HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!
THE RED APRON
Welcome to my January newsletter. As in years past, I have begun the new year telling you about the influences in my life, or in the past year which have influenced my writing. It has been quite eye-opening for me, to dig deep down to discover those answers for myself. But, this past year, I have found that many of my influences have come from . . . yes, my husband. Let’s begin with the story of the red apron!
It was the summer of 2016, when we had the privilege of traveling in France on a week-long wine river cruise along the Bordeaux Rivers. To say it was decadent, is only to scratch the surface, as we were introduced to foods and wines in incomparable settings. But it was at one of the wineries in St. Emilion, that we were offered cooking classes. The experience was magical for me, as I had taken many cooking classes before, and had even, a few years earlier, taken a culinary vacation to Provençe with my sister. So, I was in my glory, once again eager to learn about traditional cuisine while working with fresh from the garden ingredients in new regions with experienced chefs. But this was the first time my husband had joined me in a cooking endeavor.
It must have begun when he donned the red chef’s apron. All participants were given them, of course, but something grabbed hold of him. It was like a tiny flame had been lit which engaged an inner chef neither he, nor I had known existed. I can see him now, standing in the kitchen, with bold white letters stitched across a crimson background, stating, ‘Chateau Ambe Tour Pourret, Grand Cru.’ Later, he purchased the apron as a special souvenir of our grand experience of the Bordeaux region, and for having shared a cooking class together.
Since that class, we have taken several cooking classes together–some at Sur la Table in our own town in California, some while traveling, like in Aix-en-Provence in France, on the Douro River in Portugal, and in Barcelona, Spain. In fact, cooking classes have become an activity we plan around while traveling. We always end up coming home with marvelous new cooking techniques and recipes, of which I have been able to use in not only my books, but in articles on food and travel. Plus, at our family table!
But, somehow, we end up purchasing more new equipment for our kitchen. After that one class in St. Emilion, I thought for sure we would have to rebuild our kitchen to accommodate an induction range. Fortunately, I put that off for now, but then I suddenly had a new KitchenAid mixer. Let me reword that statement. Suddenly HE had a new KitchenAid mixer complete with a new pasta sheet roller, a noodle cutter, and lately a meat grinder and sausage stuffer. (I think it’s a kind of ‘Tim, the Tool-Man Taylor’ syndrome, needing more power.)
As you can imagine, this holiday season, he was hot on the trail of making homemade sausages—sausages of all kinds. Italian, Portuguese, breakfast . . . Plus, he has been “improving” my pasta recipe. (Yes, the one I put into four books, so far, whether French or Italian-influenced.) And I guess I’m okay with that because I have been given time to dive deeper into new recipes or take time to improve old ones.
Yes, we have learned to dance new dances in the kitchen, scurrying around each other, taking turns to crank or hold the pasta sheets, lifting the sausage casings up while the other is grinding the meat, holding the sheets of pasta while inserting fresh sage leaves for lasagna, or helping to fill the Tortelli pasta shells. As our guests can attest, it’s all for a good cause. But, I must tell you, it’s all because of . . . . the red apron!
Seek out your best influences! Incorporate them into your writing, and who knows you may be heading on a whole new life of experiences!
He likes costumes and uniforms. Red apron. Boom.
I enjoyed learning about the influence of the red apron in your newsletter, Carole! I loved the line: "Yes, we have learned to dance new dances in the kitchen, scurrying around each other, taking turns to crank or hold the pasta sheets..." It's so visual! I can just imagine you two with the red aprons to a tango! Happy New Year1