Blog Post #4 - Interview

My name is Byron Barajas and for a majority of my life in Reno, Nevada. Both of my parents come from Hispanic backgrounds as both families come from Mexico. Growing up I did get exposed to variety of foods, but mostly, my mom and/or relative tend to cook meals. I wanted to interview someone who had a different background than I did. Luckily for me, I interview my friend Tahlia Wise, who is half Filipino from her mother’s side of the family and half black from her father’s side of the family. She is currently a senior in high school and has lived in Reno for most of her life.  

Question #1: What kind of food did you eat growing up? 

Answer: Growing up, I was more exposed to American foods since beginning in school but I was still enough to experience different Filipino dishes as well. We had the basics, as that's what my mom could make such as tinola, sinigang, adobe, ect.  

Question #2: What was your favorite meal that Americans don't tend to serve? 

Answer: My favorite of those dishes I previously mentioned, has to be sinigang. With most American meals and foods, “sour” isn’t normally associated with soups, let alone putting okra and tamarind in it either.  

Question #3: Do you cook for yourself or did someone cook for you? 

Answer: Growing up, my mom or relative would usually cook for me but as of now, I am slowly learning how to cooking my own meals.  

Question #4: Do you eat certain meals for special occasions?  

Answer: On special occasions, we always have BBQ on a stick. I know it sounds simple dish but it's actually very intricate. Since it's filled with many flavors and it's always give me a nostalgic feeling of being with my family members back in the Philippines.  

Question #5: Does your culture influence what you eat? If so, how? 

Answer: My culture greatly influences what I like to eat; I notice that I'm greatly drawn to Asian dishes, even when choosing to eat out. Another part of my culture that has influenced me is the way in which I eat; Filipinos always use both a spoon and a fork, and I'm always looking for rice with my meals.