Abstract

BAK-GELLER CORONA, Sarah. Delectable Narratives of the Nation: The First Mexican Cookbooks (1830-1890). Desacatos [online]. 2013, n.43, pp.31-44. ISSN 2448-5144.

This paper analyzes the role of Mexico's first cookbooks (1830-1890) in the creation of a national identity. Three aspects allow us to consider these cookbooks as a genuine and novel political project in the building of the idea of mexicanidad. In the first place, valorization of local ingredients; secondly, legitimization of vernacular Spanish and implementation of a national culinary language; finally, the emergence of a new understanding of historical time throughout the appropriation and reinvention of prehispanic cuisines.

Keywords : nationalism; culinary discourse; 19^th century; cookbooks; identity.