I enjoy food that is made from basic materials with the chef’s hands. When I eat, it feels as if the emotions of the cook are infused in the dish. Care, passion, and attention to detail are just the beginning. Every chef brings her/his view of what is possible to the table. The results are filled with hope, excitement, and a sense of the unknown. The raviolis were great examples. As I savoured the first taste of the sauce, I imagined the stages of growth, from its creation to birth and the cycle of life, from raw and uncovered to dressed and ready. Each bite that followed was a joy to experience.
The filling in one’s life matters. Yes, dressings elevate, complement, and highlight a dish. As good as they can be, the heart of the dish is what is within. In my experience of the chef’s gift, I found myself experiencing an old awareness in new ways. In the journey of each ravioli, from ideation through creation and presentation, I could see an illustration of old words. “He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He’ll leave in the same condition – with nothing.”(Ecclesiastes 5.15) Fillings matter as well as what is close to it.
The individuals permitted to be close to our hearts will change how we interact with others. The people I meet and interact with experience me in the context of my friends and family. I am a living illustration of a ravioli and sauce combination. The line between my choices and actions extends to the content within, as well as the relationships that are created and nurtured with each interaction. When there is harmony between the inside and the outside, peace comes naturally. Each interaction is an opportunity to experience hope and a sense of possibilities.I am free to create. I determine the essence of the heart. I decide what will complement and help. Harmony comes from the combination of in and out, the content of one’s heart and soul, in the context of the moment at hand.
