCheng(Principal)

MrGalenCheung

AngelLeung

Ms

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2024-25 Library Newsletter Issue 2 by Library HFCC - Issuu