Written By: Michael Sandoval

The Interlude

 “Remembering the Reasons”

I thought it would be valuable to take a small pause from the series “The World as We Know It” and celebrate a little of what the current times have been offering. This last weekend was a true reminder of what it feels like to be blessed in tremendous ways even under circumstances that illustrate negative outcomes and possibilities.

As I lay on the warm pebbled sand of the Costa Tropical, I watched the Nijinsky like movements of the Flying seagulls and listened to the light sounds of the ocean as it splashed against my feet.

The living sun gave life as it glimmered across the ocean. It felt as if the vain ball of fire was attempting to reveal its reflection against the Earth's marvelous sea. The confidence radiated by the glowing wonder was infectious like a stadium full of screaming fans during the World Cup finals. It was a true unintended inspiration given to us by our phenomenal world!

Something that I have realized within my profession is that not every motivational influence is directly presented as something that you can easily see or touch. It is merely at times in the eye of the beholder. Awareness of ones surroundings can sometimes define a moment as impactful or dull. This was a moment that gave me light!

The day started out normal, but I knew that it would be a special one! To celebrate my craft and the spirit of cultural sharing, diversity and cuisine, I organized a cooking conference between two Chefs that grew up on different continents and were living across the world from each other. Through the beauty of technology I would be able to connect virtually with my close friend and colleague Sean Miranda from Mumbai India. We would be cooking dishes that represented the depth of his culture and defined history, beauty and simplicity.  Days prior, he provided me with recipes that I could shop for and measure. In addition to the ingredients that I would be purchasing, I was fortunate to have a spice mix that came directly from Mumbai. This spice mix was blended by Sean’s family and would be a part a traditional gathering that is reminiscent of any special holiday festivity that exists. The mixture would consist of over 30 different spices that were carefully chosen to balance and give specific flavors and color.

Tradition would consist of elderly women toasting the spices over a wood fire using a clay pot. This process normally occurs during the peak of hot summer months to ensure that the spices would stay dry after toasting and assist in their preservation. Once the incredible aroma was extracted from the intricate flavor profile of the numerous spices, a large mortar and pestle would be operated by approximately four women to begin the pounding process directly outside of their home. I could imagine the essence and aroma coming to life as the bear strength of history fought tirelessly to ensure that the outcome was exceptional. After countless hours of effort, the mixture would be finished and stored in dark glass bottles and then sealed with bamboo stick  to retain their flavors, keep its vibrant color and prevent oxidation.

This Marvel is known as the “Bottled Masala” and will always vary in flavor from family to family. Every season, the unspoken competition of the Masala “Olympics” comes to fruition to see whose spice will reign supreme.

I was lucky!!! I had this incredible history, tradition and depth of love inside of my kitchen directly at my disposal. As a Chef, I couldn’t ask for more and I am extremely thank to Sean for providing me with such beauty!

Although this year’s worldly circumstance prevented the majority of families from gathering and re-creating this historical event, Sean’s optimism for the year to come remained high.

I know that this may not seem like a tremendously meaningful occurrence to most, but to me, this morning was much more than cooking food! It was desire! It was a step back into…..

“Remembering the Reason”