Memorable: to Say the Least

I have been very fortunate to have traveled to over fifteen countries around the world and eat the food of many cultures, tribes, and peoples. I attribute my passion for cooking to my travels and worldly experiences. However, for my eighteenth Birthday, I was taken out to dinner to one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The Girl and the Goat in Chicago was a dinner I will never forget. The two month reservation waiting period is more than worth it. The ten course dinner began with one of the most beautiful raw oyster dishes I have ever seen. Atop the small succulent Chesapeake Bay oyster were beautiful fresh vegetables, a flower and some Beluga Caviar. I will never forget the feeling of the Flavor Burst. Nine courses later, I felt full but not uncomfortable. After the dinner I had a personal realization of how truly fortunate I am. This may seem random but while walking to the car to drive home, I couldn’t help but notice the many homeless men, women, and children looking for warm places to sleep on the streets of Chicago. As a person of service and responsibility, I knew I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I talked with a few peers of mine from my temple congregation and although we make lunches for the homeless every other month, they agreed that we need to do it more often. I then came up with a proposal and pitched the idea to my temple’s program director who instantly agreed that more can and needs to be done to help hungry homeless people in the city. I have now helped to organize monthly lunch-making events and get more food out to those who really need it. I have been immensely blessed and have come to realize that it shouldn’t take an elaborate event to open one’s eyes. However, in my case, I believe that not only were my eyes opened to a problem, but a solution as well.