Have you seen Walt Disney Pixar’s film, Ratatouille? If you have, you cannot forget the pairing of Linguini and his little friend, Remy. Together, they fight for the dream to become world renowned chefs. 

I especially connected with the scene of the food critic, Ego, tasting Remy’s dish, ratatouille. This is a French stew made up of onions, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. With one taste, Ego returned to his childhood when his mother would cook the same meal. Of course, Ego gave it splendid reviews because the food touched his heart! 

Food and all of its flavors have the power to transcend us to special times, places, and people. The palette tastes, and the heart and the mind remember. 

If it is home cooking, you attempt to recreate it. You bake a dish that your Grandma always made, but often, it does not taste the same. Right? Is the LOVE missing, or a secret ingredient that Grandma chose not to share. 

The reality is, most often, we cannot recreate that exact flavor. That person is gone. That moment in time has left. Either way, it comes close and has the power to rewind time.

I am grateful that these “Ratatouilles” come in many forms. You buy the bread that was always in your childhood home. You enjoy the same birthday cake year after year. You visit the same restaurant with that certain flavor, booth, or smell in the air. My darling mom still cannot get enough of a favorite pizza that she and my deceased dad would share on their dates over 50 years ago. 

For me, it’s Doritos with my best friend after school. It’s my mom’s spaghetti. It’s my dad’s steak and gravy bread. And too many more to list … 

We can re experience the seasons of our lives with the different seasonings in our foods. So, what’s your Ratatouille(s)? 😋 ❤️

Image by Thorsten Frenzel from Pixabay