Jeremiah Wills, New Castle, IN

Food to me is more then a means of sustaining physical life. However, that is not to say that I don’t think about how food can have a positive or negative effect on my physical health. Beyond fulfilling physical needs, food also can fulfill individual intrinsic and social needs as well. The two additional needs are not mutually exclusive. They can be at times one and the same. For example, food can serve a social purpose by people gathering to eat. Most holidays include getting together with friends and family. While doing so, people will most often eat large lavish meals and have a good time enjoying each other’s company.

Some of my fondest memories of being a kid are those of me being with friends or family and eating a big meal of some sorts. Whether it is Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners with the family or just dinner with some friends, these memories tend to stick out in my mind. Certain smells can easily trigger these memories, such as the smell of a cooking turkey or ham, fresh pumpkin pie, apple pie, or hamburgers on a grill.

Being from Indiana and the Midwest, I love fresh corn, green beans and potatoes. I also enjoy a good steak or anything barbequed. Since I am living in Indiana, these foods are usually readily available from various local firms or markets.

I’m a big fan of anything I can buy at farmers markets or roadside stands, such as fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. I am also a big fan of seafood (shrimp, lobster, crap, fish), and since I am from Indiana it is unfortunately difficult to find good fresh seafood.

I am, however, fortunate enough to live in an area that has many excellent Mexican restaurants. Muncie is home to Puerto Vallarta, and New Castle, just south of Muncie, contains the sister restaurant Los Amigos.