Open Horizons

Sometimes a cooking spoon can be a wand, that will take you through space.

The people in our family love to travel. They have been to practically every continent, up north, down south, far west and a long way east. Since it started a long time ago, many of these journeys have been made by ship on the sea. And the sea has always been important. Some of us lived on the water, some built dams, others traded in goods that came overseas, a few even operated big ships as engineers.

I have gotten to know only a few of these larger waters, but it seemed to me that they have the same issues as other families: The beautiful but extravagant Aunt Pacific, the boisterous and sometimes raging Uncle Atlantic, the niece Northern Sea, and her little sister, the Baltic Sea. Of course, there is also their charming cousin, the Mediterranean Sea. Which, of course, is just a small part of a very large lineage that stretches not only for miles, but millions of years back in time.

Just like the seas, traditions can have a very wide range, especially when it comes to the ones you can dip a spoon into. Our family has always kept an open horizon when it comes to that as well. Good food is universal, that’s what I’ve learned. This – and my curiosity (another family trade), as well as a keen awareness of what the right food can do – drives me to constantly expand my horizons and learn. From other people and traditions, as well as from my own first (or second) attempts that may not have turned out the way I expected. I continue to travel and learn. And I would like to take you along on that journey.

Or to put it another way – and I trust you do not mind, dear Antoine, if I adapt your famous words a little: ‘If you want to eat good food, don’t get people together to buy groceries, heat pots, and chop ingredients. Instead, inspire in them a longing for the vast, endless possibilities of taste and smell and a wonderful feeling in their stomach.’

I hope you have your bags packed and are ready to go.

I continue to travel and learn. And I would like to take you along on that journey.

Side Notes:

• The famous quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupèry, beloved author of ‘The little Prince’ and many other inspiring stories and insights about life on this Earth, should be something like this in English (pardon my French): “If you want to build a ship, don’t call on people to gather wood and give out tasks to do the work. Instead, awaken in them a deep longing for the vast and open seas.”