Enjoy the sense of touching with others, before it slips away.

Amuse-Bouche: In today’s society one thing I have noticed is how we have lost the human sense of touch, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. In the process of making technology better and faster for humans to communicate, we have left out some simple stuff in order to catch up with others. I hope you realize what is really important after you read my opinions.

Entrée: While growing up, my parents worked hard to be united with their kids. One of the traditions (If that’s what you want to call it) we did as a family was to have Sunday morning breakfast together as a family. Ever since I can remember we have been practicing this. Even in my older years, no matter how late we come home the night before, or how tired we were, my dad would wake us up and said “A comer! Levantensen, ya esta el desayuno;” which translates to, come eat, get up, breakfast is ready. To be honest, there were some mornings which I disliked hearing that voice. We ate a big breakfast and after sharing time together my we would start what we called our dreadful weekend meeting. We often discussed things that went on during the week, he pointed out the bad and the good. So would we. We shared family time together and didn’t lose our communication. That’s one thing I will carry on with me and practice it with my children. I believe this is very important, because food should bring people together, and not allow technology to pull them apart. Many families nowadays sit together at a table but don’t really share a meal together. We often see a son or daughter on their cell phone. A father watching the latest news on sports and a mom browsing a magazine.

What inspired me to write this post was a recent experience I had while dinning out with a good friend of mine. One day, I waited for my friend Pamela to be done with work. We met up outside her job which is ABC Studios in Manhattan not knowing where to grab a bit, I asked her which restaurant she desired to go eat at. She responded, “Somewhere simple. I want to eat something simple but good.” I remembered I once dinned at this little cozy Brazilian restaurant called Rice and Beans, because I believe however humble it may be, a meal has a definite plot to it; the intention of which is to intrigue, stimulate and satisfy. She liked the idea going there. The place is shaped like a train wagon. Looking at it from a glance one has when walking in, with tables along side of the walls, the rectangular shaped dining room seems very crowded. The décor was simple with some mirrors. A decorated shelf with wine bottles sitting about 18 to 20 inches from the ceiling made it a very cozy and friendly atmosphere. When we sat down I noticed the following; 2 tables from my right there was a lady dining by herself, next to her a group of 4 people, behind us a British couple. I am saying they were British from hearing their accent, although I can most certainly be wrong and they could have been Aussies, like my sister pointed out when she read this blog, but being that I am writing this story my assumption will remain. As I was reading the menu, I noticed how everyone was enjoying themselves. Even the lady dining alone, she had a smile on her face with every meal the waiter brought to her. Once I ordered and commence eating my meal I noticed a gentlemen walking in and reading the menu on a corner to my left. From the puzzled look he had on his face it seemed he was undecided on what he wanted to eat. Seconds later the waiter brought from the kitchen a sizzling plate with a skirt steak lying on a black iron pan. That caught the undecided gentlemen’s attention. He got up from his seat. Leaned forward to take a look of what it was. After the waiter dropped off the dish, the curious gentleman asked the waiter what the people behind me had ordered. I laughed because I noticed how a sizzling sound of a steak on a hot iron pan practically had the undecided man’s attention and right away the dish sold itself. On my right I noticed the party of 4 who were sitting next to the young lady dinning alone was paying and about to leave when the waiter dropped off one of the desserts to the very happy costumer dining by herself. As she was enjoying her sweet treat one of the gentlemen from the party of 4 started a conversation with her. They were talking about her dessert. Two complete strangers, from different walks of life, didn’t talk at all from the time I got there, now are sharing and communicating different information and all because of food. After this, the British couple sitting behind me got up and with a smile of satisfaction and thanked the waiter for everything, while strolling slowly making their way out to the door with the server behind them, they asked who the owner was. I don’t for what. I guess when you are very pleased with your meal you want to thank everyone because they just made you happy. I shared everything I noticed with Pamela. She was delighted to know how I picked up all of this, while eating my meal. I told her “I do believe that although New York City with its many inhabitants and everyone going on with their life, food posses the power of bringing people together.” Staring from families, friends, and total strangers restaurant and food catches people’s attention and sparks up curiosity. From a sizzling hot plate, to a smile of enjoyment, I believe it’s a wonderful experience, and all of this revolves around food. I hope that through my cooking I can help make a better society. I want my food to be the bridge that closes the gap on today’s advanced technological world which often tends to have the lack of basic communication. With technology advancing we tend to lose the real essence of communication. I’m proud to say that my dining experience at Rice and Beans motivated me to hopefully make a change. Chefs around the world have the satisfaction of bringing different walks of life together. And food its self breaks boundaries and explores different outcomes.

Dessert: That’s why food should be respected and appreciated it, and not let technology corrupt our family values. Don’t get me wrong. I am pro-technology, but society has come to a point where we abuse it and lacks the importance of primitive way communication. Not through text but to actually speaking face to face.Sharing and devating points. “People who are not interested in food always seem rather dry and unloving, and don’t have a real gusto for life” Julian Child.