This was to be my last time in Kuwait city, I had flown alone by private jet, having been previously promised a month of precious vacation time. But plans had changed and I was to join my family in Kuwait.
They missed my cooking so much. Later I was to accompany them to France to meet a Super yacht they had chartered (146ft long with it's own 4 man helicopter, speed boats and rooms for 10 overnight guests and 10 crew)...to sail for 2 weeks in the Med.
I stayed at my boss's brother's house on the coast of the Persian Gulf and spent my days working at my boss's Palace-compound on the outskirts of the city, for the family.
The working kitchen here was bigger than a 4 star hotel and I had a crew of 8 who spoke no English! ( happy times...more hilarious stories to follow at a later date on this subject).
The house itself was surrounded by a 30ft wall, and had massive high wooden gates that barred people from looking in.
The gardens were very tropical, palm trees and foliage, outside the walls were just sand, the desert.
The security for the place was just one man with a pack of loose dogs who would rip anyone to pieces at his command..no one ever tried to enter without permission.
After working in Kuwait for a week, the family asked me to escort their luggage for the yacht, to France.
No problem, I flew first class to Paris, and had to change airports..the look on the check-in guys face when he asked how much baggage I had and I explained I had 24 steamer trunks, he asked me twice first in French ( by now I was fluent), then English then swore in both languages when I handed him the stack of 24 baggage claims.
On the plane flying first class to NIce I was joined by 4 almost famous British TV persons and 2 footballers, all talking about the great time they were going to have in France and 'decked out to the nines" in their suits and trendy frocks, I sat at the back in my jeans, clogs and shirt, having flown half way around the world in the past day, and also looking forward to my month off back in London once I delivered the baggage.
At Nice airport I was met by 15 baggage handlers and 8 motorized baggage trucks..the TV stars and footballers could not believe it when they saw me and all my luggage, and all the special attention that I got..in fact I know they had a long wait to their hotels as along with 2 regular trucks, I took all the taxis in the ranks outside the airport, which I had to laugh at.
The next problem was the yacht...they crew could not believe the baggage and it took them 2 hours to load onto the boat.
The cook they had for the passengers was "way out of her depth" with my family, but I just though they would sort it out, especially when I saw the blood drain from her face when I explained that eating would be a 24 hour affair ( especially on vacation) with meals at any time day or night and made "fresh from scratch".
This yacht had refrigerators like a hotel and freezers to match to allow it to make Atlantic crossings.
She could not belive that the only thing my boss needed in the freeezer was ice cream and ice cubes, everything else had to be fresh, and locally bought.
I phoned Kuwait and explained everything was OK and could I go back to London?, I was asked to wait until the family arrived.
Two days later, I watched as the quay in the harbor vanished in the haze as I set off for a cruise of the Med. The yacht cook demoted to crew cook, and me sleeping is what was rigged out to be the hairdressing salon of the Superyacht.
All things said I did have a great adventure.
On Monday I am preparing some stuffed vegetables similar to the ones I made in Kuwait artichoke stuffed mushrooms with a tomato sauce; and rice wraps stuffed with couscous, pine nuts & lemon juice tastes like stuffed grape leaves.
On to Nice, France.1975-78
Undoubtedly one of the top 5 star places to vacation in the world, and one city that has kept that reputation for a hundred plus years.
The food is great, the place is clean ( I have never seen a beach so organized in all my life...back to back loungers, spotlessly clean, and waiter service all the way to the water's edge..although the actual beach sand is very well hidden).
I have worked on 3 private yachts in the neighboring port of Juan-les-Pins, and for "treat" days off always headed to Nice for some great food and entertainment...even the small privately owned cafes seemed to be 4 star, and the small, family run bakeries, were outstanding.
All the small stores had fresh flowers by the cashier's desk, and the staff were always so polite and happy to see the customer.
The very first meal I every had in Nice was at a small restaurant and then my French was not so good, so I let Bob ( also English), one of the yacht's stewards order for both of us, we managed to order whole calves feet in sauce..both of us could not stop laughing, and later that day had hamburgers from a cart on the sea front.
I eventually learned a lot more of the French language and a dish I loved was, the way they prepared their greens ( usually field spinach or Swiss chard) with lentils or white beans in a rich tomato sauce..some of this, is I think, a Moroccan influence. This dish is also being featured on the Monday menu..rich, cumin and cinnamon scented tomato sauce, cooked with beige lentils and Swiss chard. I like to add some nutritional yeast or wine to give more depth to this vegan meal.
Also will be featuring leek and potato soup which although it is called Vichysoisse when it is served with cream and chilled, was actually created in New York City.
Tomorrow I will feature photos of the prep, & a recipe or 2.
Monday's Menu:
Rainbow Rice wraps with an almond-orange sauce
Couscous rice wraps with a tahini sauce
Mixed vegetable soup
Leek & potato soup
Entrees:
Chard with lentils and tomato sauce
Barley risotto with mushrooms and asparagus
Artichoke stuffed mushrooms
Dessert:
Cranberry & pecan oatmeal cookies
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