I've always felt the easiest way to get to know new culture is

Host: The kitchen was alive with the smells of something new and exciting — the soft sizzle of vegetables, the hum of a pot simmering on the stove. The room felt warm, not just from the heat of the stove, but from the energy of discovery in the air. Jack stood at the counter, chopping ingredients with care, while Jeeny moved around the kitchen, her hands busy but her eyes soft with focus.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice thoughtful) “You know, Rachel Khoo once said, ‘I’ve always felt the easiest way to get to know new culture is through its food even if you don’t speak the language. Food will do it for you. It’s a universal language.’”

(She turned to Jack, her voice light but full of curiosity.) “What do you think she meant by that? That food is a universal language?”

Jack: (smiling softly as he continued chopping, his voice calm) “I think she’s saying that food is a way to connect with a culture, to understand it, without needing to speak the language or even fully understand the context. Every culture has its food, and through that food, you can begin to understand its history, its values, its way of life.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice steady but warm) “Exactly. Food tells the story of a place. The ingredients, the techniques, the flavors — all of those things carry meaning. When you taste something, you’re not just tasting the dish. You’re tasting the culture behind it, the history of the people who made it, and the generations of knowledge passed down through time.”

Jack: (pausing, looking thoughtful as he placed the knife down for a moment) “That’s true. Think about it — every culture has its comfort foods, the things they make when they want to feel home. Whether it’s a bowl of soup, a special dessert, or something simple and hearty, the food tells you so much about their values and traditions. And it connects us all.”

Jeeny: (smiling, her voice light but sincere) “It’s like a shared language. You don’t need to speak the words to understand what someone’s offering you. The food, the experience of sharing it — that’s the connection.”

Jack: (with a small laugh, his voice more relaxed now) “And it’s not just about tasting the food. It’s about the experience around it. The rituals of eating together, sharing meals, that universal connection we all have through food. It’s how we communicate with each other in the most basic, human way.”

Jeeny: (her voice soft but filled with warmth) “Yes, it’s a kind of storytelling without words. Every bite tells a story, every meal brings people together. And whether you can speak the same language or not, you can speak through food.”

Host: The kitchen felt even warmer now, as if the act of cooking had become something more than just preparing a meal. It was a bridge, a connection to another world, another culture. Jack and Jeeny moved through the space, the ingredients in front of them no longer just things to be chopped and cooked, but pieces of a larger conversation that was unfolding around the table.

Jack: (smiling, a sense of satisfaction in his voice) “I think I get it now. Food isn’t just a necessity or something we consume. It’s a way to understand each other, to see the world through someone else’s eyes.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her smile bright and knowing) “Exactly. It’s the one thing that can unite us all, no matter where we come from. Food speaks louder than words sometimes.”

Host: The room settled into a quiet rhythm, the act of cooking now a celebration of culture, of connection, and of the universal language of food. As the dish simmered on the stove, Jack and Jeeny both understood: food was more than just sustenance. It was a powerful tool for bridging divides, for understanding cultures, and for creating moments of shared humanity.

And in that simple realization, the world felt just a little smaller, a little more connected — all through the universal language of food.