You had a work colleague who, we can assume with the same background as yours, delved into Indian cuisine through his partner and enjoyed discovering new flavo

You had a work colleague who, we can assume with the same background as yours, delved into Indian cuisine through his partner and enjoyed discovering new flavors - and all you remember is how annoying he was. I can’t fathom how a professional cook/chef would not be curious enough to try and understand his excitement. Unless you worry more about being a fac-simile of a French chef stereotype than actually care about food, it’s history and the wonderful experiences it can create.