Tag Archives: campari

Time

Yes, it passes. Today is my birthday. Thirty years ago I was sitting in a taverna in Athens, first time to Greece or Europe. My sister and I had been up all night on a plane and we stopped for a bite to eat (she ate spaghetti bolognese everywhere we went, no matter the country).

A woman who has had a positive impact on my life since I was eight years old once sipped a red beverage. I asked what was and she said Campari. She had it on ice with soda water and I tried a sip. Back then the drinking age was 18 and I was there or very close.

At the taverna, I was asked what I’d like to drink. I wanted to sound worldly so said “Campari.” An ounce of it was delivered to me warm, in a juice glass. I took a sip and almost choked!

Let’s look at three lives from the perspective of a three year-old. I was always getting colds and ear infections until my 4th birthday when the ritual tonsillectomy took place. Most of the things we ate, save dessert. included a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup.

My neighbor. also three, answered a question posed by me yesterday. “Do you have a busy day today?” Yes, I’m going to school…….. Montessori school.”

Then there’s my new friend who has a more sophisticated palate than I had at three times her age, also three. We’re having a cooking lesson later in the week at which we’ll make pizza dough and marinated olives for her to take home, along with another thing or two.

I think about the futures of these kids being so bright and engaged. OK it did take some time for my neighbor to talk to me and come out from behind Mommy’s leg, as I usually have the dog with me. She is extremely friendly and wouldn’t ever hurt anyone, but she probably weighs the same as he does so I understand the fear.

Do you know that I’ve never had a Campari since? Someday when my husband and I are out at a restaurant I should order one, with ice and soda water. Now that I’ve had some years to mature, I may actually enjoy it.

“At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty the wit; at forty the judgment.” Benjamin Franklin

Enjoy the day! Dee

Dee Chic

My sister wanted to live in Athens, among Socrates and Plato. I went with her to assure my parents she’d have a decent place to live. What we found was a smog-choked city with gorgeous ruins and no sign of Socrates or Plato.

I was 24 and celebrated my 25th birthday by sunning topless at Agia Galini in Crete. But I digress.

When we landed in Athens we sought out a very nice pensione with three single beds and sink, and shared very modern bath next door for $12/night. My sister thought this was way too expensive and wanted us to sleep on peoples’ roofs for $1 per night. No, I said, this is my vacation.

We couldn’t sleep after an all-nighter in coach class so went to a taverna for lunch. I ordered a Campari, straight up. Here came 1/2 inch of red liquid in an old juice glass. Thinking I was worldly, I took a sip and choked. So much for that!

I reveled in Greek food and my sister ordered spaghetti and meatballs at every meal. The Greeks served coffee, which I still do not drink, and think that if one orders tea one is ill. Not the case here. I just like tea.

My sister opted to stay and ended up on a kibbutz in Israel a week later (nothing I could do about that) but our last night was a Greek feast, a seven-course meal with ouzo, retsina and Metaxa brandy for a total of $15. No, not per person. The owner selected our meal and sat with us and explained the dishes. It was amazing. Of course, my sister was appalled at the price!

On my birthday Mom and Dad gave my sister $25 to take me to dinner. When sis told me that, I said that we were going to save $10 to buy us both dinner and the rest on a decent hotel room that didn’t have sand in the sheets and a shower over the toilet. Done. Best birthday present ever.

Now I make peasant food with the best ingredients I can find, and try to entertain well. Even though I’m French-trained as a cook, I lean more towards Italian and Mediterranean cuisines because of pure simplicity. While people think it’s simple, if you work with a few ingredients it’s easy to mess up if you don’t know proper techniques.

I’ve spent about 20 days over the years in Greece and love the people, food, sights, water. Italy, probably four months over many years and it is my heart’s home and I’ve yet to see so much of the country.

No more will I sit outside at a taverna and have a straight Campari. With age and wisdom I’ll seek out the best food possible, potentially from a street vendor. I thank the kind restaurant owner who walked us through a Greek menu many years ago. Enjoy the day! Dee