A Week or was that Two (?) in the USA

In 1995, my best friend in Australia and I were obsessed with the short lived drama series Central Park West, created by Darren Starr, he of Emily in Paris fame (amongst others). The plot centred around the lives of ambitious employees at the magazine ‘Communique’. Such was the portrayal of New York City as a vibrant, fast paced city that we both dreamed of living there one day. It was nothing like the reality that were our lives in Sydney, so when the day arrived that I officially moved to New York City, in early 2002, I could barely believe that it was happening. It was the first of many dreams that became a reality.

But the Darren Starr New York City that was depicted in that TV series was not the one that I found. I arrived a few months post 9/11 and found a city trying to rebuild and revitalise itself. We know how that story ended and it served as a poignant reminder that permanence is an illusion and change is the only constant. That lesson was one that was at the forefront of my thoughts as I boarded the flight from Paris to Baltimore two weeks ago.

Nervous due to the many articles sent by concerned friends about detention at ICE centres and sudden visa issues, I was relieved that immigration was a breeze. The destination was Fairfax Virginia, and whilst I left Paris at the end of its cherry blossom season, Fairfax Virginia was bursting with cherry blossoms and dogwood trees, with their pink and white blooms standing elegantly. Azaleas were exploding with their fabulous gaudy brightness and, with that welcome, I met for the first time my gorgeous baby godson, Sam, the reason for the trip.

The new parents had recently purchased a home around the same time as having their first baby - sure why not make life a little more interesting? During my one week visit to meet the cuteness that was Sam, I hoped to help a little with the move and maybe cook a few dinners, both to eat now and to throw in the freezer for the nights when the time poor new parents needed sustenance. But Fairfax Virginia is not DC, where I usually find myself when stateside. I knew the sound of the birds, the light at 5pm, the shape of the houses and the strip malls, but it was different and I felt like I would need to learn how I would fit in a space that had previously felt like home.

The first days passed in a blur, not being used to being around babies, I felt much like the baby, everything was a discovery. Mum and I managed to take a walk to the nearest shops (I am a professional food shopper, being a chef) so that I could discover the Latin market nearby. Filled with produce fit to make all manner of Latin American specialities, the cheese section was especially pleasing (you all know what a cheese demon I am). Queso from not just Mexico but from Peru, El Salvador and Guatemala. It was so exciting to see the variety. I settled on the one from Peru and a few days later we had tacos for dinner, baby watching on and that cheese was rich, creamy and slightly acidic. We had pork braised in orange and cinnamon and a bright salsa verde made from tomatillos, a vegetable not often seen in Paris.

Life with a baby is not like anything that I have ever experienced and I have to say it has been such a lovely journey to be on with my friend. I stayed for the first week, then agreed to stay another week and then another four days. Through all of this, I have experienced the pure joy at a baby’s smile, the camaraderie of women who see another woman with a baby and instinctively show support, through a smile or general curiosity. And it has been wonderful to watch and to experience and, more than that, I have realised that empathy is a great gift to give others.

This was evident in a very Washington DC excursion we had during my time here. An occasion that is just for kids and their parents. There was a last minute acquisition of tickets to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Our time slot was at 2 30pm and whilst I had mixed feelings at being there, given some of the criticisms I had heard, I still found it an honour as non-US citizen. The wait time was relatively fast, and once on those lawns and so close to that famous landmark, I decided to just enjoy the activities which included flower arranging, the egg roll, of course, a reading nook and many photo opps. There was a very well stocked cafe that had offerings including a spinach quiche ( fine but with pastry that was a little flabby), a blueberry and vanilla slice, rice crispies with sprinkles and given the heat of the day, free bottles of water everywhere. We received goodie bags at the end of the day, which included a commemorative wooden egg, various other sweets and randomly, mandarins ! I think the three month year old found it a little overwhelming given the heat. And for me, it was an experience that was fun and probably a little overwhelming too!

Easter traditions continued with the making of hot cross buns. As an Australian, I grew up eating them in the week leading up to Easter and, whilst they are not widely found in the USA, my friends, who have lived all over, are fans too. Dad to Sam is gluten free and thanks to Liz Pruitt, we made those as well. Both batches were redolent with spices and tea soaked fruit. It was agreed that the gluten free batch were the winners ! (a huge surprise!) and the house smelt soo good that even the baby was grinning. Cooking with a three-month-old around, even with three adults in the house, is a feat! I found it really difficult to work with a good flow, there always seems to be seven things happening at once, in a way that has nothing to do with the normal flow of preparing food in a commercial kitchen. More change and more experiences, it was beginning to sum up my cooking here. But we devoured those gluten free buns in record time, barely taking the time to breathe!

My last days in the US are going to be spent trying to squeeze in as much time as I can with Sam. His parents have invited some friends over for brunch on Sunday and we will have white asparagus, dutch style, to celebrate Spring. That gift of time that I have given myself this year has never been more evident than in these few weeks, getting to know my wee little godson. No two days have been the same, time becomes irrelevant and I am happy just to achieve a few things on the list that Mum and I start each day with (we did manage to get a few yoga sessions in there somewhere). But the other gift that I have been given is that of a family, watching theirs form and grow and change, and that I have been invited to become a part of it. Saying farewell to Sam will be difficult but that I can be part of his life, gives me joy.

Receipe :

White Asparagus Dutch style :

Cook these ingredients anyway you like, I like to steam my asparagus and boil my potatoes

Fat white asparagus spears, peeled twice and steamed

Boiled baby potatoes

Melted butter - the best butter you can find

Slices of ham and/or cured/smoked salmon

Chopped flat parsley

Hollandaise sauce (optional)

Boiled eggs - some people like them chopped, I do halved ones. The yolk should not be too runny.

Salt and pepper

Method :

Pop the asparagus on a plate and eat with a combination of any or all of the above ingredients. I prefer no hollandaise but lots of egg and pepper and ham. A crusty baguette is always a winner with this.

We will finish the brunch with hagelslag - or chocolate sprinkles on buttered white bread, a typical dutch way to celebrate the birth of a child, even if he is now four months old!

Have a great week,

Kath x