Truth be told, I dislike small talk, but it really is a great icebreaker. Often times I bump into a coworker in our kitchen area with his aromatic lunches. A very sweet, adorable man, we’ve shared quick conversations around the microwave. We’re both from hot climates, he from Jamaica and myself from Texas.

There was a week where he made curry and I realized I haven’t had curry in a very long time, nor have I ever made it properly. (I’ve tried a long time ago in Austin, but it didn’t taste the way it should.) He explained to me the kind he makes, and I shared with him my fondness of Indian curries but dislikes of Thai curries (because of the coconut milk I cannot stomach).

Today he swung by my side of the office with a jar of Jamaican curry sauce he bought for me, with the directions right on the jar he says, so I can make it easily at home.

It’s the little things like this that illustrate how great New Yorkers are, and now I can’t wait to make Jamaican curry.