Folks, I’m in love.
His name is Mr. P. and next to my dear papa’, he is the man of my dreams.
There’s a lot of love in this world and I’m blessed to have a lot of it in my life. I’m blessed with a beautiful family and some pretty amazing friends.
One of my very dearest and sweetest friends (she’s my little sister now because I said so) invited me to her family home to enjoy a dinner prepared by her father, a chef by training.
Actually. Wait. That’s not right. He’s not a chef by training. He’s a chef by nature, he just also happened to choose to study cooking.
As he rightly pointed out over dinner, cooking is about passion and he’s got it all.
Mr. P. is ADORABLE with capital letters, bold, italics, squiggly lines, exclamation marks and every other punctuation point you can imagine.
And I was his honoured guest.
Here’s what he made for me. Be jealous.
He flirted with me over a sublime lobster bisque with chunks of lobster meat.
He impressed me with a crisp Ceasar salad (homemade dressing, thank you very much).
He wooed me with Beef Wellington (with my initial on it … I mean come on!) accompanied by braised endive and spinach-stuffed tomato.
He had me at dessert – a poached peach with vanilla ice cream and chocolate balsamic reduction.
When a man poaches a peach for you because he knows you don’t like pears, that’s love people.
Mr. P., thank you for sharing your beautiful food with me. Thank your for raising your two incredible daughters.
Thank you for reminding me that love is out there and always worth it. In all its forms.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ciao!
8 comments
Tina Culbertson
I don’t know what I love more – the food or your story. Inspiring!
Valerie @ Sex, Food, and Rock & Roll
This is quite possibly the sweetest Valentine’s post I’ve ever read!
Rebecca
Thank you for this beautiful post.
If I could add: just over three years ago, Mr. (Papa) P. had a massive stroke and, in the months that followed, it was unclear if he would be able to function in the kitchen the way he once had.
I watched him prepare this meal, including rolling out and shaping the dough for the Wellington (not to mention adding the “I”) with only one steady hand. He has always reminded me–now more than ever–that if you love something, you never, ever give it up … and it will always bring you joy.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Jill Mant~a SaucyCook
Ok, so I was quite moved by your post and the divinely inspired meal that Mr. P made for you. I had quite a few things I was going to say until I read Rebecca’s comment and was moved to tears. Please send Mr. P a hug for me and tell him that he is inspirational.
maria
I love your new look! Isn’t it wonderful to have people like Mr. P in your life — this is what living is about — family, friends, health, and good food! Thanks for sharing.
joey
What a lovely dinner! You are lucky to have such wonderful friends
Mr. P is truly an inspiration!
Food Service Revit
That is wonderful. Kind of makes me want to build up my cooking a little. Beef wellington is just a-whole-lot of awesome. So sweet. The peaches instead of pears was the best part for me. Thoughtful, definitely a keeper.
MamaFati
Congratulation for this nice blog!
Have a good day, MamaFati