Saturday, November 21, 2009

In the Raw









Ah, enough about food. How much is there to say about food? Like Margaret Atwood's Edible Woman, I have narrowed and narrowed my view of what is food, until I delight in bright, raw, unplayed with fruits and vegetables. We stayed in beautiful Netanya today, ate lunch outside in hot sun, listening to the sea. A wonderful discovery. Reframe the polarity between Nomi and an Italian restaurant, and introduce to the Benino concept: Nomi! I wrote in an email to my big sister Susie, "Our main trademark is Beno and Nomi, a couple who loves life and good food and wine and each other. Zest for life, joie de vivre, a spacious, vibrant generosity of soul. And get this, our main job right now is auditioning chefs. Beno is bringing one home tonight to cook for Hava and David Lazar and us." Susie of course commented that it's a tough job, but.....
So last night's meal was rich and wined, and I am a Very Good Sport, and all that. But today, when Beno made exquisite platters for each of us, of bright asparagus, pepper crusted tuna, artichoke hearts, wild salad greens, giant capers, baby cukes and ruby red beets, realized the great potential in a push-me-pull-you comic tension between the Benino who loves pizza and fettucini and panini and caffe corretto and port, and this Nomi character who wants a pure platter where only Mother Nature can be credited for the creativity of each component. Put the two together, and magic is in the air.

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