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Checkout Line

I was waiting my turn at the grocery checkout line yesterday when the woman ahead of me got curious about some of my purchases and wanted to know how I would use them to cook. As we chatted the people behind me listened in too. For a moment I felt like I was giving an impromptu cooking lesson connecting with strangers through sauces and spices they were not familiar with. The cashier when she rung up my items asked a couple of questions too. Just one person acting on their natural curiosity, deciding to ask a stranger a question lead to some social interaction that would have otherwise not occurred. I learned for instance, some brands of cat food can smell and taste very good even to humans.

 The woman who asked me about the gochujang sauce I had bought may experiment with it next time and if it went well, venture even further afield into unfamiliar cuisines. In ethnic grocery stores, I often see what the locals are buying and just follow their example. Language barriers make it harder to strike a conversation and learn proper use. It is usually possible to find help online and learn how to cook what I bought - sometimes a friendly cashier may give me some advice on an starter recipe. These interactions are probably the best part of grocery shopping experience.

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