Better People, by Breaking Bread.
Over the past six years since I first started taking my passion and fascination to the web with food and travel blogging (now on my third blog) I have gotten to see, visit and meet some absolutely amazing people from around the world. Often times many people will assume all the food and wine I get to go try is the best part of traveling around and seeing all these neat places.....yes, it is fun and unbelievably delicious but that is not the only reason I do it. In fact it's literally just 1/4 of why I do it at all. My blogging and social media content related to regional and local food and drink has four equally key parts. Those parts are the where, who, what and why.
Where: What city and what venue am I at? Popular metro city destination spot or a small town diner?
Who: Who owns/runs it? What family, What people? For how long?
What: What cuisine or culinary domain of food/drink do they specialize in or focus on? What is the food/drink at hand being consumed?
Why: Why did they start the business? Why do they do what they do? What purpose do they feel they serve their customers?
I recently went back over some 60+ photos I have from past and present of just some (25 shown here) of the owners/chefs/GM's/critics/writers I've got to meet over the years and it dawned on me how fortunate I have been not just to have the privilege of trying some spectacular food and drink but to hear their stories right from their mouth, to hear the passion in their voice and the love in their hearts for what they do. When you find someone who is doing a job they love, fulfilling a calling of sorts, it's easy to recognize, at least for me it has been. In the food/restaurant industry, I have seen this quite often and it is these people and their mission I absolutely love to experience for myself but then also to share that with others. Others who truly care about great food and culture the same way I do anyway.
The relationships I have developed with these people go so far beyond only the plates of amazing food and drinks they serve. Relationships like this start before food hits the plate and continue well beyond polishing off a decadent dessert. A great meal in a unique place with passionate people behind it cultivates a genuine human understanding between people and cultures.
To understand... really understand and experience the food and drink of a country, region, city or town... is to better understand a culture, a people, a way of life, often differing from my own. I have people like this to thank and hold in memory for closing many of the conscious and unconscious differences I may have had and highlighting the closeness of complete strangers through the breaking of bread and sharing of stories. Next time you dine out or take out, consider the people and culture beyond the plates, beyond the food. Savor in that as well, you’ll be a better person for it.
