I have taken a lot of time to formulate my response to the question, “What is good food?” After considering many aspects of food, like the way the food was grown, how it traveled or how it gets prepared, I have concluded that my answer is much simpler than that. After consideration I thought about a former teacher, and good friend of mine, who always shared how they believed that a meal had the ability to bring people together. This made me think about how, through cooking, or simply enjoying a meal together people are able to share their culture, personality, heritage and more. I think that this is what makes food good. Good food is not one specific type of food, rather the way a person or family chooses to combine different ingredients, and the atmosphere created and shared from doing so. I have witnessed the power of food unite all kinds of people, at home in the United States and among my classmates in Japan, thus far I can confidently claim that their theory has always held true.
Even more so today, in Japan I notice the power of food. My classmates and I were given the opportunity to seek out lunch wherever we wanted in Tokyo. Together we had to help each other navigate, decide on a restaurant and interpret the menus, to finally enjoy a delicious meal. The entire process leading up tp the meal allowed us to learn more about each other, to laugh and to see the city. All of this interaction, prior to even eating anything, would not have been possible without the prospect of a meal together. Eventually, we agreed upon a small soba noodle restaurant. There we chatted about St. Olaf, Tokyo and the meals we had ordered, only to discover that you really aren’t supposed to talk while eating, oops. Nevertheless, we shared a meaningful afternoon together learning each others stories, details about our lives in the United States and preferences. All of this from one lunch. Imagine the opportunity a shared meal has to unite people around the world.
What makes food good is truly in the eye of the beholder. However, there is something so special and powerful about gathering with friends, family and even strangers to share a delightful meal. Food allows recipes to be passed down and perfected for generations. To share these legacies with family is very special, but to share them with others allows them to glance into another family or culture and I think that is irreplaceable. My experiences with good food have been amplified since arriving in Japan, I am so grateful for the amazing meals I have already shared among my classmates and strangers and I look forward to the good food I will enjoy in the future.
Recent Comments