Mike and Ploy

Ever since I was little, I remember the sensational feeling taking over  me when the whole house filled with aromatics from my mother’s homemade stocks and sauces. It was a feeling that still lingers with me today – when I sink my teeth into a decadent piece of pastry or a savory bite of perfectly seared tuna. It’s this overflow of happiness that overcomes me and puts a smile on my face (and in my heart).

This is my obsession with food – I know, I know, many people would associate the word “obsession” as a bad thing (in some circumstances, it very well can be) but this so-called obsession of mine plays a great deal in my everyday life. It helps me connect with people – and in many times, keeps me sane!

I consider myself an absolute “foodie” but not a “foodie-snob” per say. I have a personal motto of trying everything at least three (3) times before I make a final decision (even so, I will eat it over and over again if it was served to me). Not that it isn’t obvious, but I would plan my whole vacation around food – even when my friends are visiting, my whole agenda is always packed with food in the forecast.

You can blame it on my upbringing if you need a reason – our families gathered to share meals, my elders bonded over sharing recipes, generations of knowledge sharing the same interest on which spice is best to be used in a curry sauce… However, there is something more to food than most people realize.

Food is reliable – that’s right folks, I’ll say it again… FOOD IS RELIABLE. What I mean is that food will never make you sad. When I’m down about something in my life – whether it be school, work, relationships, whatever life deals my way – the right food can always make me smile. Food doesn’t hurt your feelings, it doesn’t desert you in the middle of a conversation, it never puts you down or mocks you. Food doesn’t step on you when you’re already down and it sure doesn’t make you cry (at least intentionally).

In the last few years, I’ve also learned that cooking food (not only eating it) has given  me an outlet for something more “productive” (for a lack of better words) than holding my feelings captive. The sensation of creating something extraordinary from a combination of natural miracles puts a grin on my face. The process of experimentation and self-development is almost therapeutic to the soul. It’s given me a whole new perspective on the term “soul food” and how much my life is impacted by what I put into my mouth.

Some people might think food is just a meal to keep us from starvation, others think food is a waste that humans take for granted… yet, food can be so much more than just a “tool” or “resource” for human consumption. It can heal in more ways than just the physical – for both those who create it and for those who receive it as a gift.