Within minutes of knowing me you will probably discover that I love food. Cooking it, experimenting with it, eating it, serving it – there is just so much to enjoy and it is one of the few things I can talk about for hours (should there happen to be any poor souls in earshot). Or not. It really won’t stop me.
I love the discovery, the knowledge that combining spices can release an alchemy of intoxicating flavours. The mastery, the textures, the heady aromas. It calms me – the rhythmic chopping, the requirement of presence, the glass of wine that often accompanies the experience.
And yet, the joy of cooking isn’t unleashed to its greatest potential if you just create a meal for yourself. Sure, the flavours might be there and it might even be the most delicious and glorious creation. But food takes on a whole new elevation when served to people. It connects us – creates warmth and relationship. A table is a place where we gather – equals, young and mature, sitting together and sharing life.
We hosted a Turkish Feast at our place over the weekend. It is our fourth in the experiment we call The Enchanted Table – having journeyed now to the rich and buttery location of France, the zingy and zesty Portugal, a more intimate and hearty Italian affair and now to the spice markets and sizzling flavours of Istanbul. While it might sound like an insurmountable amount of work, it actually continues to astound me how straightforward these nights really are. I research the region and provide links to options for starters, mains, sides, desserts and drinks and these very dishes appear as if by magic on the night!
The real work is in the transformation of the house to host a sit down dinner for twenty adults. We lug in the custom-built wooden outdoor tables and bench seats, heave our usual kitchen table outside and create an area for the kids to eat in. I spend minutes here and there thinking about the evening for weeks prior, but Dave usually comes on board in a rush on the day. For him it can feel a little like being blindsided because suddenly there are so many tasks that have to be completed at once. He (mostly) takes it in his stride, and bursts properly into host mode when the first guest arrives.
He whisks the older kids away so that I can have a morning of cooking in peace, and it feels remarkably more relaxed than the usual dinner experience. I choose to make Lahmacun (a Turkish spiced lamb pizza), slow-cooked green beans, baklava and a plain pilaf (a last minute addition that used up the leftover stock from the beans). As for drinks, I make a Turkish Sour cocktail (pomegranate juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup and bourbon) and a Watermelon and Pomegranate Punch for the non-drinkers.
Hudson is overcome with excitement and begs to help me set the table, tongue poking out in concentration as he carefully places the plates and cutlery. He spontaneously hugs me as the night approaches “This looks really great, Mum!”
Perhaps it is the shift of furniture, maybe it is the mingling of delicious scents as guests come laden through the doors. It might be the air of anticipation that builds as we begin to savour appetisers and drinks. The laughter, the conversation, music winds through the crowd, kids taking full advantage of distracted parents to grab handfuls of chips and fill up their glass with far too much cordial. By the time we are sitting together at the long wooden table, the party is already in full swing. Friends reconnect, new connections are made, the connoisseurs among us discuss the finer points of the cuisine.
Kofte, thyme-spiced chicken, vegetable fritters, parsley and feta pies, beetroot dip, yoghurt dip, Lahmacun, Burek, Turkish bread, eggplant dip, slow-cooked green beans, rice dishes, braised beans, chicken skewers, baklava, Turkish Delight, lime and polenta cake, sour cherry and almond cake, a lavish selection of fruit…. We rise from the table slowly, filled with the satisfaction that only comes from sharing a hearty meal together.
More and more we are realising the power of a good communal feast to provide connection and belonging. It is the perfect basis to meet new kindred spirits and bring together otherwise disparate groups of people. Our grand plan is to continue these monthly, though I suspect the pressures of life might dampen this somewhat. As for the next trip, it might be a jaunt to Japan… or perhaps an adventure in Argentina… the jury is still deliberating!
If you love food, wine and good company and you would be interested in coming along to one of our feast nights (or just finding more about them) just let me know and I can add you to our Facebook group! Even if you aren’t close by, you could always consider hosting your own night – it really isn’t that difficult and I have Turkish and Portuguese menu plans with links to recipes if you are interested. Just get in touch, I always love talking about food and hosting parties!
