Growing up in a family and culture where everything revolved around food has played an important role in my appreciation for it. Through celebration and commemorations to religious offerings, food has been the one thing that has kept us together. I have been blessed to have grown up with my mother's cooking. The Vietnamese/ Chinese influence and natural born talent my mother for food has meant that I have known good food from the moment I began eating. Perhaps that is why, this cuisine is rarely on my radar when I go out to eat; because I am yet to find someone who is able to do it quite as much justice.
It has only been in the recent few years into greater discovery of new dishes and cuisines I had not yet tried, and now truly love. My appreciation and food experience has exponentially grown. Before that, I used to stick to basics and what I knew. I didn't really venture out and would pick 'safe' options. My love and adventure for eating came from Bubba's small steps to introduce me to new cuisines and foods I had yet to try. His knowledge and experience was a lot greater than mine, and through our food dates, we found a deeper appreciation for what we consumed.
There is something special about sharing a meal with others. There is nothing more normal, yet intimate about taking the time to sit down with some loved ones, and share some good food. To have a conversation about nothing in particular, but just to share each other's presence while you eat. It makes the food more enjoyable, and memorable. There is something comforting and warm about sharing part of one's day with someone in such manner, for me.