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Eric Pateman has been dubbed by Forbes “the tastemaker who’s defining countries’ entire culinary strategies.” With a chef background, an MBA, and international experience in over 100 countries, he’s traveled pole to pole shaping the future of food.
As one of the world’s leading consultants and strategists on culinary tourism, he’s using his platform to amplify the voices of food artisans, farmers, fishers, and foragers. He shares with us how this commitment has inspired his session topic for Worldchefs Congress 2022.
You’ve titled your Worldchefs Congress session Bridging Cultures and Building Communities Through Food: Indigenous Engagement Strategies. Can you tell us more about the inspiration for this important topic?
Around the world, huge numbers of settlers live and work on the unceded lands of Indigenous Peoples. As guests, we know that we need to respect our hosts — to acknowledge their hospitality, to recognize the harm that our presence has caused and to ensure they always have a seat at the table. It can be intimidating to speak about race and culture, because there is always a fear of saying the wrong thing or giving offense. So, how can we learn together?
Food has always been a way of bringing people together across cultures and generations; it shapes our understanding of the world and preserves stories of our history and geography. I, like many chefs, embrace food as a powerful tool for building relationships within and between communities.
Sharing examples of best practices from around the world, I’ll offer practical strategies for using food to bridge the cultural divides we face in our interactions with others — creating opportunities for meaningful connection and social interaction, cultural engagement and exchange, culinary learning and discovery, and exceptional eating and drinking.
What will be the key takeaways?
- Strategies for effective and respectful communication with Indigenous groups
- Review of global best practices for bridging cultural divides through food
Why should chefs attend Worldchefs Congress 2022?
Any industry professional should sign up as this is the perfect opportunity to travel, learn about a new culture, and be surrounded by some of the best minds in the culinary world.
Chefs will learn about how to think outside the box. As a chef with a finance degree and 25+ years of experience globally, I can help them understand a realm of new possibilities and inspire them to think outside the kitchen.
What advice do you have for young chefs today?
Think outside the box – the industry is changing and you need to be creative.
Don’t miss the biennial event for industry leaders and culinary innovators. Register now for Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2022 and expand your professional bonds in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 30 May to 2 June 2022.
Learn more about Eric and our other keynote speakers at www.worldchefscongress.org/speaker.
