The tones of "Have you eaten?" (chifan le ma?) crack all of the tumblers protecting my coal black heart. From the moment I wake 'til the white flag of defeat is raised in bed, food is the driving force of my life. There's no better way to get acquainted with a person than having a moment of synchronized food gorging. Every detail, choice, hesitation, and autonomic facial response provide a wide window into a person's personality. Will their face melt into a puddle of smiles as they chomp down on a fresh baguette with Mt Tam cheese? Or does it take the earthy, velvety notes of roasted bone marrow that leaves a mouth's owner speechless and disarmed?
Food is the greatest equalizer of all. If I'm going to build any sort of relationship with somebody, it needs to be built on a solid foundation of trust and shared understanding. I care about what I eat; I care about what I feed those I care about even more. When someone greets me inquiring about my hunger levels, it gives me the language and direction to better get to know someone: we may even be drift compatible.