It started with my younger cousin sending me a screenshot.
“Save this place. The food looks good.”
That was all it took.
I used to think saving restaurants meant I had an actual plan. If someone recommended a new cafe, a hidden noodle stall, or a restaurant with a dish worth trying, I’d tell myself I would visit soon.
Then my photo gallery started telling a different story.
There were screenshots from Instagram posts, pictures sent by friends, saved menus, and random photos of dishes I had no idea how I discovered. Some were places I had walked past before. Others were restaurants on the other side of the island that I kept postponing because the timing never worked out.
Eventually, I realised I had created a collection of meals that existed mostly inside my phone.
The funny thing is, I don’t think I’m collecting restaurants as much as I’m collecting possibilities.
A screenshot from a friend might remind me of a conversation we had. A saved dish might remind me of a place I wanted to visit with someone. Even the restaurants I probably won’t reach become small markers of curiosity.
I’ve seen friends do the same thing. Someone shares a photo of a beautiful dessert, and within seconds, three people have saved it. Nobody knows when they’ll go. Everyone simply wants to remember it.
Maybe saving a restaurant is another way of saying, “I want to experience this someday.”
Of course, not every screenshot becomes a meal. Some will disappear into forgotten folders. Some will stay there for years.
But I like knowing they are there.
Because food is not only about where we have been. Sometimes it is also about the places that keep our curiosity alive.
Looking for more everyday moments, familiar faces, and neighbourhood stories? Have a wander right here and see what you discover.
