Food Memoir

A Lifelong Safari

When I was a child, I was quite the firecracker. If there were opportunity for any sort of adventure, I would charge toward it without consideration. The greatest adventure I have ever begun is an adventure I’m continuing to this day—and it all started when I was nine. My father took me to an Asian restaurant named Wasabi and introduced me to sushi. I decided against asking what it was, considering I was a bold and fearless little rebel. Good thing I didn’t ask (typically younger children are turned off by eating raw fish.) After my dad taught me how to properly hold the chopsticks, I took my first bite. So many flavors were captured in this tiny roll, and suddenly the moment was gone. Thankfully, I had seven more! After I finished and we left, I knew that exploring foreign flavors was more than a quick adventure; it was a continuous safari I would be on for the rest of my life, accompanied by my family.

My family and I have always treated dinner as a scared practice; we strongly agree with Thomas C. Foster that “the act of taking food into our bodies is so personal.” However, not everyone agrees with us. Over time, American families have displayed acts that belittle dinnertime, such as eating frozen dinners for the sake of saving time and eating separately. We do the opposite; we craft our meals from scratch and then enjoy those meals in each other’s company. Mervyn Claxton states, “People who eat different foods […] are often thought to be different.” Well, we are different and proud of it. We don’t stick to traditional American meals either; we believe that dinner should be an experience, a safari. As we open up various different types of cook books, our means of transportation into the jungle, we explore the pages as explorers would. The exotic flavors are shown through the recipes, and after we create these meals those flavors mingle in our mouths in perfect harmony.

Though my family and I love all types of food that originate from different cultures, we have a specific preference for Asian foods; often we make Thai dishes. They’re easy, quick, filling, and “healthy” as in there are vegetables, but the nutrients remaining are pretty slim. And, of course, we cannot get enough sushi. When I decided to stop eating meat, I became a pescetarian instead of a vegetarian because I knew I could not give it up. We love sushi so much that we decided to learn how to make it. Though it’s usually not as good as sushi in restaurants, it’s cheaper in price and richer in experience. I prepared a California roll today to avoid serving real raw fish, but we also make spicy tuna rolls.

My family doesn’t need a spectacular vacation to knit us closer together; we can experience safari-like bonding through dinnertime. Regardless of if it’s a busy week or laid-back weekend, we will always try to prepare proper and exploratory meals. Ruth Reichl feels “that if you watched people as they ate, you could find out who they really are.” If you watch how my family and I eat, you’ll find we are true explorers. I intend to continue this safari throughout my adult life. I owe so much to my parents, especially my father, for introducing me to this lifestyle of eating at such a young age.