Gastronomical Story - Essay Example

Gastronomical essay Gastronomical essay It was finally August! When it got to this time of the year, I would usually get a vacation from my place of work for about a month. Anyone who gets a break from the hustle and bustle of the office must know how to use every minute of a vacation whenever they get it. Come Saturday evening, the second day into my vacation, I moved from Vitoria, headed for an adventure around my country. I value visiting the countryside, but this time round, I was willing to devote the better part of my free month to touring my country. I promised myself to visit my folks and grandparents a week towards the end of the vacation, and smiled at that. As a quantity surveyor, my employer company would usually sponsor trips to other countries around the world, so travelling outside was the last idea in mind. While in Brazil, one would never fall short of places to visit. I had so many places in mind, and wanted to make to at least ten of them. After travelling after a few hours from Vitoria, I landed in Ouro Preto. The town was an old colonial empire; well known for its preservation of some Portuguese architecture. The amazing thing about this particular town is that the upcoming buildings should adhere to the historical standards that have been embraced by the city. I also got to visit Teatro Amazonas, an opera house found in Manaus. Manaus is the heart of the Amazon Forest. The amazing thing about Teatro Amazonas is possibly how the building was put up. Its furniture came from Paris, the steel used to build it was from England and marble from Italy. The house had been closed for ninety years after losing its main source of income. I visited many places thereafter, while getting to learn more about my home country. The photographs I took tell stories of all the fun I had. All the adventure I had, made me feel like I had taken enough rest to lead me through a complete working year. The beautiful landscapes, wildlife and visits to some exquisite Islands were awesome. I even got to learn that some islands provide excellent sites for snorkelling and diving. Well, I doubt I would be found participating in any of the two activities, but watching from afar sure was fun! It was unbelievable how fast three weeks went by. I was going to Salvador to visit my family, though it was going to be a surprise. It was going to be a long journey, so I found a comfortable seat in a comfortable bus, since I could not drive myself over such a long distance. Brazil, I thought, is one country that is characterised by palm trees and pleasant climate. It was hard to find a part of this country that one would not marvel at if one would be visiting for the first time. The mere thought of all the places I had visited made me close my eyes picturing all the beautiful places I had been to, and I suddenly felt a surge of pride boil up in me. All these thoughts made me drift into a moment of sleep since when I woke up, the sandy beaches of sweet Salvador had already started coming into view. It was almost four in the evening. I had been on travelling for close to five hours since the last time I had a look at my wristwatch, it was around half past ten in the morning. Half an hour later, I got off the bus. It was going to be about a ten-minute walk home. I was already feeling anxious to see everyone. I imagined how old my grandmother had become. Memories of how we would sneak from home to go for a dive in the beach suddenly came to mind. I actually felt like I had been away for centuries. Memories of my childhood were funny and painful at the same time. I cannot forget how we gave our mother a hard time while we sneaked and she did not know where to find us. We would show up covered in white sand, and serious spanking would follow. It was painful to remember all these things because none of them could be repeated, now that one had to face being an adult and all the responsibilities that come along with adulthood. There was a cool breeze that swept through my hair, making it feel feather-light. Actually, it made my head feel fresh. All the memories that came along with the short walk made me feel nostalgic; I thought I felt a tear at the corner of my eye. The palm trees blew in harmony with the wind. It actually felt like they were worshipping the skies since some of them were so tall, they almost looked infinite. The evening sun gave a golden effect on the whole scene. It somewhat looked like a big yellow flashlight lighting some beautiful paintings in a large hall of art. My line of thoughts was cut short but a sudden shrill scream. The adrenaline in me had already alerted my feet. I was actually almost running, until I saw my niece. She was almost ten, and she was running towards me so fast, she tripped severally. I must say that I was thrilled to see her. When the others realised my presence, the whole place went wild. It felt good to be home! After exchanging pleasantries, we had to finally catch up on all the time we had been apart; about a year. The place was quiet and serene, away from all the hooting and loud music. I do not really like silence, but this kind of silence, with happy voices spicing it up made my mind feel at ease. I had a chance to re-unite with some of my old friends. We reminded each other of all the times we played mischievous games and laughed at it. It all felt like the olden days, only we were adults. My grandmother lived a short distance from home, so I briefly excused myself to go visit her. I went along with my childhood friend, Sasha. I must say that a meal from my grand mom would be quite exquisite. Her expertise at cooking, combined with all those years of cooking had made her excellent at it. The meals she usually made were one of a kind. Her special dish was a meal of rice and beans. She actually had a secret recipe to making that exact dish. A slow walk along the sandy beaches to her place while talking about how the place was without me with Sasha was a refreshing experience. The warm breeze felt smooth and silky on the skin. The sea looked great and mighty under the golden sun. It had a deep blue hue that was quite compelling. It almost felt necessary to take a swim. The way the sea linked to the sky made it feel like the earth was one great blue ball. I suddenly questioned how I had survived being away from home for so long. The palm trees, the white sandy beaches, the ocean and the setting sun were such a breathtaking experience. Each detail present in the vicinity played its part in making the place altogether beautiful. When we finally got to my grandmother’s place, it was already a little dark. She was not surprised to see us, so I thought that she had already been informed about my coming. I could not remember how young she looked for her age. It seemed like her cooking was also doing well for her. She welcomed us warmly, each with coconut milk. Her cottage was right next to the beach, so we relaxed on the palm- mats that had been laid for us and continued marvelling at the beauty of the place. The feeling was wonderfully crazing, almost boiling up to a scream to appreciate the beauty. I think my friend saw the fire in my eyes since for a moment she looked at me with an amazed face. My grandmother had offered to make us her special dish; rice and beans. After around an hour, dinner was ready. We gathered at the table, ready for dinner. I had really missed eating my grandmothers special, and had already started drooling. The aroma was so heavenly; it made my stomach rumble. The rice and beans came along with lettuce and some delicious-looking chicken. The lettuce had been braised, and the chicken was shiny golden. I would be understating if I said that the food was delicious. The bean stew had been cooked with sweet pepper, tomatoes and carrots. The rice, on the other hand had been prepared with some garlic and onions, had been sautéed and had a burst of chicken flavour. I assume some chicken soup was added to the rice. The rice flakes were so nicely separated from each other, they were almost countable. The rice had some green onions that gave it a pleasant green and white blend of colour, which served as a perfect appetiser. A spoonful of the rice and beans was so delicious it was almost tempting to swallow the food without chewing, in anticipation to have the next mouthful (Liu, 2011). The bean stew was nicely thick and had a rich red taunt, courtesy of the tomatoes. The stew was not too fatty and the black beans were nicely cooked. The beans were cooked until they were so soft and smooth, they did not require chewing. I could not tell all the spices that had been used in the bean stew, but whatever was used gave a nice combination of flavours, enough to awaken the dead taste buds of an alcoholic. The food was served a little hot, which made it easier to enjoy it. The chicken itself was cooked with coriander, rosemary, and some chilli to spice it up. Its flesh was neither too soft nor too tough and it made chewing enjoyable. The chicken had been dry- fried with the above ingredients, and could have been possibly cooked using its natural fat. On this occasion, the use of a fork and knife was nearly impossible. The chicken was so delicious; the use of a fork and knife would merely make me too impatient to have the next bite. I pulled at the meat until the drumsticks were nearly bare, as bare as a bone that had been exposed to some scorching sun for some weeks (Fajans, 2012). It was hard to decide on what to eat first, the chicken or the rice and beans. Upon completion of the meal, I was really determined to learn how to make the meal, or to at least watch it being made to pass it on to my future wife (Wilk & Barbosa, 2012). The last few moments of our evening were spent talking about the meal. Rice and beans is a staple food for the Brazilians, considering its affordability. How it is cooked and the ingredients used vary from place to place. The type of beans also matters, and on this occasion, black beans made the bean stew. This meal was particularly exceptional because of the spices used and the method used to cook it, not forgetting my grandmother’s expertise on culinary experiences. The meal was equally nostalgic. It reminded me of all the times I would run away from home, just to take dinner at my grandmother’s place. Later that evening, we lit a bonfire and talked about the meal. The countless efforts to let the secret recipe to my grandmother’s cooking out proved futile. Of all the experiences I had during the one-month vacation, visiting home was the best, and the meal was definitely the best I had tasted in a long while. References Wilk, R. R & Barbosa, L. (2012). Rice and Beans: A Unique Dish in a Hundred Places, London: Berg. Liu, J. (2011). Chinese Food, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chapman, P. (2007). India- Food & Cooking: The Ultimate Book on Indian Cuisine, London. Fajans, J. (2012). Brazilian Food: Race, Class and Identity in Regional Cuisines, London: Berg. Read More