Monocultural and multicultural gastronationalism: National narratives in European food shows

Abstract

This article argues that we are witnessing a wave of gastronationalism in European food television. In televised rediscoveries of national cuisines, narratives of the national identity are unfolded, and in these narratives various boundaries are defined and various subjects are included, excluded and ranked in the national narrative. Based on the analysis of Le Chef en France (2011–2012) with the leading celebrity chef in France Cyril Lignac and Jamie’s Great Britain (2012) with Jamie Oliver, the article proposes to distinguish between a monocultural gastronationalism and a multicultural gastronationalism. Finally, the article also suggests that the wave of TV shows with a gastronationalist discourse could be seen as a form of normalization of gastronationalism.