Food is magical.  It has the power to make us feel happy and jubilant, whilst at the same time nostalgic and melancholy.  With food, we feel renewed, cleansed and alive.  It can wrap us in a security blanket to console our grief and lessen our sadness and sorrow, and can soothe us when we are weary, and lift the burden off our shoulders and more-so, in our hearts.

Food is necessary fuel that can be consumed on your own but it also has the power to bring people together – an experience to be shared with strangers as well as family and friends.  

Good food can help us to restore balance; to reinstate our faith in life.

Think of important landmark stages in your life, these will often be remembered with food.  Food that welcomes and commemorates, that celebrates and consoles. Acts of kindness will often be  conveyed through food.

In October 2023, we took a wonderful family trip to Rome where we enjoyed exquisite food from the Italian panoply: Roman supplì, swordfish carpaccio infused with orange juice, risotto agli asparagi, spaghetti di frutti di mare and stone baked pizzas.  Who could forget the ubiquitous caffè e cornetto con crema al pistacchio breakfasts (consumed daily) and the cheeky nocciola gelatos with more caffè on the way back to the hotel.  

On our last night in Rome, my mother told us she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Whilst we meandered through the fairy-light-lit streets of Trastevere we weren’t to know that it would be our last trip together as sadly mum passed away in October 2024.  I shall never forget what a wonderful holiday we spent together marvelling in the food we consumed.

Whilst mum was in hospital in her last month with us, we were so mindful of trying to make her better that everything we did was to assist her feeding, drinking and finding enjoyment in her food.  Blitzing red fruit smoothies, green veggie smoothies, arranging for their delivery cool and fresh to her in hospital.  Topping them up with kale for strength and cashew nut butter for extra nutrition, adding honey and strawberries for sweetness.  Ice-creams and yogurts galore.  Anything and everything that she wanted.  

Mum was very much loved and many friends and family members came to visit her, some bringing expensive hand creams to nourish her very dry, frail skin.  One of these very kind friends would visit with something temptingly sweet for mum but would also bring sandwiches, bottles of water and snacks for the visiting family.  She would always ensure that she had brought something extra for dinner for me.  She would always remind me that without looking after ourselves we couldn’t be expected to look after mum. 

A kind practice, that to this day, she occasionally fulfils by sending me a container of something homemade just in case I’d been too busy to be able to look after myself. 

Food gives us comfort, support and love.
Food embraces us.
Food unites us.

Every day, I will cook at least one meal. I think there is something very special about being able to cook for yourself and more specially, for others.  Even when I’m at my most stressed and short for time, I will stop that clock and prioritise cooking a meal.  Nothing too strenuous, nor elaborate but I will use real ingredients that need to be put together to create a cohesive dish.  I find it uplifting and therapeutic to potter around my kitchen.   I feel better when I cook.

Do something that makes you happy, everyday.

Sometimes, a bit of food planning and organisation goes a long way, especially before I hungrily hit the shops and unnecessarily load up my trolley with bits that you can’t do anything with.  Some people can find the kitchen overwhelming, so food planning will help remove the pressure of what to cook for dinner, when you’re just getting in from work, especially if you haven’t got the ingredients you need. Sometimes, it’s simply just a case of knowing what things to put together that complement each other, or using leftovers from an extravagant Sunday lunch.

Do something that makes you happy everyday.

My last post was February 2021, post lockdown.  Since then, many things have changed.    

I buy groceries differently and choose to cook differently; dishes that I perhaps wouldn’t have considered cooking and eating before.  My palate has changed and I’ve noticed that I can tolerate heat and spice more than I previously could.  My eating and drinking habits have also changed and I’ve adopted a slightly cleaner way of approaching food – which unintentionally has had a positive effect on my ever expanding waistline!  I no longer want gut-busting, uncontrollable, enormous portions – I suspect age may be the culprit behind this.

It’s time. I feel ready to dust off my feet and embrace the part of me, that I’d sidelined for a time. So, GastroRob 2.0 continues from where we left off in 2021.  Refreshed and reimagined but reflects my food habits and the dishes I enjoy to cook now.

Pack your bags and come on my food journey!

GastroRob

Follow me on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/gastrorob/

Follow me on X (twitter): https://www.x.com/@gastrorob

Follow me on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gastrorob

Follow me on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gastrorob