Where I am currently living, we eat seasonally. Right now we're enjoying a variety of melons, tomatoes, cucumbers and corn. I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago and we ate seasonally as well. Trinidad and Tobago is quite a unique nation in the western hemisphere. It is known for its diverse cuisine influenced by Indian, Chinese, and Creole flavors. I grew up enjoying a wide range of flavors, textures, herbs, spices, and colorful presentations.
In my travels I've learned not all countries are the same nor are the people of the countries adventurous when it comes to food. When I immigrated to Canada, I wasn't as adventurous. I felt as if I entered the land of meat and potatoes and lack of flavour. I used to carry a small bottle of hot pepper sauce in my purse to add flavour to what I thought were bland foods including pizza and french fries. Over time, Canada's multiculturism has helped to make it one of the countries I love to return to, to enjoy the variety of foods offered. You'd think because I've had a variety of foods in my diet from living in Trinidad, that I'd adapt to almost any cuisine. I had a difficult time learning to eat Indian food from India. In the beginning I found it too rich with too many spices. It took me over 10 years of trying it to finally find an Indian restaurant that I loved, then I was able to adapt.
Traveling for leisure and immigrating to a country can give two different experiences. When traveling for leisure, it's for experiences and exploration of all that the cuisine has to offer. Immigrating is different. What you see is what you get. Â In North America, you can find almost anything at any time. Where I currently live, the diversity I am accustomed to is lacking, and the preparation of vegetables seem quite uniform. While there are some dishes I truly enjoy, I have grown weary of the food. Last year, in a quest for a different type of spinach, I ventured to taste nearly every edible green leaf in my vicinity. These included carrot tops, fava bean leaves, leaves from two types of weeds, and turnip greens (a new experience for me). Our gardener was astonished to see me consuming weeds and carrot tops, expressing disbelief and horror. He couldn't comprehend my preference for a variety of spinach and my search for potential substitutes.
Carrying black pepper in my bag as I travel has become a habit. I've traveled to countries where it is not a staple. When I stayed in hotels and had eggs for breakfast, imagine my surprise not to find it next to the salt shaker, and in some cases not even available in the kitchen. Having it in my possession was a special treat.
Residing in a foreign country can lead to acquiring new knowledge for these new experiences. In order to address my concerns regarding the culinary challenges I faced, I embarked on a virtual journey around the globe to explore various ways of preparing a limited selection of vegetables from different cultures. I was pleasantly surprised by my discoveries and rediscovered my passion for cooking. Living close to the Mediterranean, I am currently relishing the experience of mastering Italian cuisine, particularly developing an appreciation for lemons, a taste I never favored before. Surprisingly, my preferred recipes now originate from Asia. I am an avid follower of Marion's Kitchen on Facebook, and each recipe I have prepared from her collection has been exceptional and her cuisine satisfies my desire for more colour, flavour and more vegetables. The beauty of virtual expeditions can lead to elements of surprise. You never know where in the world an exceptional recipe might come from. I've been pleasantly surprised on a few occasions to have 5-star recipes from both the United States and Canada and I learned some different techniques on cooking different dishes which were excellent food preparation hacks.
Don't be alarmed if the people around you don't like what you've made. An acquaintance from the United States once told me she was invited to dinner by a neighbour after she moved from the US to where she currently lives. She did what was her custom. She baked chocolate chip cookies and took them as a gift for the hostess. The hostess looked at her cookies, made a face and asked "What's this?" She learned that it might have been better to buy something from the local bakery that they're accusomted to instead. Even where I am, I would not offer my cuisine to the people in my vicininty because of the same issue, lack of food adventure. I believe even if you're not one to try different things but love to travel, at some point, you'd face the culture and food and would have to make a decision to embrace it or stay the same.
In this unpredictable world, we never know where our journey may take us. It's common to long for what we lack when we immigrate. I recommend to all those who are moving to a new country to bring along their favorite spices or ask anyone visiting to bring it for you. If you encounter a plateau or food boredom, experiment with recipes from different cultures. Some websites allow you to input the ingredients you have on hand and suggest recipes accordingly. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results. After testing a recipe from my virtual tour, if both Ernest and I agree it deserves 5 stars, I make sure to note it down for future reference. Enjoy exploring new foods! Stay patient, be open to trying new things, and give yourself credit. Remember, you are part of a courageous community that overcomes cultural challenges.
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