Traditional cuisine, a true identity marker

The assumption of ethno-cultural identity through traditional cuisine has become an increasingly popular phenomenon recently, in the context of the increase in migration flows, on the one hand, and the agglutination of the sense of identity, on the other. In this article, we aim to examine the specific gastronomic identity, the circumstances of the construction of contemporary Moldovan cuisine and the influences that have left their mark on the local gastronomic profile. We also highlighted the contributions of ethnologists in the scientific research process of traditional gastronomy. In the second part of the article, we found that, for Moldovans in the diaspora, preserving eating habits and eating traditional foods helps to calm nostalgia for the past and heritage. At the same time, food functions as a social binder, strengthening ties with family and friends.