The rhetoric of Lao/French fusion: beyond the representation of the Western tourist experience of cuisine in the world heritage city of Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang's 'Lao-French fusion cuisine' is a selective and partial representation that masks the dynamic, multifaceted nature of food traditions in the UNESCO World Heritage city. This study reveals how the rhetoric of fusion, shaped by Luang Prabang's self-presentation to Western tourists, simplifies complex culinary interactions—including local farming, market dynamics, imports from neighboring countries, and social group distinctions—to create a fixed, touristic image. The research examines contestations around cuisine representation, highlighting how this narrative excludes broader food scenarios and freezes fluid processes into static depictions.

Staiff, R., & Bushell, R. (2013). The rhetoric of Lao/French fusion: beyond the representation of the Western tourist experience of cuisine in the world heritage city of Luang Prabang, Laos. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 8(2-3), 133–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2013.767808