My family and I enjoyed a delicious paella dinner in the city Saturday night. The occasion was to celebrate my stepson’s birthday (that he happens to share with Fred). In the spirit of celebration, I ordered a pitcher of sangria for the table. To be a bit bold and adventurous I ordered something intriguing on the menu, rose sangria, without questioning the server about it.

The others at the table loved the sangria. From my first taste, I knew something was wrong. There was a taste to it that I did not like. I quietly pushed it aside while everyone else enjoyed it.

At some point in the dinner my daughters noticed that I had not drunk the sangria and questioned me. I honestly told them that there was a taste to it I just did not like. One of my daughters laughed and told me she knew what it was. The sangria had a slight watermelon taste to it, like a watermelon Jolly Rancher. Everyone agreed that there was a hint of that taste in the drink and the puzzle as to why I did not like the sangria was solved.

I like fresh watermelon, but I do not like, at all, any artificial watermelon taste like candy, ices, and, apparently, alcohol. That is one flavor that I just will not eat. The only other food that I really will not eat is cooked carrots. I love raw carrots and can eat a whole bag but once they are a slight bit cooked, I just will not eat them.

Watermelon candy and cooked carrots are two distinct tastes that just turn me off. What are yours?