My
family loves food, however we are not very religious or from a strong cultural
background. The food that we eat is simply all of the things that we love. We
have turned these things into our own sort of traditions. I am an only child so
home cooked meals were not very important in my upbringing. Of course, I do
love my parents cooking and we have amazing home cooked meals. But still, we
would get take out or eat at a restaurant almost half the time. Fortunately, I
am lucky to live in Santa Barbara, which in my opinion has some of the best
restaurants in the US.
When
I think of the food my parents cook, spicy food immediately comes to mind. Both
of my parents love spicy food, they will put hot pepper flakes and jalapeños on
almost anything. At first, I hated spicy food and could barely handle mild
salsa. But after awhile it grew on me and Tapatio and Cholula soon became my
favorite condiments. I now have bottles of both in my dorm room and add them to
almost everything I eat. One of my favorite meals my dad makes are bratwursts
which were a common meal in Wisconsin where he grew up, and pabalano peppers
BBQed and stuffed with cheese. The peppers have just the right amount of heat
and are delicious. My dad actually copied the recipe from Isador, our old family
friend that works at a very authentic Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara
called La Super Rica.
I
have been going to La Super Rica since I was less than a year old. When I was a
little kid my dad would set me on the counter and I would talk to Isador and
Martin while he ordered. As a kid I stuck to queso and beans, which I would
make mini burritos out of with the fresh pressed tortillas that you can watch
the women in the back make as you are waiting in line. Now, I love the spicy habaneros
in the pico de gallo salsa and cover all of my food with it. Whenever family
comes into town their first stop is always Superica. It is a fun way to gather
and catch up while enjoying amazing food. Superica is one of many great Mexican
food restaurants in Santa Barbara. Mexican food is definitely one of the things
I miss the most while being at school. There is nothing in Colorado even close
to the authentic Mexican food I’m used to in California.
The
next restaurant on my list would definitely have to be Arigato. It is the best
sushi restaurant I have been to to this day. It is also the first place where I
actually tried fish sushi rather than the cucumber avocado rolls I used to
always eat. We go to Arigato for every member of my family’s birthdays. My
favorite dish from there is definitely the Ahi Carpaccio. It is made up of
thinly slice pieces of ahi covered in orange roe and many other seasonings. The
best part of this dish is the sauce that it is in; it is like nothing else I
have ever tasted. Once I am done I keep the plate and dip the rest of my
sushi–usually a spicy tuna roll–into the delicious sauce. I love this
restaurant so much because of the one of a kind sushi I just described, but
also because of the great memories I have of eating with my family there over
the years. Arigato has become increasingly important to me because my grandma
has recently gotten sick, and one of the only foods she feels up for eating is
the Hamachi sushi from Arigato. It has become a place that I go almost once a
week with my mom and grandma. I have not gotten to know my grandma very well
over my life and eating at Arigato helps us connect and spend time together.
My
one guilty pleasure at home would have to be In-n-out burger. I don’t know what
it is about In-n-out that is so much better than all other fast food burger
places. I swear that there is some addictive ingredient in it that keeps you
wanting it again and again. My favorite thing is the animal fries. There is
something about the fresh cut fries covered in cheese, special sauce, and
onions that I just can’t get enough of. Sometimes when my mom and I are wanting
something simple in easy we will go to In-n-out and get food from the drive
through. She thinks the animal fries I get are disgusting and gets mad at me
every time. I know they are awful for me however I still cannot resist. My mom
and I always have a good time when we go and bond over the amazing greasy
foods.
While
these foods are not significant to me in cultural or religious ways, they are
still a way that I bond with my family. We usually tend to have the same taste
in food–probably because they raised me. My family has expanded my taste
horizons in almost every area and made them what they are today. Eating out and
enjoying the great restaurants of Santa Barbara is a way we connect. There
still are the great home cooked meals during holidays that I enjoy as well. I
will never be able to get enough of my Dad’s girlfriend Leslie’s Scalloped
potatoes and fried chicken that we always have on Christmas. My eating schedule
at home is perfect for me. I get to enjoy all of the foods in Santa Barbara
that I love and I would not want it any other way.
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