FOOD CULTURE IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: EAST INDIAN IDENTITY IN ERA OF GLOBALIZATION

Along with being a cuisine of the restaurant, food is also an identity of a culture. In Trinidad and Tobago, food is an important part of their culture. The colonial history of Trinidad and Tobago has resulted in ethnic and cultural plural societies. These different groups have brought along their traditional food and culture. Food plays an important role in the rituals and customs of East Indians and their diet became a source for identifying and distinguishing between groups. On the other hand, food culture has been globalized through the internet, media and other communication services. The food culture can be defined as practices, attitudes, beliefs, networks, institutions surrounding the production, distribution, and consumption of food. Moreover, it also reflects part of the culture of mankind. The paper attempts to investigate the food culture and its’ identity of East Indian in the era of globalisation in Trinidad and Tobago