How is food and cuisine used to demonstrate the emotions of the characters or the state of their relationships?

Food is important to the Shah family, as well as others in their lives. How is food and cuisine used at different points to demonstrate the emotions of the characters or the state of their relationships?

Food was used to comfort the Shah family when the crisis occurred (cookies for Ajay and Archie’s home cooked Indian food). When Priya felt more stable, then her desire to cook for everybody was an important reflection of her state of mind. The sharing of different cuisines of Priya and Archie’s respective cultures was a bonding moment for the families.

Most of us, no matter the culture show love, care, and concern when we cook for our friends. During difficult times it takes on more meaning to share our conversations and our cultures.

Food can be a show of love, like the meals that Archie prepared for the Shah family. Compare those meals to the ostentatious feasts prepared by the paid staff at Vikrams’s house and at the Bakers. No love there; just a presentation of wealth and status.

Loved Carol_D's response!

Preparing food and sharing it can be a show of acceptance and love, the fact that one neighbor shared food with the Shah family to welcome them into the neighborhood really made an impact on Priya. Archana supports her friends by preparing well loved simple dishes that bring them comfort.

"Comfort food" was used throughout the book whenever someone was in crisis or needed a taste of home.

Sharing food is always a way to bring people together - especially a family. Here, it is one of the few ways they have to keep their heritage and family history alive. I have traveled in this area and a meal in a home was always warm and taught me so much about their daily lives and their culture.