Family History: Food Blog, "Pinoys & Grits"

Pinoys & Grits is a family recipe food blog that I began as my culminating senior project for Belmont University's English department.

Racial and Cultural Ambiguity

I come from a family of mixed heritage. My mother and her family immigrated from the Philippines to the United States when she was a child. My father and his family have been deeply rooted in south Georgia for generations. As a result, there are times where cultures clash.

Growing up I was both fascinated and confused by mixed identity. For most of my childhood, I could not fully comprehend the differences between myself and my friends. I knew there was something different - I knew I didn't look like my white friends - but, in terms of culture, it seemed like my family was the same as everyone else's.

In high school, I gained the identity of "the smart Asian girl." Okay, great. But I was also white. Suddenly, I had been categorized. It wasn't until I arrived at college that I realized how limiting that title, though a positive one, really was.

Being mixed can be difficult. My friend Ashley always says that I am "racially ambiguous" because, depending on context, people assume I am different things. In high school Spanish classes, both teachers and students thought I was Mexican because I am tan, brunette, and have a solid accent when speaking Spanish. In Math classes, I was obviously Asian because I was able to catch on quickly and always had my homework done. In general context, so just on appearance, people would think I was Polynesian or Hawaiian. I look like Lilo from Lilo and Stitch. I also look like Princess Moana.

So while these assumptions were frustrating, I have come to appreciate ambiguity. I know I don't fit into a box and I like that. I don't want to fit in a box. I do not want to be limited. Ambiguity gives me freedom to create identity without expectations. Ambiguity has taught me resilience. Ambiguity has fostered creativity. Ambiguity fosters cultural pride. Ambiguity fuels curiosity.

Exploring Foodways

During my senior year of college, I was introduced to the concept of foodways by an English professor. Foodways refer to the social science of food: cultural implications, social factors, and economic influence relating to the preparation and consumption of food.

If you should know anything about the Clark family, we like to eat. Same goes for the Lims, my mom's side. But while they're a loving group, neither side of the family is very sentimental. Thus, nobody has ever created a tangible record of family history. My goal with this project has been to document our family history through the common cultural factor: food.

On the surface, Filipino and American Southern cuisines do not seem to have anything in common. However, many ingredients and culinary practices can be found in both genres. Both the Philippines and the American South have melting pot histories that have created unique dishes that combine a variety of flavors - so much so that it is often impossible to trace back to a definite origin.

In my blog, Pinoys & Grits, I further explore my mixed identity through family history and the food that simultaneously defines generations and remains timeless in my personal kitchen.

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