Source: Fortune
Summary
The FIFA World Cup has brought hundreds of thousands of international fans to the US, and a secondary tournament has emerged online, showcasing American food and its enthusiastic consumption by visitors. German soccer superfan @FreddyLA7 has gained a large following for his road trip across the US, trying various chain restaurants and American staples. The phenomenon has been dubbed the “FIFA 15” and has sparked a conversation about culinary diplomacy. Food has long been used as a soft power tool, with governments promoting their cuisine to boost tourism and exports. The US has inadvertently benefited from this through the popularity of its chain restaurants and cultural ubiquity.
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FIFA World Cup visitors are devouring American food, and the internet is loving it. From ranch dressing to Waffle House, international fans are experiencing the US through its cuisine. Kraft has even released a limited-edition TSA-approved travel kit for ranch enthusiasts. This phenomenon is not just a joke, but a form of culinary diplomacy, which has been used by governments to boost tourism and exports. The US has inadvertently benefited from this, with its chain restaurants and cultural ubiquity making American food a staple of international cuisine.
The FIFA 15 has become a case study in culinary tourism, where the desire to experience “otherness” through food drives cross-cultural connection.
Author: Evan Null
