Syncretism (from the Greek word “sunkrētismos,” meaning “to unite against a third-party”) is the  merging of different worlds, often referring to various cultures, religions, or schools of thought. If you’ve ever enjoyed a sushi burrito or fantasized about a particularly delicious banh mi, you have familiarity with syncretism in the culinary world. Fusion foods combine flavors and ingredients from different cultures into one dish. Banh mi, for example, are delicious Vietnamese sandwiches created using French baguettes and traditional Vietnamese ingredients.