Probably, humans’ memory is deeply shaped and influenced by their childhood, when they were kids. What remains most is the emotional imprint, especially the daily repetitive experience of food. Physically, food brings basic real safety and warmth; a specific dish might be related to some deep memories.
Different countries or regions have specialties; however, there is no border for food, only whether it is tasty or not, based on personal preference.
“What to eat?” is the ultimate question for the day. In some regions, “Have you eaten?” is a greeting, like “How are you?”
What to eat is totally based on the present choices; if there is nothing to interfere with the choice, emotion is the determining factor. When one gets the food exactly or exceeds what they want, they will be satisfied, or even surprised. Interestingly, humans use the term “taste” to directly describe the feeling that the food brings them. Food is about aesthetics. The experience of food is a relationship between expectation and reality. Only when the reality exceeds the expectation is it tasty.
Cooking serves as the smallest unit for autonomy, through a repetitive, concrete daily practice, since humans’ experience of food is universally emotional and direct.
When one has the ability to cook something they want, to satisfy their individual needs, they will gain self-contentment as a long-lasting happiness.