Eating different dishes

Everybody needs to eat and when you see something new and delicious you usually want to taste it. When you travel to another country you ask for the typican food to see if you feel like eating it.
Please, answer the following questions:
1. What does food say about a country? Explain.
2. Why is it important to eat typical dishes when you visit another country? Explain.
3. Do you think a tourist must know what he is eating when que asks for a typical dish. I mean to know how people prepare it? Explain.
4. Is food a very important part of a culture? Explain.