When deciding on a topic for my cultural experience paper, I was unsure of where to go. While plays and temples did not interest me, I had a strong passion for all types of food. I believed that meals and restaurants provided an excellent opportunity to fully immerse oneself in a different culture. However, the challenge lay in choosing which cuisine to try while ensuring satisfaction. To aid in this decision-making process, I sought advice from my knowledgeable brother who suggested trying Greek food. He specifically recommended a Greek restaurant called It’s Greek to me located uptown. According to him, it is an exceptional place with delicious and authentic Greek dishes. This suggestion excited me greatly, ultimately leading me to choose Greek cuisine as the focus of my cultural experience.
The next day, my boyfriend and I went to a restaurant in uptown. When we arrived, a friendly hostess welcomed us and showed us to a cozy table for two. Near the entrance, there was a bakery stand displaying delicious traditional Greek desserts that caught our attention with their incredible appearance. As we sat down at our table, we were pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness and old-fashioned charm of the restaurant. The walls were decorated with paintings depicting aspects of Greek lifestyle, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. Soon after, our waitress came over and served us some refreshing water.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, we informed the waitress that we were first-time visitors. She greeted us warmly and assured us that we would not be disappointed. She also kindly suggested some of her favorite dishes and gave us time to look through the menu. The menu had a wide variety of Greek cuisine, all of which sounded very appetizing. Although my boyfriend and I wanted to try many dishes, our stomach capacity was limited. In the end, I chose the Beef Kebob with home-style rice in tomato sauce while my boyfriend ordered the Racks of Lamb with a side of home-style potatoes—a recommendation from our waitress.
The waitress brought us warm and fresh pita bread, which I loved so much that I had three pieces. My boyfriend had to stop me from eating a fourth one. After twenty minutes, the waitress served us mouth-watering main dishes that tempted me to take pictures of them. The dish I ordered was the Beef Kebob, made up of four juicy steak nuggets cooked to a moist medium-rare, with flavorful onion and pepper in between. It came with vegetables and home-style potatoes. However, when I took my first bite of the potatoes, they had an unexpected sour taste.
Although I initially didn’t like it, I grew to not mind it. However, once I sampled the steak nuggets, all thoughts of sour potatoes vanished and I relished in the delightful and tender flavor of the steak. My boyfriend’s dish was equally enticing, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Because lamb isn’t to my taste, I refrained from trying it. After devouring our plates without leaving any room for dessert, we vowed to return next time. Subsequently, I phoned my brother to express gratitude for his superb suggestion, and he also shared some knowledge about Greek food culture.
The narrator’s Greek friend explains that food is highly cherished in Greek culture and has a significant role. It acts as a way for families to come together, prepare tasty meals, and bond with one another. This has piqued the narrator’s interest in Greek culture and they have noticed that Greek cuisine is not only incredible but also holds immense value to its people. By opting for a Greek restaurant, the narrator has not only indulged in delicious dishes but also experienced how food can bring people closer, creating moments of laughter and enjoyment.
