Tuesday 14 April 2009

Japan...

I thought this was like some Japanese script... some vertical zen-like squiggles that could be a haiku.

I'm beginning to fulfill a dream. I have wanted to visit Japan for many years now and the opportunity has not presented itself; until now.

Tomorrow to Paris, then to Tokyo, then onward to Fujiyama and eventually Kyoto and Takayama. Zen gardens and temples await.

But I can't...

Monday 13 April 2009

Aurèle's Risotto...

And this works.....

1 volume of Carnaroli or Arborio rice... to
3 volumes of good stock... NO MORE
chop up some garlic and an onion or a shallot or two and sweat 'em out.
Add the stock and bring to a boil. Turn heat down immediately and simmer for 15 minutes. Leave the pot sitting for at least 5 minutes.Check the seasoning.

Check the rice is cooked as you want. Give it a stir; add some freshly grated parmesan and it should be perfect... it was for us last night.

I grabbed a bag of huge lumps of Porcini/Ceps from the freezer and put them straight into a pan as the instructions said, without any added oil or butter until all the moisture had evaporated. I even put them into a non-stick pan but still they stuck. Dried and rehydrated mushrooms will always be best. Then I added some olive oil and a small clove of peeled garlic and a handful of finely chopped parsley.

I served the mushrooms beside the risotto rice and sprinkled some freshly grated parmesan on the rice.

Bloody great. It was and none of this standing there for forty minutes stirring it until yer arm goes numb....

Aurèle said this is how the Italians do it, and he should know, his parents emigrated here from Italy in 1919, and that was the cooking he was brought up with...

Mijoter....(the best word in the French language...)

Sunday 12 April 2009

There are some days when things just don't go to plan... Thursday 10 April was one of those days. Went to plant some new bushes at a client's chalet, took a little longer than I had hoped and got finished by 12.30pm and home for a bite, a shower, grab passport, the travel documents and at 14.30 jump into the van to go to Geneva and find an office of JTB to buy a couple of exchange orders for Japan Rail passes for when we jet off on Wednesday. and the van broke down. Called OJ who came to pick me up, left the van and drove to the nearest rail station. Next train 16.08 change Annemasse, arrive Geneva 17.00 or so, find some Swiss change, catch a tram into Cornavin, walk down Rue de Lausanne and get to the offices and manage to buy the ticket seconds before they closed the shop... and just then Mrs Pondlife enters...

What obliging efficient people and a great first introduction to the Japanese who could not have been more helpful.

After the rush I needed a beer and across the street was Les Brasseurs for L'agave au citron vert...wonderful. What the hell is Agave? Luckily Mrs Pondlife had driven into work that day and so the car was parked below the station and off we went relieved that Easter would not be full of worry due to bad timing of arranging our own travel plans...

Feeling hungry? How about perch and chips on the way home? Fresh out the lake. Well, not the chips of course, they'd be soggy.

I know a little place. Anthy. Les Pieds Dans L'Eau ?

Fabulous sunset...

Feels like holiday time...

Friday 3 April 2009

Not quite infinity...



A different kind of Boat Race









Winter relaxed its grip and the part of the world that is here played in the spring sunshine of April Fool's day...
The swan won.