Food trends we see on Instagram or other social media platforms influence the recipes we try and the food we make and serve for ourselves and others. By analysing the making of Butter Candles and Snow Cream, two trending foods on my Instagram feed, this post looks at the ways our food choices reveal important social and personal realities.

Defining what is and is not a traditional food is not easy. Traditions are complex. They have origins we may or may not know and they are part of stories that evolve over time. Yet, a working definition of "traditional food" is something I've developed.

If you’re reading this blog, it’s likely because you’re interested in how food makes you feel. You might want to know more about how food connects individuals or you’re curious about your own food habits or traditions. If you’re here, it’s that you likely already recognize that we all speak a food language: an internalized repertoire of what constitutes good and bad food. Just like any other language, we all have our own accents and dialects.