Favorite Foods
Experimenting with different foods has always been adventurous and satisfying to the taste buds at the same time. As a child, most foods were always of one specific type which was of the American tradition. Some foods often kept me away from tasting them merely because of the appearance. Being open-minded in the event of trying different foods from various backgrounds becomes enjoyable based upon where the food originated from along with the diverse seasonings and recipes used. Some foods have remained a personal favorite for years, and some have been recently added to the list by simply trying new things. We all derive from numerous backgrounds where food brought our families together, whether it’s on the day of someone’s birthday, national holiday, or a family outing. Traveling to different areas of the world presents many diverse classes of not only different foods and taste, but also preparation styles. My favorite categories of foods are sushi, Italian, and soul food.
During the 8th century, the history of sushi developed in Southeast Asia with the intent to preserve fish that was wrapped with fermented rice. The first time that I tried sushi, I was living in Jacksonville, Florida working for the United States Navy. My significant other at the time always talked to me about sushi, but I was always hesitant about trying something that involved raw fish and seaweed. When the initial experience presented itself, we were at a restaurant and I found out that the “California Roll” was ordered for without me knowing about it. This particular “roll” included crab meat, avocado, and cucumber all wrapped up in rice.

After the first bite, I was focused on the different taste and texture which resulted as a satisfied beginner at eating sushi. This uniquely prepared food has been one of my favorites since I tried it for the first time. When visiting sushi bars, I always observe the menu attempting to find sushi rolls that I haven’t tried which keeps me coming back for more. Next, Italian food evolved mostly around the importance of preparation, which dates all the way back to the first century BC. Different areas of the region offered different focal points when it came to the food prepared. Southern regions of Italy supported hard boiled spaghetti while the northern regions preferred soft egg noodles instead. Milan was recognized for risotto and Naples was well-known for their pizzas. Aside from the regions of Italy along and the various spotlights of food, I enjoy them all. When I first noticed my cooking was getting better, Italian food was my initial choice to prepare for others, because I became good at it. I went from buying various sauces to making them from scratch. The special sauces seem to make most Italian foods so much better whether it’s a bowl of pasta, homemade lasagna, or a portion of sautéed shrimp. Not only is this type of food at a top choice personally, but it’s also loved by my children. Lastly, the paramount of types of food that I enjoy, soul food! This food choice reminds me of many days as a child. I remember several occasions of looking inside my refrigerator, not seeing much of anything, and then a few hours later smelling the best aroma of food coming from the kitchen. Everyone has their own meaning of “soul food,” mine has always consisted of

memories of having nothing and creating something with it because that’s where it actually derived from. Slaves were given “leftovers” along with unwanted parts of meat from their masters after they took the best for themselves. As far as vegetables, they basically had to grow what was eaten. With this inspiring information alone, this tells me so much about how satisfying many souls were by knowing that the opponent probably premeditated failure but the slaves came out with full stomachs of well prepared food. Having a list of top favorite foods can be difficult for some individuals who enjoy eating good cooked food of different origins. Visiting different areas of the world have also played a big part in experiencing various foods, such as the Italian cuisine. When trying new things I’ve learned not to assume the worst initially, but to give it a chance just like I gave sushi a try. As far as soul food, it has always been a part of my life since a child. Growing up, we all had certain foods that we enjoyed along with going to family functions where food is involved in one form or another. As a result, these foods are currently my top three favorites. I’m sure as time goes by, these picks will change as food is one source that will always exist.