Bite Yu Finga! : Innovating Belizean Cuisine

Bite Yu Finga! takes culinary explorers far beyond the restrictive parameters of western European–derived fine dining. This engaging ethnography traces the path of national cuisine formation in the young post-colonial country of Belize. With captivating anecdotes and solid data, Lyra Spang describes the important role of tourism in driving culinary innovation in Belize and the powerful influence of cultural politics on the process of deciding whose food is considered Belizean. Spang champions gastronationalism as a patriotic imperative, calling for further research on culinary innovation and development in post-colonial nations. She challenges the Belizean tourism industry to embrace a creative, diverse and inclusive cuisine that fairly represents the country.