Before I reveal my favorite food memory. I have to say that I was blessed to have a mother who knew the importance of exposing their offsprings to other cultures through food. I'm also very lucky to have a father who studied culinary arts. I believe this helped mold me into the foodie that I am today.Back to my favorite food memory. I was about 12 or 13 years old and my mother decided it was time to introduce me to Japanese cuisine because I would always see pretty pictures of sashimi on menus and I would always ask her about it.There was one afternoon after school my mother took me to this cute little Japanese restaurant near Union Square in Manhattan (here in NYC). It wasn't too fancy it was just right for a first experience. Not too stuffy, just right. At that time this was a huge deal for be cause it was time! Time to try the pretty food! I was so excited to try out the chopsticks. I will say I did a good job (you can confirm this with my mama).She started off by ordering California rolls for me. Don't give me side eye reader. I think that was a great introduction for a youngin'.I LOVED every bit of the rolls.Little did I know many years later I would be dining at the hippest Japanese restaurants in New York and Las Vegas.At this time I was "living my best life". I was trying the pretty food and I wanted more. We tried another roll. I can't remember which one but it may have been spicy tuna but I'm not sure about that. But on the second roll before my mother could explain what the wasabi and ginger was for. I plopped the piece of wasabi in my mouth.Allow me to explain.Growing up Caribbean you tend to eat avocados on the regular. The California roll contained a small piece and I don't know why my brain connected this but I figured oh the chef was so nice to put a piece of avocado on the side for maybe a palate cleanser. Boy was I wrong.The fire in my nose and my entire face spoke volumes. Tears were rolling my face. My mother tried to stop me but I was too fast. And my friends reading this, from that day forward I either ask what certain items are or I smell my food before I put it in my mouth.It is my favorite memory because I learned to take it easy when it comes to new foods and it was my first time trying one of my now favorite cuisines.