There are certain experiences that I feel are only for the not-me, such as travelling to the moon – and having a chef come to my home to prepare a meal. Most unexpectedly, I have the coronavirus to thank for being a very happy participant in a memorable “chef experience,” though the moon visit remains firmly out of my reach.
Whether we succumb to it or not, there is undeniable pressure to celebrate the big round birthdays appropriately. What, then, do we do when lockdown measures rob us of our dreams for the big days, either as the focus of attention or as friends planning to honour the 40th, 50th, 60th birthday of a special person in our lives?
One member of such a group of friends came up with a solution which saw us gathering in the delightful home of the “birthday girl,” being treated to a meal prepared by the competent young chef, Damian Veneruso.
The event put me in mind of “Babette’s Feast,” which is one of my favourite films, although the Scandinavians (my ancestors) are not portrayed in a very flattering light in it.
The pleasures of the day were not only gastronomic. So many livelihoods have been threatened by lockdown restrictions and those affected have had to explore new income-generating ventures. It felt good to support someone who was developing new skills, particularly one as unassuming and endearing as Damian.
One of our number related her first “chef experience” in which a well-known travelling chef liberally salted his demonstration with anecdotes about the luminaries he had fed. Our young chef, on the other hand, kept his ego firmly in check, and maintained an unwavering focus on his guests and the spells he was casting in the kitchen.
Yes, to me, unskilled as I am in culinary arts, what happened in that kitchen was magic, though the others could engage in informed conversation with the master, who imparted useful technical and nutritional information while skillfully demonstrating his preparation methods. We reaped the rewards of his efforts in the shape of exotic little butternut and feta phyllo baskets with a sweet chilli sauce, followed by perfectly cooked beef fillet, accompanied by grilled asparagus and roasted baby tomatoes, served with a balsamic vinegar Hollandaise sauce.
You, dear reader, may feast with your eyes on what I had the privilege to taste – and it was good, very good!
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