Good to see this back on the agenda. But it doesn’t need fancy terminology, it’s about respect for cultures and diversity of talent: Chefs are in a stew over ‘cultural theft’ as publishing companies review recipes https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/two-top-food-publishing-companies-review-recipes-for-cultural-insensitivity-8w0nbf7bn

Last year I got cross about a supermarket Bengali turmeric curry (no such thinand ended up talking cultural appropriation on TV, radio and in the newspapers. Without experimenting with flavours and ingredients the world would be a boring place

I don’t think it’s too much to ask for diverse communities to ask for a bit of sensitivity and respect and having their voices heard!

And finally, an anecdote about when Rick Stein did India. I helped his production team with research, told them what to eat etc and arranged for them to meet my mum on the understanding that there would be some benefit to me

As it happened, his team visited my mum, ate her food and then got in touch with her without telling me asking if they could film in her home. She called me to say she wouldn’t bother unless it was helpful to me.

When I took this up with his team they said because I had been so overt about it, they couldn’t have anything to do with me any more. They used my research and that was the last I heard from them. Yes, it’s taken 7 years for me to feel able to talk about this publicly

I am still waiting to see an Indian go to India and uncover our rich history and diversity of cuisine that is not curry at all! Rant over. Happy Saturday

Sorry about all the typos. Makes me sad, angry and emotional talking about this