Discovering Travel Writing

Food is a magnetic force that brings friends and family together; there's just something about gathering around a good meal that fosters a strong connection between people. Food is our life source when we gather together to share it, we share our lives with one another.
I grew up in northern California where one can get fresh produce all year round. Sharing food is an important part of my family's culture. I grew up believing that food should be prepared from scratch with fresh produce purchased farmer's markets. I thought everyone has the same ideas about food as me until I moved to Minnesota for college. Minnesota is one of the coldest states in the U.S.; produce only grows there in the summer and early fall months.
When I arrived in St. Paul Minnesota for my first week of college, I was shocked at the lack of fresh produce in the food here. Most dishes were meat-based with vegetables acting only as a garnish. It took me some time to become accustomed to this change, however, a look around the city of St. Paul tells why Minnesotans favor heavy, meat based food. Many residence of the city are of German, Irish and Scandinavian heritages; these cultures favor these types of foods. Although St. Paul is just as Americanized as any other city, the influence of these cultures is apparent.
Minnesota is known for its 'hot dishes'. A hot dish have just about anything in it, as long as it is all cooked in a crock-pot. I did not understand why Minnesotans liked hot dishes so much. At first, I thought it seemed odd to put so many different ingredients together in one dish.
The first time I tried a hot dish though, I understood. I was invited to dinner at a friend's house in December. The temperature had dropped below zero degrees Fahrenheit. The delicious scent of the turkey and gravy stew simmering in the crock pot wafted through the house warming my bones as they thawed from the cold. As I sat in the company of my friend while we ate, I felt inexplicably satisfied. The warm, meaty dish filled me up and warmed me to the core.
I realized that hot dishes were not popular in Minnesota only for their rich flavor. They bring friends and family together at the table to warm themselves on cold winter evenings to delight in company in conversation.