It tends to be Texture, rather than Taste that makes most peope hate some foods.

I disagree however with seeking to divorce the food with the culture. The amount of understanding between cultures by sharing food is huge. Food implies 100s of things about the person and the community that produced it. I agree that we shouln't over-emphasize the strageness of it, but many have borderline fetish for the new, unusual, exotic. That human nature will always bring styles and tastes together, while preserving a positive group identity. We are, for better or worse, wired for tribalism. I think embracing that nature and optimising for it seems better than pretending its not there.