Be Brave and Eat!
Let's face it, we never get to go out to eat as much as we like. We constantly make up excuses like, "It's too expensive," or, "We don't have the time!" In reality, these excuses are just limiting us. We are too scared to go out and try something new. That's why I'm here! I want you to join me on my own Culinary Misadventures. Like you, I'm just a beginner foodie. Only one real experience so far, which I'm going to share with you. Hopefully it will inspire you to go out and try something new! Be brave and eat!
My first experience as an upcoming foodie took place just this past July. My best friend, Dillon, had just gotten home from ten month Rotary Exchange trip to Spain. While he told me about the many wonders of Vigo in the Pontevedra district near Portugal, none stood out more to me than the food he ate. It ranged from waffles with crazy toppings, such as, whipped cream, chocolate, and caramel to giant shrimp with the head still attached! The mind boggles at how people can stomach certain things, but that is the fun of it. He then told me he was going to make one of these crazy dishes. Which one? The Spanish Tortilla.
When you picture a tortilla, I bet you think of the round, flat piece of bread commonly used for a taco. In Spain, the tortilla takes on a different form, as shown in the picture above. Yup, it looks like an omelet! The reason is that it is made with mostly egg. The little tan colored slices stuck in it are potato and onion. Now this should be known: I hate onion. I hate the taste, smell, everything. I just do not like it, but this dish used it so well! The egg makes the outer omelet shell while the sliced potato and onion rest inside. Until you cut into it, it looks and smells just like the traditional breakfast item. Dillon made the tortilla then proceeded to cut it into tiny squares so we could eat it as a snack with toothpicks, which he said was one traditional way they served it in Spain. Apprehensive as I was due to the onion, I reluctantly took one of the tiny onion, potato, egg squares and popped it into my mouth. My taste buds went crazy! The saltiness of the egg went so well with the bitter bite of the onion. The potato was the key, adding the right amount of substance to the dish. It kept it from being too light, like an omelet. I ended up eating more than ten of the little squares and still wanted more!
This one experience has made me want to go out and try more foods. I don't care what, I just want more! I learned it doesn't matter what's in it, it was made that way for a reason, so just go with it. I learned to just be brave and eat.
My first experience as an upcoming foodie took place just this past July. My best friend, Dillon, had just gotten home from ten month Rotary Exchange trip to Spain. While he told me about the many wonders of Vigo in the Pontevedra district near Portugal, none stood out more to me than the food he ate. It ranged from waffles with crazy toppings, such as, whipped cream, chocolate, and caramel to giant shrimp with the head still attached! The mind boggles at how people can stomach certain things, but that is the fun of it. He then told me he was going to make one of these crazy dishes. Which one? The Spanish Tortilla.
When you picture a tortilla, I bet you think of the round, flat piece of bread commonly used for a taco. In Spain, the tortilla takes on a different form, as shown in the picture above. Yup, it looks like an omelet! The reason is that it is made with mostly egg. The little tan colored slices stuck in it are potato and onion. Now this should be known: I hate onion. I hate the taste, smell, everything. I just do not like it, but this dish used it so well! The egg makes the outer omelet shell while the sliced potato and onion rest inside. Until you cut into it, it looks and smells just like the traditional breakfast item. Dillon made the tortilla then proceeded to cut it into tiny squares so we could eat it as a snack with toothpicks, which he said was one traditional way they served it in Spain. Apprehensive as I was due to the onion, I reluctantly took one of the tiny onion, potato, egg squares and popped it into my mouth. My taste buds went crazy! The saltiness of the egg went so well with the bitter bite of the onion. The potato was the key, adding the right amount of substance to the dish. It kept it from being too light, like an omelet. I ended up eating more than ten of the little squares and still wanted more!
This one experience has made me want to go out and try more foods. I don't care what, I just want more! I learned it doesn't matter what's in it, it was made that way for a reason, so just go with it. I learned to just be brave and eat.