One Plate Two Times: A Creative Fusion Between Tradition and Future

Abstract

This study explores the impact of digitalization on local culinary cultures through the lenses of creative destruction and planned obsolescence. Utilizing a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants from diverse age and gender groups. The collected data were analyzed using thematic content analysis via ATLAS.ti software. Six main themes emerged: The Meaning of Traditional Food, Perceptions of Technology, Planned Obsolescence and Creative Destruction, Manual Labor and Cultural Value, Fears about the Future of Digitalization, and the Coexistence of Tradition and Technology. Findings reveal that participants are not categorically resistant to technological transformation; rather, they emphasize the need to preserve emotional bonds, cultural memory, and traditional practices throughout the digital transition. The study argues that technological integration in the field of gastronomy should not be limited to functional efficiency but must also address sociocultural and ethical dimensions. The concept of creative synthesis is proposed as an alternative paradigm that promotes the coexistence of tradition and innovation, offering a sustainable path forward for safeguarding culinary heritage in the digital age.