MANNERS AND OTHER MATTERS

A gift from my son, published 1971 My son recently returned from a brief holiday in Italy.  He is now in his mid 20’s. With his sister and me he first visited in 1997 when  the three of us travelled through the UK and Europe for six weeks so that I could show the children the wider world.  As their father is an Italian-Australian it was important to me that they knew of their heritage…my French/English background and their Italian background.  Needless to say it was a wonderful  and very bonding trip.  My son also visited Italy in 2005 when he attended a language school in Florence with his father for two months.  So he was not unfamiliar with the language and the culture, and so a great help to his travelling “mate”. I never expect gifts from my children when they are travelling, or at any other time, actually.  But my son bought me the most thoughtful of gifts which he found in a little bookshop in Rome and as he said:  “Mumma I just had...

Mia with the heart of palm in Royale Taikitumu Villas, Rarotonga May 2011  (photo author)  My last few months have been complemented by food.  Firstly, I had my companion visiting me on his annual trip from Switzerland.  He loves my cooking and so I was able to try out my favourite and new recipes with an appreciative audience. Tasmanian salmon with aioli (photo author) Then to my arrival in Rarotonga where I scoured the markets for some beautiful fresh produce, and where I encountered for the first time the wonderment of real “heart of palm” which can only be extracted when a  coconut palm tree has to be cut down…a tragedy perhaps but a privilege to be able to  eat its heart with a light vinegar dressing in which to dip it before welcoming its texture and exquisite taste….a true taste sensation.  And enjoying such a morsel while at the same time winning, with my companion as my partner, the boules competition at the   Royale ...

I have just finished an evening with great friends for dinner.  I love cooking French-style  food here in Australia and the opportunity to get wild fresh  French asparagus (@$99 a kilo!) and wild French  mixed mushrooms (@$159 a kilo!) was a really good reason to put it all together with  a chicken and a lovely recipe from the Jura region.  My friends were those who really know my cooking and enjoy sitting around my table.  My ex husband and father of my children, my 24 year old son (who provided wonderful French wines to complement the meal) and my dear friend Chrissie, who has lived around the world and is very tolerant....as she needed to be tonight! Contrary to all the rules of polite conversation we discussed religion, sex and politics - sometimes at an interesting level of intensity between the ex and me!  But how nice it is, after a night of pleasant food, wine and stimulating conversation to be able to farewell my guests with a warm ki...