Flavor of Love

How do I know I'm a foodie? Because I often gauge my feelings for someone partially through the ways in which they influence my tastebuds. Seriously.

I first noticed this in regard to the way I take my coffee. When I first started drinking it, I took it black with a little sugar. Once I started dating a guy I eventually shacked up with for 2 years, I quickly began drinking my coffee with sugar and milk, just like he did. I became a "coffee wuss," as I termed it, because of his influence. We eventually broke up, but my wussdom continued.

Fast forward a few years, and a new influence has brought me full circle. Now I drink it with milk, or occasionally black, but without any sugar. I haven't put sugar in my coffee in a long time, and doubt I will again. Unless I fall madly in love with a sugar-user, I guess.

Whether or not I will try a new food for a person is also a reliable indicator of my feelings. An old boyfriend of mine desperately tried to get me to taste espresso, goat cheese, and asparagus. I refused to touch any of them. Eventually I tried all of them while we were apart, or after we broke up, and of course loved them all. He was infuriated that I wouldn't eat these things on his recommendation and couldn't understand why I was so stubborn with him, but so open-minded with other dinner companions. I couldn't explain it at the time, but now I know-- my tastebuds knew he just wasn't right for me. These days I'll try corn fungus for the right person, but if I won't touch a friendly green vegetable for someone, our relationship is probably doomed.

I suppose it makes sense-- if 'we are what we eat,' it would only be natural for me to feel closer to someone by copying their dining habits. Whenever I notice that I've absorbed someone's stir fry technique, or suddenly obsess about their favorite ethnic take-out, I know I'm pretty head over heels.