Wonderings

Writing this book has been, partly, a quest for identity.

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Who am I? Where do I come from? Where do I belong? On one hand, I feel a strong connection with the place I grew up in—the land, the people and the food. On the other hand, I’ve always had an innate curiosity and desire to explore, discover, and experiment with new cultures, cuisines, and ways of life. I feel comfortable and eager to unpeel these layers of my being in my expanded roles as a mother, wife, and citizen of the world.

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I wonder whether where I come from isn’t really the place, but rather the intangible influences that have contributed to my tapestry of taste, through the kindness of people, the generosity of the neighbors who shared their harvests with us, and the melting pot of cultures in my native Arad. Austrians, Hungarians, Germans, Jews, Romanians, Czechs, Bulgarians, and Serbs lived harmoniously together in that city without fuss or false rhetoric about what life should or should not be like. Life simply was.

As you read this book, I invite you to consider your own roots, your own journey, and your life experiences to piece together your own tapestry of taste that is as unique as you are.