One of the things that keeps me glued to my Netflix screen is culinary documentaries.
I don't know why, but there's something captivating about the way they tell stories about food – it's not just about taste, but a deeper journey.
I can lose track of time watching series like Chef's Table, Street Food, or Salt Fat Acid Heat. Each one tells a different story, but they all share a common thread: food is a reflection of who we are.
Take a look at Chef's Table. It's not just about expensive dishes in Michelin-starred restaurants.
There are stories of chefs searching for their identity, taking risks with failure, and tracing their own cultural roots.
For example, Massimo Bottura from Italy, who "destroyed" his grandmother's pasta tradition only to create something new. Or Jeong Kwan, a Buddhist nun in South Korea, who shows that cooking is a form of meditation.
From these shows, I understand that food isn't just for filling our stomachs, but also a way for someone to express their soul.
Then there's Street Food, which takes me to the narrow alleys of Bangkok, Oaxaca, and Yogyakarta. Here, food isn't just about advanced techniques or sterile kitchens.
It's about the small food vendors who stand in front of hot woks every day to support their families. They show that street food is a cultural treasure, passed down from generation to generation.
There's also Salt Fat Acid Heat hosted by Samin Nosrat. She teaches us the basics of cooking that we often take for granted: salt for flavor, fat for texture, acid for balance, and heat for cooking. But what I remember most is how she emphasizes that cooking is about taste and the courage to try.
From all these shows, I realize that food isn't just about ingredients. We need water to boil, spices to season, and skilled hands to prepare. But more than that, there's meticulousness and soulfulness. No delicious dish is born from carelessness.
Behind it all is a long chain: deep-rooted traditions, families sharing stories at the dinner table, and cultures that keep us connected.
Food is a basic human need, but it also becomes a medium for experiencing life. When we eat, we don't just fill our stomachs. We also remember.
We remember the patient mother chopping onions, the grandmother who has been mixing spices the same way for decades, or those small moments where laughter and conversation flow over a simple plate of food.
So, from Netflix's culinary documentaries, I've learned that eating isn't the end. It's the beginning of many things. The beginning of understanding who we are, where we come from, and what we can pass on to the next generation."