Love on a Plate: Expressing Appreciation Through Food
Submitted by Steven Pham
Food plays a significant role in everyone’s life, but for me, it’s also a way to express my love language. As someone whose love language is acts of service, I show my appreciation for my closest friends through food. One tradition I’ve developed is making my signature banana pudding every New Year’s for them—a sweet gesture that began four years ago but has already become special.
Before every New Year’s Day, my friends always ask me the same question: “Yo Steven, are you making your banana pudding again this year?” I always reply, “Of course I am.” Their faces immediately light up with excitement, and it’s moments like these that make the tradition so meaningful to me.
Recently, I’ve developed a growing interest in cooking steaks. As a kid, I always dreamed of making the perfect steak but doubted my ability to pull it off. That changed when a TikTok video of someone cooking a steak appeared on my For You page, it sparked a motivation I hadn’t felt before. A few weeks ago, I finally seized the opportunity to cook steak for two of my closest friends.
In the kitchen, my focus was entirely on getting the steak just right for my friends’ preferences. I ensured the pan was sizzling hot, laid out all my seasonings, and carefully seasoned the steak before placing it on the pan. Every step was intentional, driven by my desire to make the experience unforgettable for them.
Before preparing the steak, I had already cooked a batch of fried rice, planning to pair the fresh New York strip with it to create steak fried rice. When the dish was finally ready, I served it to my friends and eagerly awaited their feedback. Their critiques were encouraging, with an overall high score, but they also gave me ideas for improvement.
One thing about me is that I always strive to outdo myself, and this mindset especially shines through in my cooking and baking. If you’re one of my closest friends, consider yourself warned, you’ll always have something homemade and delicious coming your way.
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