Wednesday, October 17, 2012

orange friend oysters

From among the flower seeds which I scattered in the spring among other orange blooms, thismarigold (I think that's what it is ) glows in  the Autumn garden.

Passing Langan's Brasserie Mayfair  by chance, I think of  my old friend Richard Shepherd who used to  own the restaurant, and I  pop in to see if he is there. He is at a window table finishing lunch with a guest.  He tells me that he sold the business and now lives in the South of France. As its former chef, he inherited the brasserie from its founder Peter Langan - it must be 30 or 40 years ago - and made it flourish. For a moment the years contract as we talk about the past. Among other  shared memories: travelling about the country judging the Taste of England Cookery Competition at short-listed catering colleges.

Sometimes a little bit of luxury does you good. Today a treat consisting of half a dozen oysters and a glass of Champagne seems worth all the villas and yachts in Monte Carlo put together.

1 comment:

marja-leena said...

Oh, that looks like a calendula flower to me. And how lovely to find your old friend and remember old times.