The Sanctuary Experience - Culinary
HUMANS BEGAN USING FIRE TO COOK FOOD ROUGHLY 780,000 YEARS AGO.
THE CULINARY ARTS HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN AND HAVE BECOME A GATEWAY FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT CULTURE, CREATIVITY, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO TRULY EXPERIENCE ALL THAT FOOD HAS TO OFFER.
IN THIS ARTICLE, WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE CULINARY ARTS, AND DISCUSS HOW FOOD CAN CONNECT US IN A DEEPER WAY WITH OUR PLANET… AND EACH OTHER.
WE’LL ALSO FEATURE SOME OF THE GLAMPTUARYS AROUND THE GLOBE WHO ARE PROVIDING BEST-IN-CLASS CULINARY EXPERIENCES AS PART OF THEIR HOLISTIC EXPERIENTIAL HOSPITALITY OFFERING.
Putting the final touches on a culinary experience at KEEMALA in Thailand
Food.
It’s essential to our survival.
It’s also become an art form, an element of culture, and a way for humans to connect on the deepest of levels.
Food has also become a hot topic of discussion as of late, and rightfully so.
Things like sustainability, animal rights, synthetic vs natural, farm-to-table, food allergies, zero waste cuisine, and other conversations are all influencing how food is produced, and how we consume it. There is a universal desire to better understand what we are putting in our bodies, and how our methods of producing food are affecting the planet’s health.
Things have gotten a little more complicated since the dawn of homo erectus when it comes to food.
2 million years ago… humanoids were truly on a raw food diet. And what they consumed was whatever was in the general vicinity.
It’s estimated that humanoids initially survived on plants and nuts. As temperatures rose, the lush forests that once contained bountiful plant life turned into vast grasslands which provided access to more large animals. Because of this climate shift, humans shifted from a plant-based diet, to a primarily meat diet. This dietary shift was essential to the development of our brains, and our evolution.
At first, humans ate meat and fish raw. They caught it. And they ate it. Plain and simple.
Our primitive digestive systems used a lot of energy to break down raw meat and fish.
It’s estimated that humans began to harness fire roughly 1.6 million years ago. At first, it was primarily used for warmth. And then one day…someone started using fire to cook…
While it’s not entirely known why humans started cooking their meat and fish, when they did they discovered that their bodies were able to digest food much quicker. This led to more energy for hunting and procreating, and less bacterial infections which meant more population growth.
It’s estimated that humans began the ritual of cooking roughly 780,000 years ago. This…is the beginnings of what we know today as the culinary arts. I don’t think there was a lot of art involved. But it was progress nonetheless.
As the planet continued to evolve, tectonic shifts and climate change forced humans to adapt again.
Between 320,00 and 180,000 years ago, homo erectus began including plants back into their diets as they migrated away from familiar hunting grounds. It’s suspected that a lack of meat along their journey forced humans to find other sources of nourishment, such as plants and nuts.
Early humans also discovered that cooking and pounding vegetables led to consuming things like starch, flour, grains, and other tasty morsels. A more balanced diet led to increased health and further development of our species.
Culinary practices became the norm amongst humans, which meant assigned roles within encampments, and potentially agreed upon meeting times to dine as a group. These gatherings for meals led to evolving social capabilities and further cognitive development. These feasts became a very important social component as humans began to build civilizations and eventually enter the Neolithic Revolution. It was during this time period that practices like farming, cattle raising, and grain production became necessary to support the shift from being nomadic to sedentary.
During this time, the tools of cooking were becoming more robust, and the ingredient list for cooking was becoming broader.
So when did the art join the practice of culinary to form what we know today as the culinary arts? Probably when class systems in early civilizations began to form.
Individuals that held power within these burgeoning civilizations often ate better. This meant better quality food, and perhaps better quality preparation and variety. And maybe even better presentation to help separate servings between those in power and everyone else.
This certainly was the case in the oldest known empire dating back to the first known King - Sargon of Akkad, founder of the Akkadian Empire. In his empire, there were designated chefs who prepared meals solely for his majesty’s consumption.
King Sargon (right) - Source - Wikipedia
For the next few millennia, chefs were employed by kings, queens, royalty, and anyone who had enough money to deem themselves important enough to employ a chef.
Gaining employment as a chef (and staying employed) meant constantly evolving the preparation and presentation of a feast. Competition was high, as well as secrecy amongst chefs when it came to recipes and meal preparation. This is where the culinary arts came into existence - although it had no official title. Yet.
The Culinary Arts were introduced to the common folk during the renaissance period when chefs began to leave the confines of the castles in Europe and take residence in inns and public eateries.
Taking things a step further, Auguste Escoffier created haute cuisine back in the late 1800’s and pioneered many of the practices still used by chefs today. He is regarded as the “king of chefs, and chef to the kings.”
August Escoffier - Source - Brittanica
The first known culinary arts school, inspired by what Auguste was doing, formed in the United States in 1879 and was called The Boston Cooking School. From there, the culinary arts became a firmly established part of our global society.
In modern times, having a culinary experience has become synonymous with fine dining - which is always nice to experience while vacationing.
What’s even better - is having a culinary experience that teaches you about the culture of the area you’re in, allows you to partake in the creation of the dish, and results in a delicious meal that stimulates all the senses.
The following collection of Glamptuarys offer a wide variety of culinary experiences, all resulting in the best meal imagineable.
KEEMALA - Phuket, Thailand
EXPERIENCES OFFERED:
CULINARY, COOKING CLASSES, WELLNESS, SPA
TOPS’L FARM - Waldoboro, Maine
EXPERIENCES OFFERED:
CULINARY, EDUCATION, FORAGING, FARM TOURS, ANIMALS, NATURE WALKS, WATER ACTIVITIES, ARCHERY
SAILS ON KOS - Marmari, Greece
EXPERIENCES OFFERED:
CULINARY, EDUCATION, FORAGING, COOKING CLASSES, WELLNESS, CRAFTS, ARCHERY, GARDENING
DIACCERONI - Tuscany, Italy
EXPERIENCES OFFERED:
CULINARY, EDUCATION, OLIVE OIL TASTING, COOKING CLASSES, HORSEBACK, CRAFTS, TRUFFLE HUNTING, WINE TASTING
When it comes to food and travel, I think Andrew Zimmern said it best.
“Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what's right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.”
Namasté and safe travels everyone!
I truly appreciate your time and if you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read - please share with your network.
