the worst masquerades as the best

Maybe we don't actually like the things we think we enjoy. We spend our lives believing we love something, only to realize we often never understood what it truly entails.

I made some feta pasta yesterday and I bought some fancy imported feta. 100% sheep’s milk. We tasted it and almost spit it out.

Because it was fancy and imported and 100% sheep’s milk, we assumed it was the best of the best.

This was a shock, but real feta is very, very musky. It tastes a bit like a barnyard.

But that wasn’t the problem.

The problem was wtf are they putting in the fake ass cheese we were getting before? What is this other feta masquerading around with these greek ass flags on them? What are they actually eating over there!?

It tastes entirely different.

I was able to quickly acquire the taste and enjoy the rest of the meal, it was just a momentary shock. But the feelings of betrayal by Big Feta stings.

Apparently, most feta sold here involves cow’s milk. It’s still feta in the sense that it is brined or whatever the hell it is. The dumbed down American one is relatively mild and inoffensive, and the actual sheep’s milk version has a much more complex taste and mouthfeel. It is a completely different texture.

I will give actual feta a few more tries, as I, personally, believe we should try everything at least three times.

What are some things you have tried that disappointed you? I challenge you to give it at least two more tries. This line of thinking has really expanded the activities I’m interested in and my palate!

Often we are in shock from how jarring the reality differs from our expectations, so we don’t give things a fair chance. Things we love or may come to love.

First impressions aren’t just for people, and they can leave us with a less fulfilled and nuanced existence. And often the first time doing anything is just shit.

Or even worse: the first time is spectacular. That’s the problem with beginner’s luck. What if your first positive impression is wrong? What if you actually hate bowling, it destroys your wrist, and the food is shit? This is the same thing a con man uses: you can easily game first impressions. That doesn’t make them fact.

So idk, go try 100% sheep’s milk feta if you eat that sort of thing.

Peace and hope your weekend is banging,

Lucas