HUNGRY GERALD

Pleasantly cool and sunny day on Prince Edward Island. HG/BSK; son Jeremy; grandson Haru and granddaughter Teru; gifted daughter, Lesley R. and her brilliant husband, Massimo R., gathered around the dining table in HG/BSK/RIVA’s oceanfront home. The group awaited a superlative Japanese meal (HG had hoped for it but it would have been unmannerly to request it). The meal was in the talented hands of Jeremy’s wife and business partner, exquisite Maiko and Maiko’s Mom (Mom was the chef and Maiko was the sous chef.) On the dining table was a platter containing artfully mounded portions of cool soba noodles (They went into bowls of cold, dashi broth and accompanied the astounding array of tempura). Maiko and Mom stayed in the kitchen, frying morsels and serving them hot after seconds of cooking. Almost dazed with culinary pleasure, the table mates ate and ate while Maiko and Mom did their tempura magic. First came slices of vegetables (Asparagus, peppers, zucchini, etc.–there were also “piquillos al padron”, the small peppers that are usually pan fried with garlic. HG ate a mildly picante piquillo with pleasure). Then came seafood tempura–shrimp, haddock and scallops. Maiko and Mom never sat down and the group was concerned that they did not eat—not to worry, said Maiko, they ate the best bites. Everyone applauded the masterful cooks–many bows–all grateful for the masterpiece meal.