The Curious Break

When I think about my passions, or even more simply, what fuels me, I always find my way back to food. Sure, we need food for sustenance, but why not also let each bite give us joy?

Growing up on Long Island, I was raised in a multicultural kitchen surrounded by talented cooks. Italian, Irish, Trinidadian, Long Island flavors filled my childhood: homemade pizza on Christmas Eve, lasagnas on special occasions, my babysitter Jen’s Trinidadian curry chicken with potatoes, and the unbeatable breakfast sandwiches and bagels of Long Island.

So many of my fondest and most vivid memories are rooted in certain dishes. I’ll never forget the time I tried to recreate my grandpa Gus’s simple tomato sauce after he passed away. It was the only time I got the taste just right. When the familiar aroma filled the air, it was as if he was standing beside me at the pot, tasting and seasoning to his liking. I take a bite and I’m immediately transported to summertime, back at the family’s wooden table, feeling the tackiness under my fingers from years of being too close to the heat of the stove. The sun streams into my eyes. I’ve chosen the wrong seat of course. Stories and laughter from my extended family fill the air and a big pile of spaghetti and meatballs is placed in front of me. This is my childhood and the warmth and love I was surrounded by, all encapsulated in this simple bite.

Food has always been more than a passion—it’s been a way to connect, even into adulthood. I’ve kept blogs to stay in touch with friends across distances, logged memorable meals from Boston to my travels abroad, and cataloged recipes, capturing both my successes and failures in the kitchen. Each dish and recipe felt like a story in its own right, allowing me to explore food through a creative lens. And I was so desperate to have that outlet for creativity, particularly when my day job didn’t give many opportunities to be creative.

As food shifted from being just a passion to becoming a creative outlet, I naturally gravitated toward new platforms to share it. That’s how I found myself immersed in the world of food content creation on social media. It’s a different kind of storytelling—one that pushes me to balance trends with a deeper sense of authenticity. No matter the format, my content stays anchored in what has always fueled me: flavors that remind me of home, joy, and a bit of my own history.

Over the next three months, I’m dedicating more time to this creative venture, exploring what it means to blend nostalgia with new techniques. I’m focused on creating content that not only engages viewers but also inspires them to step into their own kitchens. My goal remains simple: to share the joy that food has always given me and to encourage others to create their own memories, one bite at a time.