I never had any interests in food until I torched my very first steamed rice. As I hid the securely covered pot under my bed and I vowed to do better. A lot better.
After 15 years, I’ve become a lot better. I never again torched steamed rice.
Of course I’ve had misses here and there but nothing that would require me to dump the food into a trash can.
Lately, I’ve immersed myself into manga related to food. There are some that offers detailed, sometimes true, chapters in whatever food group the story is about. Most of them however are centered in the characters’ love story.
I’ve also watched Hollywood movies like No Reservations or Asian movies like Magic Kitchen and Antique Bakery.
These things usually serves as a conduit to most dishes I come up with.
Here are some examples:
Caramel Milk Tea — Is a one-shot manga featuring a barista who sometimes make a drink not available in the shop’s menu. I have taken a liking in caramel tea myself so I gave the story a shot. Although the recipe wasn’t divulged in detail, in one way or another anyone who ever liked gourmet tea/coffee can surely make it on their own. just like I did.
Mixed Vegetables — A story about two proteges born in the worng family. The girl, daughter of a renowned pastrty chef, only wants to be a sushi chef against the wishes of her father who demands she take over their bakery. The boy, born of a prestigious family of sushi chefs, only wants to be a pastry chef. They go to a cooking school together and decided to date each other in order to reach their own respective dreams.
Everytime I see beautifully crafted food, from the simplest to the most complex, whether from the streets or upscale restaurants, I get this unorchestrated fluttering of butterflies in my stomach. My chest would suddenly throb making me feel woozy and light.I was completely captivated by everything I saw.
Ever saw the first 2 minutes of the movie No Reservations? When I saw that it was something sweeter than my first love, something like that. I have a strong affinity for food that are visually appealing, to me at least.
For now I can say these words with much conviction that it soemhow feels ominous.
We’ll see after I start working in the kitchen.
It’s somehow vexing that I cannot find the words to fill in sentences that would express my latent desires.
Here’s some I haven’t finished reading:
