What is the importance of food as a motif in the novel, My Year Abroad?

Throughout the novel, repeated references to food and eating symbolize desire. These images initially appear in reference to Veej's appetite, Tiller's sampling escapade with Pong, and Veej's newfound cooking addiction. As the novel unfolds, however, the references accumulate and metamorphose. Each time, Tiller is depicted in some ravenous state, either entirely depleted, or gorging himself unnecessarily. This motif makes Tiller's psychological and emotional cravings tangible, and bolsters the author's thematic interest in desire and fulfillment.