These early trips are filled with delight, which continues over the course of my travels.

The delight is always connected to discovery.

And often, in my case, the discovery is connected to things I get to taste.

It doesn't have to be fancy food. It can be utterly simple and cheap.

Every time I taste something delicious, what fascinates me is who came up with the idea.

What can I learn about it? What does it say about the people who made it?

There's so much to the culture of food that makes me feel alive, how it grows, how it brings people together, food's ability to express our identity, community, creativity, our values.

In today's episode, world-famous restaurateur Danny Meyer takes us back to where all began for him,

a family trip to Europe which opened his young eyes to what the experience of eating food together

could be like.

In this series, we blend immersive first-person stories with mindfulness prompts

to help you restore yourself at any time of the day.

I'm Rohan and I'll be your guide on this episode of Meditative Story.

Thank you. I'll be your guide on this episode of Meditative Story. From time to time, we'll pause the story ever so briefly for me to come in with guidance

for a deeper connection to the story and what's happening

in your own experience as you listen.

The body relaxed.

The body breathing.

Your senses open, your mind open. Meeting the world.

Just before my 12th birthday, my dad who was in the travel business back in St. Louis, found

himself negotiating to lease two different hotels in Rome.

The good news for me and my family was that his negotiations were taking place not only

...