Well, not to quote another person here, but Andrew Zimmern from Bizzare Foods (TV Show) aways says the quickest way to understand a culture, is to eat their food. I would say from my past experiences that this is mostly correct. Having lived in germany for some time, and visiting 6 other countries ranging from european to east asian, you really can learn alot just from eating food. Eating food with good company, talking to one another having fun, sharing drinks. There is no quicker way to bond, and learn to understand eachother.