In the 21st century, an accelerated pace of global movements of people, goods, capital, technology and ideas has led to ambivalence regarding cultural identity for individuals, as well as collectives like neighbourhoods and cities. While the preparation, availability and consumption of diverse foods have become symbolic of the very openness of a place, there are concerns that this is only reflective of a superficial and consumerist form of middle class cosmopolitanism. Using food-oriented case studies centred on Australian cities and media, Bonding Over Food argues for a processual understanding of cosmopolitanism. Such an approach helps us understand various kinds of social bonds formed over food as 'convivial' practices that are potentially ethical and/or reflexive as opposed to being driven by 'othering' discourses.

By Dr. Sukhmani Khorana

Introduction: Food Cosmopolitanism and Contemporary Urban Australia/ Part I: The Local/ 1. South Asian Grocery Stores in a Sydney Suburb: Conviviality in Transit/ 2. 'The Welcome Dinner Project' and 'Eat Street' Markets: Local Efforts to Mingle Over Food/ Part II: The Global/ 3. Masterchef: Selling a Cosmopolitan Australia/ 4.Australians in Hanoi: When Street Food Tours are Safely Exotic/ Part III: The Glocal/ 5.Food Safari: Does Maeve O'Maera replace the Aussie male adventurer?/ 6. Tales from 'Foodie' Creative Migrants Interviews/ Conclusion: Ethical and Reflexive Food Practices/ Index