C
elebrity Chef, Anthony Bourdain, once said, "“Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico and the Far East, eating only in Hard Rock Cafes and McDonalds? Or do we want to eat without fear, tearing into the local stew, the humble taqueria's mystery meat, the sincerely offered gift of a lightly grilled fish head? I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once.” To me, one of the most beautiful things in life is to cook. There is no better feeling than watching someone enjoy a dish you slaved over, tasting dozens of times to make sure it had the perfect balance of flavors. As I stated in the last post, the goal of my journal and what I will be covering this semester is how culture and food are dependent upon one another. Why doesn't Anthony Bourdain want to try McDonalds or the Hard Rock Cafe when he's traveling? Because these restaurants are commonplace. They are decent, simple, and fast, but they lack the complexity of what their specific region has to offer- that boldness and passion. My audience is anyone who simply loves food. Food is art and there are many people who don't appreciate and understand that, which I am hoping to change. Lastly, and most importantly, why did I choose to blog about this topic? It's what I love, it's what I'm passionate about. One of my favorite quotes by Cesar Chavez states, "People who give you their food give you their heart." The least we can do is learn to appreciate that.