Culinary Diplomacy: Envisioning a Harmonious Future from Colonial Legacies

 

The final event in the long-running Culinary Diplomacy programme from the Oxford Cultural Collective and the US Embassy took place at the University of Glasgow on 24th September 2024, with the support of Visit San Antonio.

The events in this series have been shaped by a belief that we must understand our shared past if we are to forge a more inclusive and equitable future. It has featured prominent historians, broadcasters, chefs and campaigners, whose work in food is advancing social justice.

At this most recent event, a panel of four inspiring women addressed Culinary Diplomacy: Envisioning a Harmonious Future from Colonial Legacies.

They were:

Dr Peggy Brunache (panel Chair), Director of the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies, University of Glasgow

Deborah Omowale Jarmon, Executive Director of the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum

Nicola Blaque, Chef Patron of Jerk Shack and Freight Friend Chicken, San Antonio

Michelle Charters, Head of the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool

The panellists reflected on their own work as community activists, the role of their organisations in promoting public understanding of complex issues, the enduring impact of slavery and colonialism, and how food and hospitality professionals can help us achieve social justice, advanced inclusion and respect.

The event was hosted by Professor Sir Anthony Muscatelli, Vice Chancellor, University of Glasgow, and Ms. Kathryn Porter, US Consul General, US Consulate Edinburgh.

With the completion of the Culinary Diplomacy programme, which has brought together numerous organisations and individuals who share common values and ambitions, the focus now turns to prospective collaborative legacy projects.