Have you ever taken a bite of food and then have a memory flash before you? We’ve all had these Proustian moments - those times when the taste of something conjures up vivid, distinct memories: vignettes of our lives that come flooding into our minds like finding an old, lost, leather-bound family picture album filled with faded, yellowing, long-forgotten childhood photos. For me, the taste of scallops invokes images of my father from my years as a teenage girl. Sometimes, I can almost relive some of those memories and experience anew the bonds of a father and daughter, the relationship between parent and child.

Food is like in-laws. More accurately, perhaps I should say our relationship with food is like our relationship with our in-laws. It’s a love-hate relationship.

You love your mother- and father-in-law, if for no other reason, because they gave birth to your significant other. What a wonderful human being they brought into this world! Look at those gorgeous eyes; hear that melodious voice; so well-mannered and kind-hearted. They must have brought up their child correctly!