Whipping up Travel Memories

This post is dedicated to the memories of those recipes that bring cultures together. What are your travel memories where food was used to bond people of different backgrounds?

As a college student I was afforded the opportunity to travel abroad for a good chunk of my studies. Travelling in Jordan was especially memorable. I met some of the most wonderful people and made some life-long friends who continue to keep in touch to this day. One such person who made a lasting impression on me was Miss Lamia Hadaddin. She excitedly welcomed me into her home and made a delicious family meal which I was lucky enough to help her prepare. One of my favorite dishes consisted of rice and meat and spices which were wrapped in a grape leaf, pulled from Lamia's own grape vines, and then steamed until the meat and rice inside were tender. I can still taste the somewhat bitter taste of the grape leaves complementing the buttery, savory and slightly sweet taste of the contents inside. Lamia was delightful to cook with and even though there was a language barrier between us we came up with our own way of communicating over food. What are some memories you have from your travels where food was a conduit across cultural and language barriers?