Welcome to the Table

I’m a picky eater. Always have been. It’s not a trait I’m proud of, nor one I enjoy. It’s also not as easily fixed as some people like to believe.

You can’t just force people into liking something, and shaming them is only going to make their meal more miserable.

I thought I was doomed to hate mealtime forever until three things happened.

The first shift happened when I started spending more time alone and learned how to cook for myself. I finally had a choice over what went on my plate, and no one was there to complain about it.

Being a part of the process and seeing how things were made was also helpful. But this was a time before online cooking tutorials, so I was still limited to the few dishes and ingredients I had grown up with that I did like.

The second turning point came when I travelled to China. Suddenly, I wasn’t the only one who felt uneasy about their food. Now it was okay for people to take their time, try only some dishes, and decide whether they liked it or not.

I was in the same boat as the other foreigners and the locals understood that it was normal for some people to not like their food and often found it amusing. No one was shaming me for my food choices anymore.

I finally felt free to try things without the guilt of not liking something and started to enjoy mealtimes a lot more. But the biggest change during that period, the thing I’m most grateful for, is that it expanded my understanding of food and unlocked a never-ending list of new ingredients and ways to prepare food.

It was in China that I started to actually learn how to cook, not just make a sandwich or heat up a microwavable dinner. That has undeniably shaped what my pantry looks like to this day.

The third thing that happened was when I came back from China and went to university. All three of my flatmates were at least partially or temporarily vegetarian and even vegan.

I’ve always loved animals, but the idea that I, who already struggled so much finding food I liked, could possibly be vegetarian seemed impossible.

Then one day, one of my flatmates made this strange vegan burger I had never seen before and, to my immense surprise, it was actually pretty good.

That was the beginning of what became a five-year-long vegetarian streak that made me a much better cook. I realised that before going vegetarian I had relied primarily on meat products, and when that was gone, I had to get creative. Rather than limit my options, this period unlocked the final gate to my understanding of food today and made me much more aware of food labels.

I’m no longer vegetarian (at least not for now), and I haven’t been back to China in about a decade, but the lessons I learned from both experiences have allowed me to enjoy mealtimes again and led me to an understanding of food that feels unlimited and so very exciting.

That’s why I started the Anthropologist’s Table. I wanted to be able to continue learning about food from all over the world and share what I learn with others.

This publication is an extension of The Anthropologist’s Table YouTube channel. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes and “things I’ve learned” archive.

That said, if you’re only interested in the actual recipes, check out the website.

I have narrowed down the content into 5 general topics that I think can give you an idea about what you can expect:

• Food around the world

• Food history & tradition

• Food from scratch

• Healing through food

• Experiments, challenges, and culinary skills

I won’t set a specific schedule for my content. I think I should post when I actually have something to say, and not just force myself to say something I don’t fully believe in to meet a posting schedule.

This publication is free, but if you’d like to support this project you can subscribe as a paid member.

As a perk, you’ll be able to engage in discussions, submit questions, and help guide the future of my content.

I’ve found that the way to allow myself (or rather push myself) to do the things I love, is to make content about it and share it with others, so this publication is one of many.

This publication is one of 8. If you like my work and you too like other stuff that is not just about food then you might want to check out my other brands and projects:

• Living with Myself – Wellness, lifestyle and beauty through a multicultural lens.

• Missing Chapters – Culture, history, and folktales from around the world.

• Stories by the Fire – A cozy space for reading and writing.

• Artsy Alba – Creative experiments in arts and crafts

• The Creative Tea House – Ethical business, content creation, and creative entrepreneurship.

• The Healthy Activist – Political and social commentary alongside education and resources about various causes for activists.

• The Couple’s Book Club – Conversations around dating and healthy relationships.

Ultimately, all these projects are branches of the same tree. They’re all about learning, growing, and making life a little bit more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Thank you for being here.

Whether you join the community or not, your time and attention is what makes this all possible.

I hope you’ll stick around and join me on this journey. If not, I hope you’ll find your own way to enjoy your meals.