How to talk about food across cultures without making assumptions
Ask what the person ate growing up or what they make when they get home late. One household’s answer can be interesting on its own.
Ask for one person’s viewAsk about the person who cooked it
Try “Who taught you to make that?” or “What did you change when you started cooking for yourself?” If their answer surprises you, ask about the circumstance rather than insisting it conflicts with something you read.
Trade a detail that can carry the call
Pick an ingredient you use in a way they didn’t expect. Each of you can describe how it looks when it is ready. If someone names a dish you don’t know, ask them to type it and describe what you’d notice first. Avoid pressing for a family recipe they’d rather keep private.