Hey Allen, great news on the visit, and 6 months sounds about right. Keep your water handy and remember to try small bites first. Jack said that his jaw muscles got tired very easily in the beginning so don't worry if that happens. It's like any other muscle you need to build back up. You may only be able to eat a little bit at first. The dip - and sauce in general - does help. The biotene mouth gel right before eating might help. There's also a tea called throat coat that isn't bad, and prescription medications to stimulate saliva. But mostly it just takes time to see what comes back. Be patient, it's pretty early in your recovery. Good luck.
Regards JoAnne