FOOD AS A CONCEPT OF CULTURE AND INDIAN CODE IN JHUMPA LAHIRI`S WRITING

Abstract

The article deals with the analysis of the culinary concept; with Indian gastronomy code analysis in Jhumpa Lahiri`s writing (an American writer of Bengali origin). The author of the article notes that food serves as conditional language for characters and as cultural code that interprets by “ours” only – Indian culture representatives. It is indicated that in the context of transcultural understanding, food and the process of its preparation are of particular importance: usual home-cooked dishes are synonymous of protection, security, peace, belonging to one's home; instead, the presence of “other” exotic dishes makes it possible to get acquainted with the culinary preferences of another culture, as well as to trace the basic similarities and differences.Therefore, cultural culinary differences are found is the kitchen, where the characters are accustomed to spend most of the day and especially carefully prepare the dishes.