what I learnt this week

I love food because I'm naturally greedy. But there are lots of other reasons why I like eating, and it's not only about the food. GluttonBoy recently got into an online argument with food bloggers about their obsession with photographing their dinner when eating out. It's a bit like spending your whole holiday filming, rather than actually particpating in the holiday - it kind of seems to be missing the point and it is breaks my heart a little bit to see people who should be sitting round a table tucking in, having a drink, talking to each other, all just engrossed in the photographing ritual.

The point of food is simple and was brought home to me by two very different meals - well I say different, but the food and setting were different but the point of it and the result were very similar.

My friend Louise had a birthday party recently, at a Chinese karaoke restaurant in Sheen. Louise is probably the essence of conviviality and is a great host. The restaurant was nothing special, but we had it to ourselves and the karaoke was free. The food was standard Chinese, but what made it a great night was the fun we had, the sharing, the atmosphere and the people. There's also something really nice about sharing plates, passing food round, making sure everyone has enough - it brings out everyone's inner altruist. And I had a brilliant time.

Today we had our friends Sim and Martine for Sunday lunch. Sim is a wine expert and Martine is a chef, so on paper a fairly stressful pair of guests. GB and I thought long and hard about what to cook and decided fairly early on that there was no way of competing, so better to do something delicious but fairly simple (although GB is an ex-chef so no slouch).

GluttonBoy made a fricking delicious pork terrine, so flavoursome and savoury I couldn't stop stuffing it down. We also made some bread and served it with home made damson chutney from last year. Our main course was osso bucco, served with mash and vichy carrots (also hugely tasty and umami-ish) and for pudding I'd made salt caramel and milk chocolate mousses and butter biscuits (my nana and auntie' brenda's recipes). We ate some much that I thought I'd have to and lie down for a couple of hours. We also drank 7 bottles of wine (two champagnes, two whites and two reds chosen to match the food, a sticky, sherry and gin and tonics). And although the food and wines were great, and I very much enjoyed them (and enjoyed the compliments), the best thing about this afternoon was having people over, talking, laughing and enjoying their company.

So sometimes food isn't just food - it's sharing, sociability, altruism. It's a reason to get round a table with people you love and enjoy their company. And that is something food bloggers with their cameras and individual experiences seem to miss.

Right, I'm off to have a bypass.

Lots of love,

GG