In cooking, as in any other form of art (and beautiful, high-quality and tasty food is precisely art), there are a huge number of styles. Some of them are already a thing of the past, others are described in numerous fashion magazines, praised and beckoning. Today we will talk about the most relevant and unusual modern gastronomic trend - the “fusion” style.
WITH in English the word fusion is translated as “mixing, alloy, merger.” Otherwise, this direction can be called “eclectic cuisine”, which combines the most incompatible at first glance products from different parts of the world and from different culinary traditions. Here you will be served not just meat in French or fish in Norwegian, but the same dishes with Asian side dishes or simply unusual ingredients. Chocolate and bacon, salmon and strawberries, lamb and coffee - all this is original and unique fusion cuisine. 
The most popular technique among chefs who create masterpieces in the fusion style is a combination of traditional elements from different culinary schools. It is important to understand that if the kitchens are already close to each other, the combination of their parts is not fusion. For example, combining Ukrainian and Russian dishes will not be considered original. But if you combine Russian pancakes and Japanese rolls, it’s already fusion.
The fusion trend arose and gained enormous popularity in fashionable restaurants quite recently - in the 80-90s of the twentieth century. At the same time, there is still debate about the homeland of the original dishes. Some argue that we owe the fusion style to the French, who decided in this way to maintain interest in their native cuisine, others vote for America, eager to break away from McDonald's stereotypes.
There is an opinion that the new fusion is a well-forgotten old one, and even meat and French fries can be formally attributed to this style. After all, potatoes were once brought to Europe from America, and deep-frying is a traditional French or Asian cooking method. However, supporters of this theory miss the main thing: fusion is, first of all, sophistication, lightness and high art of chefs familiar with all the subtleties of combining products and culinary traditions. Such a masterpiece as gazpacho from white grapes, could only be created by a professional.
Fusion style cuisine is a completely original cuisine, where each chef tries to create something new, original and of high quality. That is why today not a single serious restaurant menu can do without fusion dishes (especially considering that Michelin stars are awarded only to establishments with original menus). What comes to the minds of gourmet chefs around the world... Just 30 years ago, no one would have imagined that gourmets would soon be offered traditional Chinese dim sum dumplings with Italian filling and martini sauce.
Despite the extraordinary nature and seeming lack of limits to imagination, fusion cuisine also has its own criteria. The most important thing is the ideal compatibility of products in structure and taste. None of the ingredients should spoil the aroma or disrupt the composition. Unusual notes should complement each other, together creating a luxurious symphony of taste. Equally important is the lightness and freshness of dishes, which is why mayonnaise and vegetable oils They are increasingly replacing olive, corn, coconut, nut and sesame oils or citrus juice, and adding basil, lemongrass and cilantro. For example, tartare (pictured) can be made from pineapple, green apple and salmon with creme fraiche.
When first introduced to fusion cuisine, people often doubt that such combinations can be tasty and retain the qualities of the main dish. For example, a sweet sauce made from dried apricots or raspberries with blackberries makes foie gras look like a regular dessert. In fact, the sweet berries only enhance the taste of well-cooked goose liver.
The fusion movement already has a huge number of fans. Chefs abroad often gather to show the audience and each other their original developments in this area. This is how the Madrid Fusion Fair of High Cookery is held in Spain. The simplest example of the dishes that were presented there is Oriental pasta. It is prepared, as expected, in Italian, but the additives chosen are exclusively oriental: raw fish, Chinese mushrooms, bamboo and soy sauce.
Desserts are also not deprived of the attention of fusion masters. For example, Frederic Bau, a famous pastry chef and simply a culinary wizard from France, offers a lot of original fusion delicacies. One of them is a sesame-covered fruity chocolate separated by strips of roasted red pepper.
Kitchen in fusion style is, first of all, imagination and knowledge. If you have these qualities, then you can try to cook one of the unusual dishes at home. Of course, it’s better to taste complex chef’s masterpieces in a restaurant, but a salad with salmon and fruit is quite a feasible task. Cut into small cubes 200 grams of salmon fillet, 1 grapefruit, 8 cherry tomatoes, 1 avocado, 1 small apple, add 100 grams of green grapes, salt to taste and 100 ml of cream. Now one of the haute cuisine dishes will appear in your home. Bon appetit!
If speak about modern kitchens, then the composition “Fusion” is their bright representative. Strict lines and glossy surfaces automatically classify it as a Hi-Tech genre. Minimalism appearance allows you to completely ignore the set in the interior; it is a kind of background, an addition and is perceived as an ordinary high-quality finish. The designers tried to make hidden handles that do not give away the piece of furniture in the “Fusion” composition. Pairs well with any cutting-edge solution.
Features of use in the interior
This kitchen composition opens up a large number of possibilities for decorating the room:
- Brave Appliances, made in polished or brushed metal, is perfect for this composition;
- Tabletop under a natural stone"Antares" and glossy laminated surfaces "Brilliant" play in contrast. Therefore, it will be possible to conditionally divide the kitchen into several zones;
- The product goes well with neutral natural textures under natural wood or stone.
This the best choice for housewives who love to cook. Durable "Acrylite" covering the surfaces is resistant to stains and is very easy to care for.
Making a kitchen in a fusion style is not as easy as it might seem at first glance: we have prepared a collection of photos and tips that will help with this.
Peculiarities
The history of its appearance is quite interesting: it was created by several designers in the Philippines in the 80s, but soon gained wild popularity all over the world. Why is that? Let's figure it out now.
And let's start with the banal - what is it?
Essentially, the fusion style is a mix of different design trends, using their bright characteristic features in any, most bizarre combination. This may sound strange - who would think of using loft and classic in the same room?
However, when the right approach it gives you a chance to create a room where everything looks harmonious. Yes, it's quite difficult. Let's figure out how to proceed to ensure that the result is a stylish kitchen:
- The fundamental principle is complete freedom of materials and shades. Feel free to combine whatever you like. Metal with wood, tiles with wallpaper, plastic with granite. Agree, finding a balance and not falling into cheap kitsch is not easy. Therefore, we recommend that those who decide to decorate their kitchen interior in a fusion style seek advice from designers.
- The same freedom applies to working with flowers.. Catchy bright combinations, unexpected accents - all this creates an amazing atmosphere. Again, the main thing is not to overdo it. You can paint each item with multi-colored paints... But can you withstand such diversity?
- Don't try to use everything at once. Too much decor, a cluttered space - this is something you definitely don't need. The goal is to create a beautiful fusion kitchen, not to collect examples of each style in one room.
- Avoid chaos- everything should be in its place. The main thing is a holistic overall picture, and not a set of randomly selected elements.
- It is better to abandon carob chandeliers in favor of spotlights. If you arrange the lighting correctly, you will be able to highlight one or another element - quite in the spirit of fusion. Or use a set of lamps that are different from each other - stylish and functional.
- Please pay attention Special attention decorative items. They should emphasize the overall atmosphere. But you can choose them at your own discretion, without being guided by what is allowed and what is not.
As you can see, in the fusion style it is easy to make the same mistakes as, for example, in . However, if you show good taste and observe moderation, then your kitchen will be admired for a long time. Let's see how to implement it in rooms of various layouts.
In the interior
Such design will require considerable expenses - first of all, time and effort. The price of materials may be budgetary, but without preparation detailed project and careful planning is indispensable.
Modern fusion is very diverse, so don’t be surprised that sometimes you can’t find anything in common in the photo.
The idea of making a bright and colorful interior has its nuances: it’s very difficult to make a mistake with the selection. For example, here good example balance.
Rich, rich colors of the chairs and a large-scale print to match them on one of the walls. At the same time, the floor is neutral, and the pastel palette of the remaining walls and furniture is elegant and sophisticated. Loft techniques were used in combination with boho and subtle notes of something European.
Achieving such an effect is not easy: if you look closely, you will notice that all the shades are combined with each other, and the bright strokes are emphasized by a restrained background.
The lampshades of the chandeliers also deserve attention: they are simple in shape, but decorated with matching paintings. By the way, did you notice that they are not the same? This characteristic fusion.
The term "fusion" is used to describe a style in architecture, design, music, dance, fashion and even cooking. The direction is exploring the possibility of combining what does not go together, looking for new details in familiar things. The concept of fusion style is based on the opposition to the ascetic style of minimalism and constructivism. Feature of the direction – bold ideas, the novelty of their incarnations in style.
What is fusion
Translated from English word"fusion" or "fusion" means "fusion, fusion." The style implies a combination of polarly different directions in many creative fields: fusion art, music (jazz fusion), fusion architecture, design (combining modernism with colonnades into a fusion), fashion (mixing military and country) and fusion cooking (combining Arabic and European cuisine).
Peculiarities
Fusion refers to the young styles that appeared in the new millennium; this trend is characterized by a non-classical view of things. Regardless of the main principle of the fusion style - the negation of established norms - the direction has its own rules and characteristics:
- There are no rules. Designers, fashion designers or architects, choosing a fusion style, discard canons and stereotypes, forget about restrictions and boundaries. The main thing is that the selected elements of different directions are harmoniously combined with each other. When creating an interior in fusion style, the designer will select details from disparate directions, connecting them emotionally or meaningfully. A person with a delicate taste will be able to combine in one direction chinese style, Empire style with pop art in one room.
- A New Look for familiar things. Fusion style designers look at objects from an unusual angle, look for new lines, and place emphasis on them.
- Mix and match. This rule of fusion style speaks of combining heterogeneous textures and materials to achieve an unusual effect. For example, the fusion direction is characterized by a combination of plastic with wood, smooth and rough materials.
- The freedom and lightness of the fusion style suggests bright colors. Freedom of direction in varying cultures and eras. The design is characterized by a combination decorative elements from interiors with opposite meanings (author’s paintings and chairs from a flea market will decorate a room with an expensive designer sofa in the Victorian style).
Fusion style in the interior
A spacious room is used to decorate the fusion interior. Background colors (white, gray and brown) help highlight the bright details of the fusion style. Distinctive feature fusion - patterns: zigzags, shapes, checks, floral, ethnic and animal prints. The combination of materials and textures in furniture and coverings decorates the interior in fusion style: smooth glossy surfaces can be combined with animal skin. A strict metal background will help highlight the soft bright red chair. Ideas:
- Fusion style ceiling is the background white or a connecting element with a roof with glass panels.
- The choice of fusion flooring is based on practicality: for the bedroom or living room - laminate, parquet, for the bathroom and kitchen - tiles or linoleum. Designers leave a monochromatic covering, sometimes complementing it with a bright carpet.
- The walls are a space for creativity in a fusion style, where textures, draperies, famous paintings, and mass art (posters, comics) are combined.
- Fusion designers pay special attention to lighting in style, which helps to focus attention on the details of the interior.
In music
Tracks in the fusion style can rarely be heard on the radio, because the genre's compositions are distinguished by the absence of vocals, long melody, complex guitar and piano parts, bars of different lengths, and improvisation. The fusion style began in the 1960s with a mixture of jazz, pop music and rock, and later grew into a fusion of folk, funk, reggae, metal, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and ethnic music. A bright fusion performer is Miles Davis, drummer Billy Cobham (band “Dreams”). The first Russian representative of the direction is the Arsenal group.
In cooking
Fusion cooking is based on the harmony of mixing the contrasts of the West and the East, and is distinguished by its ease of preparation. As in other styles, fusion cooking does not recognize rules: chicken with vegetables (for example, carrots) are combined with kiwi or pineapple on one plate. The main thing for the direction is the freshness and lightness of the dish.
Recipes
In recipes typical of fusion cuisine, vegetable oils, spices, and citrus juices (orange, lemon) are used instead of mayonnaise. Typical dishes of the destination:
- Japanese-French-Italian rice;
- rolls made of Parma ham, goose liver, Parmesan with mango and Japanese mayonnaise.
Fusion salad “Tomatoes and oranges”
- Time: 15 minutes.
- Number of servings: 5 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 467 kcal.
- Purpose: Birthday, romantic dinner
- Cuisine: fusion
- Difficulty: easy.
You don't need to be a chef to make Tomatoes and Oranges fusion salad. You can make this fusion dish without any special skills, and still please your guests with a delicious, bright salad. Oranges and cherry tomatoes can be different in acidity, so peas will balance them out in a fusion salad. If it is not found in the refrigerator, the ingredient can be replaced with potatoes.
Ingredients:
- cherry tomatoes – 18-20 pcs.;
- orange – 2 pcs.;
- canned green peas or potatoes - 1/2 can or 3 pcs. potatoes;
- green onions – 5 stalks;
- parsley - 3-4 sprigs;
- garlic – 2 cloves;
- olive oil.
Cooking method:
- Cut the tomatoes in half. Divide the peeled orange slices into 3-4 parts (depending on the size of the slice).
- Add half a can of canned green peas or potatoes to the tomatoes and oranges.
- Chop the greens and garlic thinly and finely, then add to the rest of the ingredients and season with salt.
- Water from above olive oil, mix.
Cold strawberry ginger fusion soup
- Time: 10 minutes.
- Number of servings: 4 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 250 kcal.
- Purpose: birthday, children's party, afternoon tea, romantic dinner
- Cuisine: fusion
- Difficulty: easy.
Light cold fusion soup will be a guest at summer holiday. Preparation will not take much time and effort; a blender will be your assistant. The unusual taste of the dish will be on the table at an adult birthday party, children's party or a romantic meeting. For beauty and aroma, this style of strawberry-ginger soup should be served with a mint leaf.
Ingredients:
- strawberries – 1 kg;
- lemon – 1 pc.;
- granulated sugar – 4 tbsp;
- fresh ginger root – 100 g;
- fresh mint – 1 bunch.
Cooking method:
- Mix the washed cold water berries, ginger juice (grate the root, squeeze the juice through a sieve), lemon juice, sugar.
- Mix the products thoroughly in a blender.
- Serve with a mint leaf.
Duck carpaccio with foie gras
- Time: 2.5 hours.
- Number of servings: 10-12 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 712 kcal.
- Purpose: New Year, buffet.
- Cuisine: Italian+French.
- Difficulty: difficult.
To prepare this trendy dish you will need time and some culinary knowledge. For example, when buying meat in a store, you need to find an unfrozen product, because at home you will have to put it in the freezer. Chefs do not recommend freezing meat more than once. Serve the dish on festive table followed with a delicious garnish of pears.
Ingredients:
- duck breasts – 4 pcs;
- foie gras pate – 250 g;
- duchess pears – 4 pcs;
- butter – 2 tbsp. l.;
- thyme – 4–6 sprigs;
- rosemary – 3 sprigs;
- balsamic vinegar;
- olive oil;
- powdered sugar
- salt, pink pepper - to taste
Cooking method:
- Trim the fat and skin from the duck breasts and cut them clearly in half so that the parts open easily. Wrap the meat in film, beat it to a thickness of 0.5 cm. Season with salt, pepper, chopped rosemary and thyme leaves.
- Place the foie gras along the long edge of the breast, roll it tightly into film, then into foil, and marinate in the freezer for 1.5-2 hours.
- Dry the diced pears and place them in a hot frying pan with butter. Fry the fruit, sprinkled with balsamic vinegar, powdered sugar over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool pears.
- Use the liquid in the pan as a dressing, adding 1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pink pepper to taste.
- Slice raw duck roll sharp knife into slices 2-3 mm thick. Place carpaccio on plates lightly drizzled with olive oil and drizzle with dressing.
Video
FUSION cooking – what is it?
The beginning of the twenty-first century in Russian public
nutrition is characterized by a surge of new directions in
cooking, the emergence of such trends as carving,
culinary makeup is complemented by this direction in
cooking, how FUSION .
FUSION cooking– the basic concept sounds like-
mixing traditional culinary styles
preferences of the West and the East. But mixing should
maintain harmony of taste.
It should be noted that FUSION cooking has a large
popularity in foreign restaurants and cafes and large
is rapidly gaining the appreciation of gourmets everywhere
unusual in our public catering.
Of course, talking about real popularity in our
It’s still too early for the country because the Russian traditions of our cuisine
are fundamental, and everything new is
incomprehensible and exotic for our consumers
Catering.
And yet in large cities they are opening more and more often
restaurants that are aimed at FUSION cooking and at
this direction has its lovers of everything unusual and
new.
FUSION cooking is becoming more and more popular
only because of the exoticism in its direction, it is ideal in its combinations of aromas, spices, harmony
balance and lightness of different products.
Leading nutritionists believe that FUSION cooking
is beneficial for human health because
fully meets the requirements of a balanced
food.Cooked meals in style FUSION are
so multifaceted that using them every day
you will receive required amount meat, fish
cereals, a lot of fruits and vegetables. Prepared dishes in
style FUSION eliminate the risk of overeating, as
seasoned with spices that give satiety even if
eat a small portion.
Chefs who decided to practice FUSION cooking
must undergo special training, must understand
the science of tastes, proportions, color combinations only in
In this case, the cook will be able to create a real
masterpiece FUSION cooking .
To succeed in cooking in style
A fusion chef must have knowledge in different
cuisines of China, Japan, France and so on
One of the basic rules FUSION cooking is
freshness and high quality products that will
used in cooking. In addition to everything
it is necessary to understand the compatibility of products in dishes and
feel the taste harmony between products.
Products that are included in the FUZHEN dish
cooking should be combined with each other not only in terms of
taste, but also in their structure. Products must fit together so that during eating
the taste of one product merged with the taste of another creating
an amazing palette of new emotions and impressions.
