cuilinary adventures bind people together. I'd been dating kel for a few months when I took her out for sushi. She was from north PA, didn't think much of seafood, but was willing to go along for the ride. That first bite of maguro opened her pupils about two feet wide. She cleared the table and we had to order more. Now she's the one cooking me bizarre yam-garbanzo-peanut soups that I will never get tired of. Kitchens can be so much fun.

I was a picky eater growing up and besides mushrooms and raisins and such like additions to a meal which I would pick out, we were not allowed to leave the dinner table unless all our vegetables were consumed. Often when no one was looking I would scoop my vegetables bit by bit into a paper napkin on my lap and then hide it under the table until it was safe to put it in the bin. Now I don't have a problem with food excepting Sushi but only because I don't like the sound of it, not because I have tried it and don't like it.

I had to teach Rob how to eat more vegetables. If I give him lettuce he still grabs it and stuffs it in his mouth and swallows with great exaggeration, like medicine, but he says "at least I ate it".