By revisiting my
expectations of Rasa Ria, I realized the extent of my misguidance. Now I did
not expect to walk into a 5-star restaurant; I also didn’t anticipate walking
into a one-room hostel with an Internet connection. To say the least, I was
under impressed with the ambience of Rasa Ria. The self-service and casual
atmosphere denotes the kind of customer that would frequent the quaint
restaurant. This wasn’t where I ate when I was with my parents. Instead this
kind of restaurant represented what college has become for me: a place to
experience and try new things. Most importantly somewhere I would be able to
grow by stepping outside of my comfort zone. I think that Rasa Ria definitely
presented a unique cultural experience was different from my own.
The restaurant
included many recipes that were Indonesian, with a Malaysian flare brought by
the Gome family. Rasa Ria is authentically fusion. It is a mix of Asian
cultures brought to the American table. Through this course, I came to realize
that the term “authenticity” is very subjective because of the evolution of
culture. The authority who might call a dish authentic or not is also disputed.
Therefore, as a relatively uncultured, liberal arts college student, I will
call food served at Rasa Ria authentically fusion and authentically delicious.
I hope to continue
my exploration with food beyond the confines of my Food and Travel Seminar. It
is my greatest hope that I will be able to study abroad in Ecuador for my
Junior year at Kalamazoo College. With the application process underway, I can
only imagine the exotic food I will be eating. I envision fruits with spikes,
fresh fish, or flan. I look forward to go into any future culinary experience
with an open heart and mind. Not every taste is for me, yet I will try my best
to enjoy the effort and respect the culture of each dish. And after completing
the Sophomore Food and Travel Seminar, I have found it is often not the taste
that makes the food, yet the context in which you surround yourself.
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