how does food affect those who eat it?

The transforming power of food is an oft-repeated theme of the work. In chapter 3, for example, the complicated exchange of emotion Tita manages through her quail in petal sauce affects each person differently. While Mama Elena and Rosaura appear untouched by the dish all others, Gertrudis, Pedro, and Tita herself, are tossed into fits of passion. Once again, Tita is unable to control the effect of the food on her guests and tonce again the effect redeems wrongs committed against her.