Conclusion:

The clear demarcation of natural, familiar and ethnic foods across different cultures is a striking
aspect of the chapter. It is also demonstrated how some foods transition from ethnic to familiar or
even natural, over a period of years. It strikes an immediate chord by mirroring how people or
specifically, immigrants, go through a process of culture shock to culture acceptance to eventually
identifying themselves as naturalized citizens of a country. The myriad responses received from the
so called, Bengali Americans or Probashi as they prefer calling themselves, on how they are
different from the native Bengalis from Bengal with respect to their food habits, yet their inability to
completely connect with the American food portrays their cultural struggle.

Interpretation:
The dilemma of the Probashi Bharotiyo or Probashi Bengali, to be specific, is portrayed and
dissected under a gastronomical lens. The struggle of the expatriate Bengalis to justify themselves as
superior than the Bengalis back in India by claiming how their food, though still Indian in essence,
uses healthier alternatives and more syncretic in nature. Although they are confident that they are
different from the resident Bengalis, they are yet to connect to the psyche of other Indians in US or
the American populace, in general.
This hangs them in a state of limbo, where they face a minor identity crisis as they are not fully ready
to cut the roots, neither are they sure, if they want to fully immerse in this new alien culture.
The dichotomy of the individual psyche and the national psyche and the push and pull of the two is
beautifully represented here by their gastronomical choices recorded through the varied responses
received.
While some are shown to have embraced the new culinary choices and justifying them as part of the
fast paced life of the United States. Others have proven more stubborn, trying to hold on to their
native culinary processes, although starting from materials to taste, they themselves cannot find a
shred of India in it. This parallel mostly portrays the struggle of 1st generation immigrants.
The chapter, although immensely interesting, with its culinary premise with subtexts of cultural
struggle and diversification, It does raise a few pertinent questions like, what construes culture?
Why would someone who has moved to a new nation in search of a better life still try to hang on to
the native culture? Is it really love of the homeland or fear of the new diaspora and their
acceptability?