I like to read food magazines because they connect with all my senses, memories, desires and aspirations. Some people like to read novels, current affairs, poetry, scripts… and I like to read food magazines. The impact that food has on people and communities is unbelievable. The combination of different ingredients and cuisines reflects the human capability to work together as a team. Food magazines are great for exploring and explaining to readers how food is connected to our everyday life, from the trivial aspect to the more ritualistic one.

I remember those early years of living in London. I needed to connect with my roots, and the best way to do it was by cooking and encouraging my curiosity for different cultures and their food in the streets of London. At the time, I was unaware of the immensity of British culture. I am not talking about British food – which you might have different opinions about – but their history of colonialism, royalty and rivalry with other developed countries and Europe – the continental countries. My curiosity was overwhelmed by the rich history of the UK. My curiosity and all my sense were not enough to grasp the gist of the city, but the food did always make me feel at easy and sometimes closer to my birthplace and to the warm memories that I created with my love ones.

I felt closer to Ecuador every time I went to the local supermarket and found bananas imported from my country. Although, It was a disappointment to look at the short-term ripeness of the fruit. It was almost green, and I must confess that I never was served or sold a green banana. What would my mum think of it? She would probably show annoyance, and I had just realised I had inherited the same habit. Certain ingredients, like bananas in my case, have the power to take the mind to places and times from the past. Food magazines and street markets do also have the capacity to take my mind back to my country and fill me with joy and pride. I remember feeling happy reading food magazines with plantain recipes or food markets serving cassava chips.

The food in the UK is a reflection of the history of the country and its connection with cultures across the world. Are there any connections between the British and the Ecuadorean cuisines? Pastries, soups and oats are common in the seaside of Ecuador, ‘La Costa’. A quick visit to Greggs, a bowl of porridge or a hot chicken soup from Tesco would take me closer to the shores of Ecuador. The juice company Innocent has a drink similar to The Ecuadorean drink ‘Colada’. The next time you go to your local supermarket, look at the cold drinks section and see if you find the Innocent super smoothie Banana Break. Let me know what you think.

Seasonal cooking is more present in the food choices of foodies, cooks and restaurants. Food magazines contribute to it by sharing recipes with widely available ingredients during the month of their publication. The Food magazine by Waitrose makes it easy for readers to understand what ingredients are in season. The pages of the magazines are full of vibrant colours and short descriptions of the vegetables and fruits in season. They have a selection of recipes to take home with you. Food magazines and cookery books are both my first choice for reading. Still, I mostly get indulged in the contemporaneity of food magazines, the farmers’ stories, the sustainable initiatives, the pairing suggestions, the eateries’ reviews and the inevitable romanticism of classic recipes.

One of the many good things about London life is that you have two options to discover the food scene. You can walk across the city and explore the many coffee shops and restaurants, or you can get your favourite food magazine and read about them sipping a hot drink at the same time. Either way, it is nice to see the food diversity of London and the many cultures which have decided to call London home. I will continue browsing the pages of food magazines to read about the city’s diversity, discover farmers across the country and travel to my country occasionally.

I am coming to the end of this article. I want to connect with you, the immigrant, the traveller, the explorer, the cook and the student who seek entertainment and warmth in the pages of a food magazine. I hope these words help you to continue your journey in or outside of London with a big smile, knowing that home is not far away but in the pages of a food magazine. Now, go back to your world, office, kitchen or commute and think of your next meal.