Fellow foodies will understand when I say that eating food cooked from our own homes after many months evokes an extremely special feeling. No matter how many new dishes and cuisines one tries, nothing is better or more comforting than a home-cooked meal! This is especially true for international students who find a lot of their culture in their food. For me, happy childhood memories come flooding back when I taste the dishes I grew up eating after a long period of time. There are certain foods that were once a staple in my diet every week, and since being away from home, I’ve learned that I actually took this for granted. Before college, I would get “bored” or “tired” of eating the same foods day after day. Right now, I seriously miss Thai and Indian cuisine more than ever. There are dishes I think about and crave every day! I especially appreciate the people who try their best to make authentic Asian food here in the United States.
Unfortunately, there are just certain spices and herbs that are not able to be purchased here, and only found in Asia. I have learned through several Asian restaurateurs that even simple ingredients, like the limes and chili peppers found here, create a different taste than what one would find in an authentic Thai restaurant. If you’re looking for truly Thai spice, you may only find it after a 20+ hour journey to the other side of the world! It is the ones which have been grown in Asia that give our cooking that iconic spicy kick. These specific ingredients are ultimately what make the food so memorable and enjoyable. I’m sure everyone can think of one favorite dish that has extremely specific ingredients making it so significant to them. These are the types of foods that achieve the taste you’re looking for when they’re made in your home. Fear not, because there are ways to handle this kind of homesickness (shout out to Cholula). I always have a menu prepared each time I go home, listing everything I missed eating!