Soul Food

Some things really do get better with age, and I have to say that an old friendship is my favourite of them all. There is nothing better than sharing time, or better yet food and drink, with old friends as you catch up and soak in the comfort that comes from being with someone who knows you. Touching base with many of my old friends this past week inspired me to share some favourite food memories, in hopes that might inspire you to enjoy the same feeling across a dinner table or picnic blanket. So, here we go…

A very dear girlfriend and I do much of our best catching up over steaming cups of homemade latte. She has the best little machine in the world and so the deal is, when I visit her, she makes the coffees and I clean the machine. (It was the best way I could think of to thank her for putting me up time and again over the years, and it has become a symbol of how symbiotic our relationship is.) Sometimes we have bagels or a bowl of cereal with the coffee, but sometimes just having your hands around the cup and being able to share a story or two is enough to recharge your soul. The recipe that makes me think of Sue is always crumble… she, like me, sometimes uses the fruit that is nearing the end of its days as the filling, but the inspiration I loved was when she put bananas in with the other plums and apples and stuff.

Another friend of long standing called me up this week and we got to catch up a bit. I don’t want to call him an “old friend” but he has known me since I was a kid and as a result there are plenty of good memories. When he called our house his greeting when I answered the phone was, “So, how’s your sex life?” I was ten years old – I didn’t even know what a sex life was! He was one of those adults that always treated me like a regular person, even though he still calls me “kid”. Ever since then when I hear David’s voice on the phone, it makes me smile. He is a part of my extended family – the part that extends to those non-blood relations that are as natural as your immediate family. I am comfortable having last-minute dinner guests because I grew up with people like David, who might just drop by and was only too welcome to stay. We would do the same at his house. A big hug for you, my friend.

The last old friend I heard from is a dog friend. If you have a dog, you know what I mean if you are not a dog person you will just have to trust me when I say that four-legged people can provide a special connection for two-legged ones in a magical way. Such is the case with John and I, for without Riley wandering across the field one day to say hi to Satchmo we would never had met and what a shame that would be. I spent many a morning at Kits Point sharing quality time with a man I recognized more from his yellow slicker and his Irish Terrier than for his reputable standing in the community. Our four-legged friends of those days are only with us in spirit now, but those shared memories will last more than a lifetime. And of course, I would have to say that a good dog biscuit would be the food I think of here… many a treat was left on the running board of my old 4Runner that had a special place in Mo’s heart as well as her tummy. But I have also raised many a glass of good red wine in honour of such a friendship. Cheers to you, John, and to the memories of all those mornings on the Point.

Food is what brought Martin and I together, and it is something you know from us is certainly a passion in our lives. What fuels that passion is being able to share it with loved ones. I hope you have the chance to catch up with an old friend or two sometime soon the ambiance of having those around you who love you with all your foibles is the best recipe for comfort food that I know.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.