Ross walks in. We expect a team of staff to follow him him. “No”, he says, “it’s just me”. He unpacks the crates he brought. It’s like Mary Poppins’ bag: crockery, cutlery, glasses, cooking equipment, fresh ingredients, decorations for the table.
While he chats about how he started in the industry and his background in French and Mediterranean cooking, he sets the table, polished glasses, starts the entrees, pours drinks. This man is a one-man-wizard, it seems. He serves the first course – wild mushroom pasta- oh my… yes, this man knows a thing or two!
He tells us about his early days in the restaurant industry, when he used to only have weatbix in his cupboard. Nowadays he cooks duck on a regular Wednesday evening for himself and his girlfriend and talks about the technique he uses to glaze his vegetables, where to get the best meaty cuts and how he creates robuchon mash. All very inspiring but not something I would try my hand at any time soon. I am glad he and his expertise are here tonight – even though he makes it seem effortless, it sounds like a rather large amount of effort and skill is involved!
As Ross starts on the mains- a vegetarian medley for myself and a beef fillet with red wine jus and root vegetables (with the famous mash) for Don, he serves wine and sparkling water and Don and I discuss the interesting events of the week. This includes our youngest son, Aaron’s, progress in Grade R and if he will be ready for Grade 1 next year.Also, our daughter Mila’s offer to build us a raft-home on an island to retire in, “so we don’t have to live in a homeless shelter…”
The evening mellows into tales of lemons and dreams and Ross serves us a classic creme brulee with a wonderful fruity twist. There is not a morsel left on the plates. The man has also managed to clean up in between. Not too sure how he does it. A kind of magic. We say our goodbyes and Ross leaves nothing but a spotless kitchen behind and we are free to lounge the night away, dishes are done, nowhere to go but our patio with a decaf coffee and a nightcap…
Date Night Dinner 