2 . Do you like cilantro(香菜)? Cilantro is a common food that people tend to either adore or abuse.     1     But the reasons behind what you like and don’t like are not always so straightforward.

    2     Your sense of smell allows you to distinguish between something like strawberry and cherry. Scientists looked at olfactory (receptors and discovered that individuals with a certain gene. OR6A2, are more sensitive to smelling cilantro. That, in turn, affects how people sense its flavor.     3     When you’re open to these foods, you learn to like what you eat. Even people who hate cilantro may be able to learn to at least tolerate it, if not like it.

Culture plays a big role in what you like, too. Food preferences vary across cultures. When it comes down to food preferences in different parts of the world, it has a lot to do with what’s available and considered a food staple (主食).    4    But there will always be exceptions-a Greek person who can’t stand olives or a Dutch person who hates cheese.

While preferences can be formed after a few attempts, negative experiences with foods, especially when you’re young, can have a lasting effect.     5     Jasmine Robinson, 29, from Athens, shared her story about olives. When she was young, another child, who wouldn’t let her have a turn on a swing, made fun of her while eating olives from a jar and being mean. She later tried olives as an adult but failed.

7 . The number of times I’ve been asked how I became a food and travel writer is too many to count. Frankly, I’m not exactly sure how to ______. Eating is a necessary part of life, and I appreciate good ______, whether it’s chicken and rice served from a hawker stand or a perfect dish in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

I’m not a ______ writer of food, since I ______ review restaurants in the traditional sense. Instead, I’m more interested in food’s ______ and what it reveals about cultures. For instance, how did Mexican cacao get to Europe, and how did the Czech kolache find its way to Central Texas? Knowing the ______ behind such things is a ______ in history that goes far beyond a pretty dish presented on a plate.

There’s not a more ______ way to get a taste of a place than by taking food-themed tours. Many tours include market visits, which are the best way to experience life as a(n) ______. Markets are the hearts of communities and reveal not only the way a culture eats, but also how they ______ and interact.

Traditions and culture are deeply ______ food and through cooking lessons. The number of cooking classes that I’ve ______ around the world can’t be counted. Now, I’m no Alain Ducasse in the kitchen, and rarely do I ______ at home. However, including these types of classes into my journey is something that I ______. And even though the acquired cooking skills don’t translate back to my home kitchen, the cultural ______ still resonates (产生共鸣).

9 . Should you eat to live or live to eat? It’s a question posed by French playwright Moliere in his work The Miser. While eating is functional, and our bodies need the fuel that food provides, dining with friends or loved ones can be a wonderful experience. However, some of us often find ourselves reserving a table for one in a restaurant.     1     Maybe not.

Have you ever spent too long debating with people which restaurant to eat in or when to meet? If dining solo, you can make the choice depending on your desires at exactly the time you’re hungry! And why does it have to be a restaurant? You could eat in a park, garden or even your bed — the point is, the choice is yours!     2     According to psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter, a bit of loneliness can help your brain to relax and may help you concentrate more.

    3     Maybe it’s a pungent (刺鼻的) cheese or fish. We sometimes hold back on things that may offend the noses of others. When dining alone, we can consume whatever we like, with the added bonus that we might be able to eat more healthily. Often, if you want a salad and your partner wants some less healthy dish, you end up ordering the same. And if you don’t get the same, you might end up with food envy as you watch someone enjoy a pizza.

Finally, for some, dining alone can be a necessity.     4     Eating alone can save you from the extreme anxiety that may arise listening to someone smack their lips (咂嘴)! So, is eating alone bad? Well, it may not be for everyone, but there certainly are some benefits to it.     5    

10 . As an international fresher arriving in Dublin for the first time last autumn, I was certain I had missed crucial aspects of Dublin’s social and cultural scene due to Covid-19. Therefore, it can be difficult to get a real sense of Dublin’s culture. Yet, one has emerged from this chaos: donuts.

Donuts has been taking over Dublin since at least 2017. Since then, the obsession(痴迷) has grown. Though the lockdown has certainly set in, we can still rely on meeting up with someone from another household, which is a sure way to get yourself out and get a snack in at the same time. As many of us are feeling isolated and stressed, it can be a good idea to get out and talk to someone who might also be struggling. Plus, doesn’t any exercise sound more appealing with baked goods involved?

A personal favourite of mine is Offbeat Donuts. They offer classic donuts such as those of the jam-filled, or sprinkle-topped variety, and also cater to(迎合) more adventurous tastes. Offbeat Donuts competes with The Rolling Donut, an older business originated from a small but popular newsstand on O’Connell Street. It offers a similar experience to Offbeat with donuts related in flavour. For the vegan doughnut lovers, however, The Rolling Donut is an obvious winner. It offers a broad selection of nine different vegan(素食主义者) donuts in comparison to Offbeat’s range of three. However, both have their advantages, as Offbeat is located just a five minute walk from college and offers a 10% student discount. The Rolling Donut, on the other hand, is not only on O’Connell Street, but there is also another next to St. Stephen’s Green, a perfect spot for walking around while sinking into the treat.   

While the donut shops really give you the proper experience, there are many other donut options. Whether you’re hunting for a recreational donut or an emergency one, Dublin is certainly the place to be. Regardless of your preference, this city has what it takes. And who knows? With the city likely to be reopened in the coming months, Dublin’s donut shops won’t be the only place packed with customers.