A Great Escape

So I've been going like gangbusters on my thesis which means I've had little time to test recipes or even cook. Tonight's dinner is a roasted chicken (I bought it roasted) and some broccolini I'm throwing into a hot oven after drizzling with olive oil and sprinkling with s+p. I was also home alone this past weekend while my husband had a man-trip with his friends so I got away with eating nectarines, yogurt, toast and caffeine for three days straight. 

The thing with the thesis is now that I'm so immersed in it I can't think about anything else. If I wake up in the middle of the night I'm thinking of things that must be included and I have to make notes because I'm afraid I'll have forgotten the thoughts come morning. 

To give my eyes and fingers a rest from my laptop I treated myself to breakfast, of course keeping to the yogurt and caffeine theme...

And then I saw my neighbor enjoying this - kippers or whole, smoked herring

And I felt like myself again. Why did this fish make me feel like myself? Well, I have a terrible habit of daydreaming. With the thesis my brain hasn't been able to daydream much, until I saw the herring.

When I was little I loved fish. The stinkier, the smellier, the better. Roll up your sleeves, fight for the eyeballs and chew and spit out the bones, loved fish. With a grandfather who was the captain of his fishing boat, fish has always been a staple in my family's household. Then, I got older and more princess like. No more stinky fish for me. I became picky and skinny as a stick. I was lovingly teased as not just a shrimp, but shrimp cocktail. My mother tried to feed me everything under the sun, but then, much to her dismay I ballooned in sixth grade. I was promptly thrown into competitive swimming which afforded me the luxury of eating whatever I wanted in whatever quantity. We won't discuss the situation at present.  

In my late teens I got involved with a guy who used his parents Amex Black like it was going out of style. My eyes were opened to world of fancy foods. Not only that, I learned to order drinks instead of just tap water, and always, always dessert. Which of course today, when you are footing the bill, can turn a reasonable meal into PB&J for the rest of the week! While I'll always be apple pie over apple tart and ribeye on the grill over filet mignon, there is something about the world of fine dining. I learned to love almost everything again. No more picky eater. Fine dining can be the best of everything cooked to perfection, with pressed napkins and polished silverware. It isn't always about the food, but the service and ambience - a great restaurant should transport you to a magical place and tantalize your tastebuds. It can also feel like a rip-off when your expectations aren't met, but that's why I do my homework. Restaurant reviews and talking to foodies. I've written about this place before and not only is the food really good, its a place that always helps me escape. 

So somehow I feel OK about spending fifteen bucks on toast, a cup of yogurt, and a latte. It wasn't really fine dining but in my defense the butter is some of the best I've had (the French kind!), the bread is always perfectly toasted and served with delicious jam, the yogurt is dressed with fresh strawberry compote and granola full of dried fruits and toasted seeds, and the latte is almost as large as a fish bowl. And I've been working really hard...

Comments

[elra]

I am sure your hard work will pay off! I wouldn't mind spend a little bit of money for the good food too.

[The Duo Dishes]

A good meal will change your life. Always for the better. And all of your hard work will show in the end.

[OysterCulture]

Best of luck on the thesis, hope you're getting the info you need. I know what its like to head into the final stretch, its by far the hardest time to stay focused.

Loved this post and it reminded me of our lunch and discussions about gourmet and good food. As you say its the complete package, and the quality cannot be achieved through mass production. Even though you might pay the same $15 at Starbucks, the experience would be no where close! As much as I make my initial decisions based on food, secondary factors such as ambiance and service definitely weigh in.

[Alice]

Is this OUR grandpa who was the captain of his own fishing boat? I knew he was into fishing but I didn't know he had his own boat. I feel like there's big gaps of info I don't know about or own family.

Back to your post though...I look forward to the day when my paycheck is ample enough for me to treat others and myself to EXCELLENT food once in a while. :-)

[gastroanthropologist]

Alice - Yes OUR Grandpa. Fishing was his work - he was even captured by North Koreans who thought he was a spy! Get your dad or my mom to tell you stories. Grandpa is amazing he can pretty much do anything - including knitting a sweater and basket-weaving!

[Lori]

Great post! I agree with you about the fine dining. While I haven't gone too upscale there is something about the art and presentation that makes me want to enjoy all of those flavors. It takes out any feelings of picky-ness.

Your post made me think about enjoying scones with clotted cream and jam outside of Dublin. It was a simple meal and rather expensive by USD breakfast standards, but it was just so good and fresh that it was worth it.

[lisaiscooking]

You deserve it, and it sounds delicious! And, yes, I would say the only bad thing about fine dining is when expectations aren't met.

[Tangled Noodle]

Although I have never written a thesis, I've had my share of waking up in the middle of the night and jotting down a sudden inspiration. Best of luck with your progress!

I enjoyed reading about the evolution, or rather the ebb and flow, of your gastronomic development! My parents felt it was important for me and my sisters to learn to appreciate fine dining, which, as you've noted so well, engages all of the senses, not just taste. As an adult, I truly appreciate their lesson: to consider each dish and each eating experience in its own context and merit. This is why I try not to pooh-pooh any dining experience, from the hole-in-the-wall to the Michelin-starred establishment.

Fifiteen dollars is well worth the price if you enjoyed every bite and every moment!

[Sophie]

Good luck with your thesis!!!!

I loved reading this lovely post,...;hahahahahahahahahahahaha,...

[Sophia]

Oh, best of luck with your thesis...I know how stressful it can be! But take care to relax as well, and enjoy good things in life like good food! *GRIN*
I adore your pictures...they are so rustic in an European way that I love.

[gastroanthropologist]

Thanks for the comments and well-wishes. Today was a bit of a thesis struggle day, but I'm still on target with my progress...Hopefully, today was just a blip and tomorrow will be full steam ahead. Looking forward to the day I turn it in. Then I'm dedicating at least a week of reading food blogs and fiction.

[lisa (dandysugar)]

Nice post, Adrienne. A great food experience is definitely the whole package. I loved reading about your experiences with food as a child and how those evolved and changed as life does.

Wishing you the best of luck with your thesis. It's a stressful time but take care. Be sure to chill out every so often with a nice cup of tea...and know that all of your hard work will pay off. Cheers!

[Alethea]

I want to eat all the pictures on your blog. I miss you a lot! xoxo

[Jamie]

* sigh * I learned to love fine dining over the years, breakfast to dinner and everything in between. A truly memorable meal, whatever and however, can really make my day (or more). Long after a trip or vacation, I will remember the great food and great meals I've had long after the rest has disappeared from my memory.