The first time I saw khachapuri, I thought it looked like a bread boat filled with cheese. A canoe of dough, swimming in melted cheese, with a pat of butter on top. It looked ridiculous. And I wanted it immediately. I ordered one. A friend warned me: “It’s rich. Don’t eat it by yourself.” I …
The first time I tried cheung fun, I had no idea what I was ordering. I pointed at something on a dim sum cart that looked like white noodles rolled up. When it arrived, it was slippery, soft, and covered in sweet soy sauce. I asked my friend what it was. She said, “Rice noodle …
I used to think pasta was just pasta. You know, the box of dry spaghetti in the back of the pantry. Boil it. Dump sauce on it. Done. Then I went to Italy. And I realized I had no idea what I was doing. Where pasta actually comes from (not what you think) You’ve probably …
The first time I saw a donburi bowl in Japan, I thought it was just rice with stuff on top. Which, technically, it is. But that’s like saying pizza is just bread with cheese. I was at a train station in Tokyo, hungry and confused by the ticket machine. I pressed a button. A bowl …
The first time I tried tom yum goong, I wasn’t ready. I was in Bangkok, jet-lagged, hungry. A friend ordered it for me. The bowl arrived — red-orange broth, steam rising, chunks of shrimp and mushrooms floating on top. It smelled like lemongrass and something spicy. I took a sip. My mouth was on fire. …
The first time I had gravlax, I thought it was just fancy smoked salmon. It was at a French bistro, served with thin rye bread and a mustard sauce. I asked the waiter what made it different from lox. He gave me a look and said, “It’s cured. Not smoked.” I ordered another portion anyway. …
After rice bowls, I moved on to noodles. Ramen, udon, soba — hot, cold, in soup, dipped. Then grilled things. Yakitori. Yakiniku. The stuff you cook yourself at the table. Here’s what I ate and how much it cost. No fancy intros. Just the food. 1. Ramen You probably know what ramen is. But here’s …
The first time I saw an eggette, I thought it looked weird. Little egg-shaped bubbles on a waffle? Seemed like a gimmick. Then someone handed me a fresh one, straight out of the iron. Crispy on the outside. Soft and chewy on the inside. Slightly sweet. Not too heavy. I finished it in about thirty …
The first time I ordered bistecca alla Fiorentina, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I was in Florence, hungry, and saw “T-bone steak” on a menu. Sounded normal. I ordered it. Then the waiter asked: “How many people?” “Just me,” I said. He smiled. Walked away. Came back with what looked like a …
The first time I saw white cut chicken, I wasn’t impressed. It looked so plain — just pale chicken on a plate. No brown skin. No heavy sauce. Just some ginger and scallion on the side. I thought, “This is it?” Then I took a bite. The meat was tender, juicy, clean tasting. The ginger-scallion …
