I like how lifelessly you portrayed food to be without the ability to taste it.
How dull it was no matter what the meal looked like.
It served its one purpose, and that was it.

Though with that, there's another argument that rises.
We don't like the foods we like simply for the sake of their taste, but also their structure. Imagine the taste of chips in the form of a soup. Or the taste of cheese with the structure of celery.
We associate certain foods with certain mouthfeel - some of us like something that feels crunchy, some like something that feels like a squid. haha :D
Though, yes, the entire experience of a meal consists of both. Or should I say all three.
Taste, food texture, and company.

I'm very happy you included that one last variable in your story, because it really does make a bland meal taste great. ;)

Thank you very much for your entry!