Friendly feasts

Eating is one of the things that unites us. Since the dawn of time, breaking bread has been a catalyst for relationship building. The offer of food first, bonding second.

Sometimes, we even take it back a step further and cook together, just like young Polish Creator Damian Kordas does with his guests.

Actually, did you know that the origins of doughnuts are traced back to a Dutch recipe? In the late 1700s, Dutch Settlers brought olykoek (“oily cake”) to New York (New Amsterdam, at the time). These, while not yet bearing their famous ring shape, are believed to be the ancesters of donuts.

Let’s see how other YouTube Creators, like Damian Kordas, bring cuisine from all over Europe a little closer to home.

In this day and age, what we choose to serve is no longer confined to our locality or the itinerary of Silk Road. Our appetite for sharing food is as insatiable as it is diverse.

We're doing this by crossing cultures and continents with the click of a button, from clever kitchen hacks to the Italian grandmother passing on traditional recipes with her grandson.

Italian Creator Claudio di Biagio, for example, dedicated an entire series to his Nonna and her amazing cooking skills, live from her kitchen. Their enthusiasm and complicity are definitely hard to resist.

See, for example, how to prepare a proper plate of Cacio et Pepe, under Claudio’s grandma’s guidance:

And if your in search for more Grandma wisdom, do know that Italian grandmothers are far from being absent from the Web . They actually have their own channel, Pasta Grannies, a unique and beautiful celebration of Italy’s food heritage.

As you can see, it's not just about the food - it's about everything that comes with it. We love to know more about the traditions and ceremonies that have gone hand in hand with our dishes for centuries.

Funny thing is, what may be a source of immense national pride for one person may seem
odd to someone else. Prime examples are Iceland’s Hákarl, Britain’s Marmite and Mett (raw pork) from Cologne.
JOLLY, a pair who like to bring cultures together over food, went to try the latter for themselves...

It doesn't always have to be at the extreme end of the spectrum, though. It might be about taking a classic and going on a journey to find the very best.

The SORTEDfood team from UK did just that when they went in search of London’s greatest full English.

It’s not only adults who are reacting to food. For better or worse, children can be brutally honest. If they don't like what you've put in front of them, they'll let you know. Which is perfect for food reviews.

Here, French YouTuber Asma Fares and her children put British confectionary through its paces.

In a similar vein, an openness to trying food from elsewhere has seen chefs and YouTube Creators alike serving up their own holiday-inspired takes.

We used to cook from memory. Thankfully, there are YouTube Creators out there who can help, like Irish chef Donal Skehan. Trust us, you'll never look at the humble spud in the same way after this trip to France via Ireland.

Sweet tooth? Dessert is coming. Let Akis share with you his Greek take on cheesecake, with honey, walnuts and -of course!- greek yogurt. Hellenic cuisine (but not only) will hold no secrets once you’ve explored his channel, Akis Kitchen.

Cooking is caring. When sharing the knowledge, gestures and habits related to our food, whether preserving traditions intact or reinventing them, we take part in a dynamic that brings us closer to other human beings, beyond national borders. It is this optimism that inspires YouTube Creators to bring their feasts, their snacks, their sweetmeats, their tips, their care, their craft and their enthusiasm, and lay it out on the biggest communal table of them all, for everyone to try, one video at a time.