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Published: July 12th 2010
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The Cooks
Linh, Ha, Lorenza, Ly, Chung and Chau Today was a wonderful example of how travel, friendship, having an open door, plus those convoluted six degrees of separation connections can bring so many delights into a single day.
Our new friend Chung, who is connected to us via a friend in Hanoi who knows a close friend of Chung's, is currently studying in Sydney. After some meetings in the inner city of Sydney for lunch on a few occasions, Chung came to visit our house. She was also accompanied by four of her friends (Chau, Ha, Linh and Ly) all of whom are either working or studying on a short term basis in Sydney.
Not only did they come to visit, they also came to cook. They took the 1.5 hour train trip to our area, laden with fresh ingredients and some great plans for lunch. Lorenza and I picked them up at the station and once in our door they amazed us as they created a whirlwind in our kitchen.
We soon realised that Ly is the cooking boss and was directing the gang working under her instructions. Some of them were chopping fresh herbs and salad ingredients, others preparing dipping sauces, and rolling spring
rolls. I had a brief stint at the stove to prepare a seafood dish of poached fish in coconut milk. Lorenza looked to be having a lot of fun helping out, observing the process and responding to various requests such as “can I have a big mixing bowl”, “where did you grow up?”, “do you have any cooking oil”, “how far are the Three Sisters” and “can you give me a big fry pan”. I got out of the way as quick as I could. The kitchen was a scary place to be with knives chopping, scissors cutting, and graters working away at fever pitch.
While they worked away we found out what each was doing at university or at work, where they planned to live or travel, who was happy, sad, married, single, or missing home, the places already visited and thatthey plan to visit, plus we discussed cultural differences, varying political systems, and then briefly touched on religion and all manner of other news.
Suddenly, lunch was ready …. Fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls, salad, noodles, bean shoots, my poached fish, etc. All of it so fresh and tasty, washed down with juice or wine
and good conversation. It was a great meal, with so many fresh flavours, once the plates were emptied, everyone looked happy and content. We discussed ingredients, herbs, spices, techniques and decided that food is greatest when it is shared. We also all agreed that a walk was in order …
We showed our guests the delights of the bush just down the track from home. There is always something in flower and right now the golden wattles are just starting to bloom. Pink Boronia is also flowering as are some Woolly Grevillia. We were also able to show our guests why the Mountain Devil gets its name - that is always a favourite of mine to show to overseas visitors.
We had just enough time to take then for a drive to the Kurrajong Heights lookout to show them the view of the Sydney Basin, before getting them to the train station for their return journey.
The wonderful events of today never would have happened had it not been for the connections we have made in our travels. It was such a fun day - thank you. It was great to be visited by such a positive
and happy group of people, and you’re all welcome in our kitchen anytime.
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