There’s something curious about the personality quizzes circulating online: although they may seem like trivial games, they often touch on deep emotions. And when the game revolves around food, the reflection becomes even more interesting. Because what we put—or don’t put—on our plates is rarely a decision based solely on taste. Behind every choice lies a story, a family memory, a personal conviction.
An eighty-seven-year-old retired doctor, who has lived alone in her old country house for the past eight years, expressed it with a heartwarming image: while preparing her grandmother’s “church coffee”—the one with a pinch of salt and an egg to soften the flavor—she began to reflect on how small culinary habits end up portraying who we are. Her perspective, shaped by both the science of nutrition and the warmth of memory, invites us to look at our own kitchens with fresh eyes.
Why Food Is Never Just Food:
Food is much more than fuel for the body. It’s intertwined with memory, family traditions, and personal identity. Just the smell of a stew can instantly transport you back to childhood. Just tasting a dessert can bring back memories of someone who’s gone. That’s why the ingredients we gravitate toward—and those we always leave aside—speak to our cultural roots, our lifestyle, our values, and even our willingness to explore the unknown.
