The unlikely small talk expert

After loading up my Costco haul into the Lyft cab and heading south on the FDR Drive, the driver Joanna said to me: "I hope you don't mind my asking, but why did you buy all that oil?"

In the trunk were four huge extra virgin olive oil containers and another four avocado oil containers.

I explained that this haul would last me the next four to six months of cooking.

She replied that she always buys olive oil, avocado oil, AND coconut oil to use on her feet AND cook rice with because "that's how it tastes so good in my country" (Dominican Republic). "You can use coconut oil on everything. Your hands, your feet, you can put it over potatoes..."

"Can I put it in my car to get better mileage?"

She laughed. "Sure."

I noticed her radio was playing Caribbean music very low, so I told her to turn it up. "You like this?" she asked.

"Absolutely. This is New York. This is the music of the city."

"You know Dominicans like to play music very loud."

"Oh, I know!"

Joanna said she had her radio programmed to several different stations, depending on what customers were riding in her car.

A lot of people really hate small talk. Some of them are really bad at it.

I am convinced the best NYC cab drivers are probably small talk experts because that's how they get better tips and reviews.

You can learn how to break the ice in any situation from them. And maybe learn

a few recipes too.