À la table des idées : gastronomie, mémoire et identités en partage

Delicatese cu spirit și savoare. Identități culturale și culinare de Crina-Magdalena Zărnescu

Abstract

This review offers a critical reading of Delicatese cu spirit și savoare. Identități culturale și culinare [Delights of the Mind and Taste. Culinary and Cultural Identities] by Crina-Magdalena Zărnescu, highlighting how the author constructs a hybrid space at the intersection of gastronomy, memory, and cultural identity. The work stands out for its unclassifiable nature, combining essay, travel narrative, and cultural reflection.

Through a symbolic table bringing together major figures of European and world culture, the book develops a polyphonic intellectual dialogue in which taste becomes a means of knowledge and exchange. The analysis emphasizes the transformation of gastronomy into a « philosophy of taste », following  Brillat-Savarin, as well as the central role of memory and conviviality.

The review also examines the structure of the book, based on the interplay between gastronomic experiences and participation in international conferences, and underlines its rich intertextuality. It concludes that the work redefines the shared meal as a space of reflection, identity, and cultural dialogue in the contemporary world.