I’ve recently discovered mild fasting as a way to land myself firmly in the present, as well as really, really *taste* everything. (If I do any food blogging, I’ll be doing some of that first). And conversely, eating fatty, sludgy foods do terrible things to my concentration. Give me fish’n'chips and an open Internet connection, and I can make an evening vanish with nothing to show (except a greasy plate and a bulging Firefox History tab).

At first I was more than a little disappointed by the complete blank flowing out of endless nothing when I thought about this question. I tried to force this definition of trigger-dish onto my Nana’s food; as a child, having a meal at her house was the best thing in the world and there has never, nor will there ever be, any taste like it, any food so remarkably lovely, but the definition just didn’t fit. To have Nana’s food, you have to be at Nana’s house. Whenever I have it, I’m exactly where my memory might take take me, as though every time is the same time; I’m not transported into the past, but gain a sharpened sense of being in the moment. It’s a beautiful thing and, in my opinion, a better experience than a trigger-dish provides by far. I do still want to answer your question despite this realization, and I have actually thought of a trigger-dish to call my own! Mint chocolate chip ice cream. The “chip” is crucial; it must be the mini chips and no other alternative. I remember being with my dad at Tony’s Variety, breathing in that rare and special opportunity, taking a lick and thinking that this decision was the right one; an anomaly in such a mind as this.

Well, that was fun. Thanks!

(And – thank you. )

1. you wanted to be a black rider? really? altho, seriously, you had me at the fact that you even read LOTR.

2. great post, loved the visuals it evoked.