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By William Van Zyl (published in November 2023)
Table of Contents
Introduction:
This resource includes an overview of Māori food in New Zealand over the past 700 years. I include the influence of Britain, other cultures, and Christianity on Māori food and dishes. Also included are several AI-inspired dishes (Midjourney/Discord). Additional focus on aesthetics – crockery & garnishing (Māori-inspired dish up plates). See the contemporary Māori-shaped, formed and patterned plates. Traditional Māori-colours features on the ceramic (pottery) plates containing the food (red, black & grey). These images and concepts should provide prompts and inspiration for chefs, foodies, artists, sculpturers, and potters.
This resource could be very useful to students in New Zealand who will be doing the new curriculum (NCEA Technology Level 1) in 2024. Food Technology students could find this resource helpful, as it is short, sharp, and concise.
Māori culinary practices in a nutshell:
In traditional Māori culinary practices, sustenance revolved around gathering food, mainly cultivating the kumara, a type of sweet potato. Additionally, Tī Kōuka, or cabbage trees, were integral to the diet as both the kauru and taproot were harvested and consumed. The Māori people held a penchant for eels (tuna) and a diverse array of fish species abundant along our coastal areas, contributing to the richness of their traditional cuisine.
IMAGE: Typically, Māori employed a unique cooking method involving underground ovens known as hangi. In this traditional culinary practice, vegetables and meat were combined and cooked in a pit dug into the ground. Hot stones were positioned at the base of the pit, and the prepared cookware was then carefully arranged on top of these stones. Covering the setup with a cloth, the food was allowed to cook within the earth for a designated period. Even in modern times, contemporary New Zealanders continue to embrace this age-old cooking style during festive gatherings and certain special occasions. Credit: https://medium.com/new-zealand-thoughts/maori-food-kai-1f40dea5f312
Just for fun, to start with, I look at AI-inspired Māori dishes:
Smaller, refined and sophisticated dishes:
Prompt: Contemporary Māori-inspired food dishes.
IMAGE: Another decorative plate with contrasting Māori colours (red and charcoal (black). Any food will look great on this plate. What food – considering colours and garnish – would you place on the plate?
IMAGE: A minimalistic food approach with the Māori patterns on the plate as the star of the show. Less can be more when a highly decorative plate (crockery and eating utensils) are used. What would you place on this plate?
IMAGE: The red-coloured artwork against the dark background – signifying Māori tradition – make this a striking presentation. The food more decorative, and less practical. However, it provides a rich prompt for a plate of food. What would food you place on this artistic plate?
IMAGE: See the extravagant use of colour on this plate of food. See how the subtle orange pattern on the plate ties in with the light orange sauce on the boiled egg. Goji berries has a similar orange colour, and could also be used for garnishing. I think salmon – with its pink and subtle orange colour – would also feature beautifully on this plate. What do you think? To make this plate of food stand out, do you have any more ideas on how to to layer Māori shapes, forms and patterns into the presentation?
Larger plates of Māori-inspired food:
Prompt: Contemporary Māori-inspired food. Focus on including traditional food, like a hangi, in a modern way.
IMAGE: A variety of healthy dishes – see al the greens and vegs. Excellent use of greens, eaves, flowers, and veg to garnish the plates.
IMAGE: Garnishing – lettuce, coriander, and parsley – plays a dominant role on the plates in this dish. A very healthy option.
IMAGE: Additional soup (background) and an accompanying sauce (small bowl on the left) extend this dish to provide more variety and depth.
IMAGE: From a practical perspective, the leave-plates – in the middle of the plate – represents traditional methods to dish up food (no ceramic or metal dish up plates available in the early years). Many cultures around the world uses leaves at dishing up ‘plates.’
IMAGE: Polynesian-themed plate of food. See how flowers and leaves – in typical Polynesian style – are used to decorate the plate of food. See the Māori-inspired art (piping) on the salmon in the middle of the plate (orange coloured pattern on the salmon). The innovative artistic use of orange piping – resembling the koro pattern on the salmon – adds depth to this Māori-inspired dish. Can you think of other Māori patterns that could be used as an alternative to the salmon?
IMAGE: A Māori-inspired fence. Typical patterns were painted in black, white, and red paint on the ujniqe picket fence. Use these typical traditional Māori patters as inspiration. See the Hei Tiki faces at the top of the pickets. How could you use these patterns in presenting contemporary Māori food?
IMAGE: Typical Maori shapes and forms.
IMAGE: The hei-tiki serves as a distinctive adornment for the Māori people of New Zealand, often crafted from pounamu (greenstone) and revered as a taonga, or treasure, within Maori culture. In New Zealand, they are commonly referred to as “tiki,” drawing associations with both the prominent human figures sculpted in wood and the small wooden carvings utilized to mark sacred sites. Two distinct types of hei-tiki exhibit notable variations in form. The initial type features a body ratio of 30/70, while the second type, marked by intricate artistry, maintains a ratio of 40/60. These unique pieces hold cultural significance and are cherished representations of Maori heritage.
An overview of Māori food over the past 700 years. Show the influence of modern European cultures like Britain and Christianity throughout the years:
Over the past 700 years, Māori cuisine has undergone significant transformations influenced by historical, cultural, and external factors, including the arrival of European cultures and Christianity.
Pre-European Māori Cuisine (circa 1300-1700):
- Traditional Ingredients:
- Māori traditionally relied on local resources, including seafood, native birds, root vegetables like kumara (sweet potato), and fern root (a common starch source).
- Hangi, a traditional earth oven, was used for cooking food, infusing it with a unique smoky flavour.
- Cultural Practices:
- Food held cultural significance, often used in rituals, ceremonies, and as a means of hospitality and sharing.
European Contact (Late 18th Century):
- Introduction of New Foods:
- European explorers and settlers introduced new foods, such as potatoes, pigs, and other livestock, which became integrated into Māori diets.
- Cultural Exchange:
- An exchange of culinary practices occurred between Māori and European settlers, influencing cooking methods and flavour profiles.
Missionary Influence (19th Century):
- Introduction of European Cooking Techniques:
- Missionaries played a role in introducing European cooking methods and utensils, impacting traditional Māori food preparation.
- Shifts in Eating Habits:
- European influence led to changes in eating habits, with a greater emphasis on table manners and structured meals.
20th Century:
- Urbanisation and Globalization:
- Urbanisation brought new dietary options, with Māori incorporating a wider variety of foods into their diets due to increased access to markets and imported goods.
- Continued Fusion of Cuisines:
- The fusion of Māori and European culinary elements continued, resulting in dishes that blended traditional and modern influences.
Present Day:
- Diversity of Cuisine:
- Māori cuisine today is diverse, featuring traditional elements alongside dishes influenced by global culinary trends.
- Cultural Revitalization:
- Efforts to preserve and revitalise traditional Māori cuisine have gained momentum, focusing on using native ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
- Influence of Christianity:
- The introduction of Christianity brought changes in dietary practices, including adopting European-style meals and incorporating new foods.
Summary:
The evolution of Māori cuisine over the past 700 years reflects a dynamic interplay of traditional practices, the introduction of European ingredients and cooking techniques, and the influence of Christianity. Today, Māori cuisine is a vibrant mix of heritage and modernity, showcasing the rich culinary history of the Māori people.
Citation:
Van Zyl, W.N. (2023). AI-inspired Māori Food. Published to Five House Publishing (article). Link: https://fivehousepublishing.com/2023/12/01/ai-inspired-maori-food/
Interested in more Māori resources on architecture, food, fashion, furniture, tools, worldview, AI, and more?
Search the blog posts: ‘Māori‘
Here are some examples of the many articles and resources available: Māori context (metalwork, woodwork, furniture, food, tools, worldview, placenta, AI, Modernist architecture [Le Corbusier – Villla Savoye and others], and much more).
Copyright © 2023 by William Van Zyl
AI-Inspired Māori Food.
All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion
thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
without the publisher’s permission, except for using brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, November 2023
More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/
