how does cooking function in the novel?

Food and Cooking

Food as a means of communication and transferal is a common theme in this novel. Tita uses food to convey her emotions to others. Through one dish, she communicates her passion to Pedro; through another, she communicates her longing and sadness to Rosaura and Pedro’s wedding guests. Food is also a means of transferring family history. The structure of the work relies largely on food as a means to narrate the memories and lives of the De la Garza family. Finally, the kitchen is a site of birth, heritage, and nourishment. There, children are born, raised, and fed, and the family recipes and stories are passed down to future generations.