<Tab/>From French crullers to soup and ribs food is a key ingredient to the relationships in Mei Ng's novel, "Eating Chinese Food Naked." Stuck in a family with lack of affection, Ruby, a Chinese American college graduate struggles to finding who she is. Her problems with her family, boyfriend, job, and sexuality escalate to this books theme with food. As a way to escape from difficulties each character uses food as a distracting device from daily life.
<Tab/>From the beginning of the story problems are relevant in Rudy's parents, Bell and Franklin marriage. Being forced into an arranged marriage, Bell feels out of place and Franklin feels obligated to teach her the "American way." When Bell asks Franklin if America has rice, Franklin says " I bet you never ate this before. This is cheese and it's the best food in America. Everyone loves cheese there. They got it from the Italians. Wait till you try pizza," (NG 30). …
