This Bite Made Me See the Matrix

The Soul Behind the Flame – part 2

Have you ever had a bite of food that straight-up moved you?

Like—not just “this is delicious”—but I mean moved you. Almost to tears. Or you started giggling, doing the happy dance?

Yeah. That.

Now let me ask you something:

Did you thank the chef?

Because that kind of dish—one that hits your soul like that—didn’t just happen.

That’s someone putting care, craft, and heart on the plate. And they did it not for clout, not for Instagram—but because they had a story to tell.

We don’t do this for the applause. We do it for the connection.

We do it because this is how we speak.

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I’ve been on the road a lot lately. And I’ve been lucky to break bread with people who see me. People who don’t just want a bite—they want a moment.

And let me tell you about one of those moments.

I had  this beautiful masala dosa—crispy, seasoned, perfection.

But sitting near it was a  bowl.

Banana curry.

Now, pause. I know what you’re thinking: “Banana. WAIT, WHAT?”

Yup.

I went in. Took the bite.

And holy shit—I started laughing. Smiling. I think I even clapped.

My taste buds threw on sunglasses, leaned back, and said, “We’re home.”

I had to go in again. I needed to see if it was a hicup in my reality. Round two. This time I made damn sure there was banana in the bite—didn’t want to screw this up.

And when I did?

I saw the Matrix.

I’m talking full-on “Neo meets flavor enlightenment” vibes.

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Now, here’s the kicker: I saw how this was made. I could identify almost every single thing in that dish had in it. But for the life of me—I will never be able to replicate that experience.

Because it wasn’t just technique.

It wasn’t even just balance.

It was love.

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The chef who made that dish? He has a ridiculous amount of love and respect for Indian cuisine.

I’ve watched this guy light up when he talks about anything about the sub-continent. I’ve watched him serve food not just to impress, but to teach. To connect. To celebrate culture without stealing from it.

And that’s why this dish hit me so hard.

It wasn’t just made well.

It was made with respect, with honor, and with this almost childlike joy of saying: “You gotta taste this. You gotta feel this.” That bite moved my soul because I felt his passion!

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Half of you are still stuck on “banana curry.” I know.

But trust me—it was magic.

And if you’re still reading? First of all—thank you. Second, welcome to my world. This is what happens when food isn’t just craveable—it’s transformational.

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See, here’s the thing:

Food is powerful.

It can divide us, or it can bring us closer than any conversation ever could.

You walk into a restaurant and see people from every walk of life sitting at the same table, sharing something beautiful—that’s not luck. That’s intention. That’s culture doing what it was meant to do: connect us.

And like I’ve said before (and I’ll keep saying it):

Food is a time machine! I absolutely love Ratatouille, the meal and the movie. I love it because every great chef knows this, so I hear. Food can transport you back in time, it can strike a nerve, specifically memory nerve(made that one up fake news). That scene with Ego taking his first bite and snap; his a little boy with his care taker(I don't know if it was mom or grandmom or whoever). That's a special talent that we have. Our food has the power to touch someone’s soul.

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So yeah. That bite made me see the Matrix.

And more than that—it reminded me why I cook, why I serve, and why I still believe food can heal people.

And the next time a dish really hits you?

Thank the chef.

Because that dish might’ve been the first honest thing they said all day