Gastronomic Aspects in Chai Chai by Bishwanath Gosh

Abstract

Food, apart from its role in survival and human existence, signifies the cultural identity of the people and place. Gastronomy is a field of study which details the nutritional value, preparation, sensory perception and cultural value of the food. Travelling to different places provides a chance to encounter various sections of the people and their food habits. Many critics like Roland Barthes and Claude Levi Strauss point out that food is a language. This paper attempts to explore the cultural identity of certain foods in areas like Mughal Sarai, Itarsi, Jhansi and Shoranur. These places are travelled by the Indian travel writer Bishwanath Gosh. It has been recorded in his work named Chai Chai.