Growing up my dad owned restaurants. We’d go in every weekend to try out new dishes. He wanted honest feedback and we’d tell him: “More sugar on the desserts!” “Deep fry that ice cream!”
Fortunately for him, as we got older, our tastes became more refined. “The dumpling skin today is a lot chewier than yesterdays. We think if you steam them a little longer it’ll bring out the juices in the meat”, “The Chinese pickled cucumbers are extra crunchy and delicious! Maybe a pinch more salt?” We better understood flavour, texture, smell, and the stories behind the dishes.
Today, food is still very much ingrained in my life. I go to restaurants, and eat mindfully. I want to know how the dish is made, what the owner’s story is, the specific ingredients that magically meshed together to create this mouth-watering dish in front of me. Before I venture into a new restaurant, I’ve used Google guides to read reviews and get insights from other users. I’ve read the owner’s responses. I have an idea of what I’m going to taste, smell, and experience. Now all I have to do is show up and create my own experience.
These experiences with food will always have an important place in my heart. Every bite takes me back to me and my brother as kids, sitting at my dad’s dinner table, trying out new dishes and giving back thoughtful responses. At food stalls and restaurants today, I want to give people the same experience I was able to enjoy. Making food look its best through photography and using reviews to express my own thoughts and feelings on the food. Google Guides has given me a platform where I can share these experiences in the form of words and images. The only thing the reader has to do is show up.
