Kitchen Cuts

You wouldn't think that working in a place of stainless steel, marble and oak wood could possibly be romantic. It is. Try it. One lovely dark, fall evening, go on-line and find a recipe that you both enjoy. A late trip to the market to buy the ingredients for your eating pleasure can be part of the joy of cooking. My charming chef and I poll the store aisles picking and choosing what we hope will end up as our delightful dual dinner and later, pop into the wine shop for something that pairs with it. There's a rich, tasty magic about shopping as a couple that makes for closeness. Back in the kitchen, we anticipate and discuss about how to enhance the printed recipe by adding our own touches and decide who will prepare and execute what. My dear chef is a measurer. Everything is meted out meticulously. He, therefore,  is elected to effect the main event of the show while I, trained by a grandmother who used her hands as the teaspoons, tablespoons and quarter cups, quell my historical bent to act as obedient sou chef. I chop and dice according to instructions, flit about washing the used utensils and bowls, fetch and carry. Someone has to do it! Our kitchen dance includes passing hugs as well as loving touches. Very nice but not in the recipe book. Movement about a small place, as my kitchen is, requires cooperation and guile. He goes there while I pass by here, he reaches high and I bend to find bowls low. He grabs the utensils from the stove-side basket while I snip the herbs ready to go into the pot or baking dish. We grate and slice and flavour and pluck and thus the dish is ready for the oven or for simmering stove-top. We two have created something together. It is called harmony as well as cuisine. The waiting for dinner to finish is living room time for a quiet chat or watching part of  a recorded game or movie. When, finally, the aroma from the kitchen proves to be our cookery vision come true - something fragrant, brown, crusty and inviting from the oven - the quilted mitts are put to use, lifting it out and letting it rest while the wine is poured and the candles lit. We serve, we sit, toast this duet of culinary arts and dine. Our kitchen dance began and ended warmly knowing we have created something shared and savoured and seasoned with love.