"If your regrets linger,
if you cannot find inspiration in solitude,
then you still have much to learn from the
writers and poets and the cooks
on becoming the artist of your own life...
you can never re-create the past.
But you can shape your own future.
And you can make a Cake"
~ Jacqueline Duval, in
'Reckless Appetite a Culinary Romance
Some of my fondest memories are of cooking for Gaye.
I loved to experiment and she was forever a willing
Guinea Pig for my culinary creations.
She wouldn't make it as a critic though for she loved
everything I served and boasted to all our friends
on what a fine cook I was!
I loved to experiment and she was forever a willing
Guinea Pig for my culinary creations.
She wouldn't make it as a critic though for she loved
everything I served and boasted to all our friends
on what a fine cook I was!
(Having an unabashed and biased fan at your side
is something that I hope everyone can
cherish and experience in their lifetime -
is something that I hope everyone can
cherish and experience in their lifetime -
it is not under rated)
Breaking Bread with Gaye was very special.
Our Love, Our Friendship, Our Bond, Our Experiences
were surrounded by food at every stage.
19 months have passed and I still have not found my footing
or re-claimed my passion as it comes to cooking
or just enjoying a good meal. I still cook,
but now I just go through the motions and
make stuff for the sake of cooking.
or re-claimed my passion as it comes to cooking
or just enjoying a good meal. I still cook,
but now I just go through the motions and
make stuff for the sake of cooking.
No Passion, No Love, No Inspiration
God, another reason to miss Gaye with every fiber of my DNA
Yesterday, I invited my mother over for dinner
and made Gaye's favorite dish.
and made Gaye's favorite dish.
Linguine with White Claim Sauce.
(In fact, that was the last meal I cooked for Gaye
on the Saturday before she passed)
on the Saturday before she passed)
Yes, it was very emotional.
I cried a great deal and perhaps the sauce
was a lil salty from my tears.
I cried a great deal and perhaps the sauce
was a lil salty from my tears.
My mother, of course, said it was fantastic.
I took a plate over to my Neighbor,
Valeria. She said she will never cook for me again,
because it cannot match what I prepared for her.
I took a plate over to my Neighbor,
Valeria. She said she will never cook for me again,
because it cannot match what I prepared for her.
(Two new unabashed and Biased fans, Thank God)
So as I embark on this dark & scary journey
to shape my future and somehow find inspiration to enjoy life,
I must tell myself that I am not alone.
to shape my future and somehow find inspiration to enjoy life,
I must tell myself that I am not alone.
I have friends,
I have family,
I even pray that I have Gaye holding my hand,
guiding me to where I need to go (and eat)!
guiding me to where I need to go (and eat)!
(Perhaps, she is taking a piece of bread
and tasting the White Claim Sauce?)
and tasting the White Claim Sauce?)
(Gaye and I had black lips and teeth for two hours
from the squid ink)
