gourmet circa 1981

cc

welcome back to the left coast. i'm dreaming of your duck and pea shoot dumplings ... surely there is somewhere in this city where they make a shredded bbq duck dumpling?!?

i wanted to share with you an ever so brief moment of joy i experienced recently, one that was oh so quickly replaced by the ongoing despair i feel for our dear, departed gourmet magazine -

unbelievably, i was fortunate enough to happen upon a stash of vintage gourmets, circa 1981.

with trembling hands i caressed their faded covers, turning each page and waiting for that moment of transport, that instant where i realize that i too can create an elegant yet casual feast for a dozen or so of my closest friends. that my table can be artfully arranged with a witty table scape, the utilitarian transformed by a previously unconsidered juxtaposition of figurine to salt cellar. that i can effortlessly prepare an elegant and amusing meal, served family style, simple dishes elevated by a thoughtful presentation, by clean flavours. fresh, seasonal, local, all coming together blah blah blah:

chicken breasts in saffron sauce with aspic?????

served with (gasp) crescent rolls, sans irony?????

the eighties, a culinary trend i am not yet ready to revisit.

ruth, you were magic.

where are you now?

oh yeah, here.

more soon.

s