„ქართული სამზარეულო“, როგორც ეროვნული იდენტობის ნარატივი

Our work is the first interdisciplinary academic research, where we study "Georgian cuisine" within the theories of nationalism, culture and memory studies. Through the study of the issue using 3 theories, it became evident that the book "Georgian Cuisine" serves as an artifact from the era of nationalism and played a role in shaping Georgian national identity.
The scheme of creation of national cuisines unfolds as follows: the regional dishes on the territory of the homeland, which originated in the bosom of ethnic groups, were united in national cuisine collections at the request of nationalism. The collection united dishes of the rich and poor, fasting and non-fasting dishes and thus became the possession of every member of the nation. During the process of consolidating into a nation, the diverse, oral, yet scattered traditions of ethnic groups were substituted with a modified and standardized national history (Smith, 2014: 37).
Our research proves that "Georgian cuisine" extends beyond a mere compilation of cooking recipes and assistance for 19th-century housewives. The coded term "Georgian" and the book's emergence during the early stages of nationalism undeniably indicate its participation in the national project.
The novelty of our work lies in introducing a new identity narrative – Georgian Cuisine" – into the fund of national identity narratives. The exploration of this cultural text has enabled us to comprehend the significance of national cuisine for the nation's members.
Our research will not only expand the understanding of Georgian national cuisine but also enrich insights into Georgian nationalism and cultural identity.