I can measure my life in meals I've eaten, dishes I've tried, and the people I've shared them with.Which brings me to the most memorable meal of my life, back in the summer of 2005.It was a hot July when two of my cousins and I decided to embark on a rail journey through Iran. We left the capital city Tehran, excited and eager, in our early twenties and on a mission to explore our heritage.Heading first to city of Kashan known for its carpets and silks, then to the historic village of Abyaneh and ending in Yazd. A city that tastes to 5th century and was described by Marco Polo as ‘The noble city of Yazd’. Along the way, we visited sites and monuments, stayed in traditional hotels, and, of course, ate.From Zoroastrian fire temples to traditional Zoorkhaneh (a House of Strength), our trip was filled with rich cultural experiences. But it was the meal we had one morning, before heading to the sites for the day, that I will never forget.Finding a cool quiet spot by a river, our octogenarian guide pulled over and, opening the boot of his car, he rolled out a Persian carpet for us to sit down.We sat down, and he slowly pulled out our meal from his bags: cucumber, tomatoes, grapes, feta cheese, lavaash flatbread, and a watermelon.The bread was slightly dry, so our guide took it to the flowing, crystal clear water nearby and sprinkled drops on it to revive it for our meal.And so, we sat, slowly peeling our cucumbers and sprinkling them with salt; wrapping the feta cheese and juicy tomato in the lavaash into ‘logmeh’ (bites) and enjoying the cool summer morning before the heat set in.My photos from nearly two decades ago may be blurry, but those memories of a simple meal, filled with flavor, quietly enjoyed with my cousins in our motherland, are vivid and unforgettable.Sometimes a meal isn’t just about the food, but about who you are with, where you are, and the journey. This simple Persian breakfast, shared with loved ones in the heart of Iran, is a moment etched in my heart and soul forever.“Memories are hidden in the flavors of foods” – Persian Proverb.