What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?

There’s a strange irony I’ve come to notice over the years: the more I spend on a meal, the less likely I am to enjoy it. 

It’s not that I don’t appreciate fine dining. But too often, the experience leaves me unsatisfied—either the flavors don’t live up to the hype, or I walk away feeling like I paid more for the ambience than the actual food.

On the other hand, some of my most memorable meals have come from humble places. A roadside food truck serving chicken curry and ragi ball. A tiny restaurant shop in my local town where the routine dish of rice, dal and rasam tasted like comfort itself. Or even a home-cooked meal shared with family, where laughter was the best seasoning.

These meals didn’t cost much, but they lingered in my memory far longer than any five-star dinner.

It’s made me realize that satisfaction doesn’t come from price tags—it comes from authenticity. From food made with care, served with warmth, and eaten with gratitude.

I dream of tasting dishes from every corner of the world—not just the ones featured in glossy magazines, but the ones tucked away in local kitchens and street stalls. To explore culinary traditions not as a critic, but as a curious traveler. To savor not just the food, but the stories behind it.