Bigggg foodie
Ever since I can remember, my world has revolved around food. Growing up, the best family time was in the kitchen or out at a restaurant. Before I was old enough to cook, my siblings and I would dance around the kitchen, as my dad prepared dinner. We’d sneak bites off of the kitchen counter as we sang to the Shania Twain song playing through the speakers. That was family time.
Over the years, my dad slowly began to pass down his culinary wisdom to us one by one. Every Sunday night was family dinner, and every Sunday we’d spend most of the day in the kitchen. My brother was the first to get promoted to sous chef, but my sisters and I were happy to play DJ and taste testers.
When we lived in Tokyo, my parents had so many restaurants they wanted to try. Instead of leaving us at home in fear of our young palettes, they brought us with them and encouraged us to try everything. My parents encouraged the curiosity I carried as a child, and as I got older, that curiosity grew into a passion for being adventurous and trying new things.
Even still, my favorite memories I make with my friends and family revolve around food. It doesn’t matter if we’re cooking a new recipe together, trying a new restaurant, or just sitting somewhere for hours talking over drinks and appetizers. Food has always been the center of it.
I think that’s why I don’t really see food as just food. It’s never been just about eating. It’s about the experience around it. The anticipation of trying somewhere new. The way a place feels when you walk in. The music, the lighting, the energy of the people around you. All of it matters.
I’m the type of person who will plan an entire day around where we’re eating. I’ll spend way too long looking at menus beforehand, reading reviews, stalking photos, deciding exactly what I’m ordering before I even get there. And somehow, I still end up wanting to try everything on the menu.
There’s also something about sharing food that just feels different. You learn a lot about people based on what they order, what they’re willing to try, how they react to something new. Some of my favorite conversations have happened over a table full of plates that everyone is reaching across to share.
And I think growing up in Tokyo played a huge role in that too. Being exposed to so many different types of food at such a young age made trying new things feel normal instead of intimidating. It taught me that food isn’t one dimensional. It can be comforting, surprising, unfamiliar, nostalgic, all at the same time.
That mindset has stuck with me.
I don’t like ordering the same thing every time. I don’t like staying in my comfort zone when there’s something new to try. Even if I don’t end up loving something, I’d still rather have the experience than play it safe.
Because that’s what being a foodie means to me. It’s not about being an expert or knowing everything. It’s about being open. Curious. Willing to try something just because you’ve never had it before.
It’s also about appreciating the details. The balance of flavors, the presentation, the effort that goes into creating something that looks simple but isn’t. I think that connects back to how I approach everything else in my life. I notice things. I care about the small parts that come together to create the bigger experience.
At the end of the day, food is how I connect with people. It’s how I create memories. It’s how I experience new places. It’s one of the most consistent things in my life, but it never feels repetitive.
So yeah, I’m a big foodie. Actually, a Biggg Foodie.
Not in a pretentious way. Not in a “I know everything about food” way.
Just in a way where if there’s something new to try, I’m already there.
