I love food. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and am proud of it. I love to eat and am not afraid or ashamed to do so. What is a “foodie” you ask? Well, in my own words, “a person who finds true satisfaction and amazement in all things food.”

Whenever someone asks me what I am passionate about I immediately say food. My response almost always evokes laughter, probably because they think I’m just trying to be funny but, what they don’t understand is how serious I am.

Food is like a religion to me. It is what I enjoy, it is something I would consider a hobby, and it is something I could talk about for hours. I enjoy food more than the average person in the way that I thoroughly enjoy every step leading up to and during the actual meal. I love picking a place to eat — especially if its somewhere I have never been before. I love getting to feel the ambiance and aesthetic of the restaurant and looking over the menu. I love getting to peek around at what everyone else has decided to indulge in. I love choosing what to order and I especially love seeing my food being carried toward me (I mean, who doesn’t love this part). I love finally having my food in front of me and getting to take a picture of it—especially if there’s good lighting. I love taking that first, much anticipated bite and finally getting to taste all the flavors I had been imagining in my head. I love getting to taste how all the different parts of the dish go together or even critiquing how some of them don’t mesh as well as they could.

It doesn’t even have to be a meal in a restaurant for me to really enjoy the experience. I could be eating a simple sandwich or salad at my home and still get this same indescribable enjoyment out of it because it is all good and satisfying. I love healthy salads filled with grilled veggies and nuts, but I also am always down for an In-N-Out burger, fries, and a shake. No matter the meal of choice, as long as it’s tasty, I will get great enjoyment out of it.

Food is an art form for me. The way it is prepared and the way it is presented is all so artistic and beautiful. Just looking at a dish could make someone want it—and to me, that is true art. Watching food being cooked is beautiful too. Watching the chef slice, dice, stir, and flip. It is all so mesmerizing to see, and just like the final presentation, it can make someone want to eat the dish being prepared.

Bottom line—I am a foodie and always will be. Exploring the world and getting to try different food from different cultures is a dream of mine that I hope to someday fulfill.