I have a dream of eating all kinds of cuisine in the world.
Being born in Taiwan, the Island of Cuisine, eating irresistibly intrigues me and has been my biggest passion. Living by the night market, I have always enjoyed walking around and tasting various delectable tastes. The night market has accompanied me whenever I am delighted, sad, nervous, or tired. My childhood memory has been the mixed smell of sweetness, spiciness, and other rich flavors. When I take a bite of the street food, my soul is refreshed and motivated to achieve everything. After all these years, I have tasted all the cuisines from the night market. Eating has filled my stomach and is the curing moment when I feel the taste dancing in my mouth and the smell spreading within me. However, I am not satisfied with only tasting Taiwanese cuisine. I desire to taste all cuisines worldwide and treat this as my lifelong goal.
One of the cuisines I enjoy the most is foie gras. When I have my first bite, I can effortlessly feel it melting and the rich taste spreading in my mouth. It combines crispy and soft texture, and every taste feels like dancing on my taste buds. Foie gras matches perfectly with steak, as the combination has always made my day whenever I am in a bad mood.
Another cuisine that I love is traditional stinky tofu. As Taiwan is the home of stinky tofu, I have tasted all kinds of stinky tofus: fried stinky tofu, stinky tofu hotpot, or steamed stinky tofu. Among them, my favorite is definitely deep-fried stinky tofu. It is commonly served in night markets with pepper sauce and Taiwanese kimchi, which provides a non-spicy but sour flavor. Whenever I taste stinky tofu, I am fascinated by the golden, crispy exterior and the juicy, well-sauce-absorbed interior. The Taiwanese kimchi makes the tofu less salty, and the flavor intertwines with the sauce, creating an unreplaceable unique taste. More importantly, the stinky tofu contains the memory of my childhood. Whenever my family and I have a chance to visit the night market, we always share some stinky tofus and chatter. As I grew up, we got busier and had no opportunity to eat together. For me, stinky tofu is more than a delectable street food; it represents my memorable childhood when I had no worries.
Last but not least, I recently discovered squid-ink paella, which has become my favorite dish since I came to the UK. This Spanish masterpiece is based on well-cooked rice mixed with squid sauce, olive oil, and garlic, which has developed a taste with multiple layers. Moreover, the seafood within has formed an exceptional taste and perfectly makes the paella better. The seafood, from plump shrimp to tender calamari, serves as a complement and an enhancement, creating a wonderful experience rather than simply eating rice.
For me, the journey of finding and tasting new cuisines will never end. My passion for food is not just a quest for different flavors; it’s an exploration of cultures, traditions, and the stories woven into each dish. As I dream of sampling all the world’s culinary wonders, I imagine myself savoring street food in bustling markets, enjoying delicate dishes in fine dining establishments, and sharing communal feasts in diverse corners of the globe. These pieces of me have shaped who I am today and have driven me to get more taste in my mind.
