Meeting of September 27, 2025
A most ” flavorful”- also word of the day- meeting to end the month. Fall is here and with it, fall flavors and festivals. Toastmaster Hui picked the theme as an homage to upcoming mid-autumn festival. ” It’s the middle of autumn, why do we need to eat food?” she asks. ” The moon is at its fullest, people gather to celebrate and eat together.” Three speakers reminded the audience of the deep emotional connection we have with food.
Bethany, inspired by a bout of otitis media, mused about her would be last meal. Her speech ” My Last Meal” is a colorful and joyful march through her gustatory last wishes: spicy noodles, sheet cake with pink icing , that ” delicious hug you can eat”, cold Pilsner beer, Greek fries with more-than-just- feta cheese topping, please! What delicious and delirious musings! ” If chaos is food, I love it!’ So do we.
The next food trip is time travel . In ” Three episodes of food inspiration” we join Belle, age 10, as she bakes her first cheesecake.” It was ring shaped and had a burnt top”. Years later, on a sunny beach day, she ponders about the life changing Tres Leches cake she had for the first time. So life changing was this cake, that with a little help, Belle made her own Tres Leches. “Bake it, stab it, smother it and forget it exists until it’s ready” was the very important lesson. Last, was the experience of making chicken marsala with her sister during a college visit. Food memories are like pins on the map of our lives that remind us of the people and the journey.
The final food trip would take us the farthest: India, India where ” Festivals, families and flavors” make up a much loved part of Harsheeta’s childhood. Memories of a happy and studious childhood surrounded by friends and family. Picturesque descriptions of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, delicacies lovingly prepared and served on banana leaves, granny’s idli and many desserts shared with families and friends.
” We never ate alone”. Isn’t that the most delicious thought of all?
Our next meeting is October 11th
What do Mauritius Island, fashion design, Vaclav Havel, Poutine and the Emerald City have in common? Me! All these ways have led me to ( drum roll...) the Seattle Sunrise Toastmasters where friends and great speakers are made! I look forward to sharing my stories with you!
