Written by 7:44 am Food

#BTColumn – Awesome dining: from US to Europe

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by Dr. Basil Springer GCM

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all of it for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

A few years ago, I used to be asked by a daily reader of my column “whenever you sit down to put in writing your column every week which comes first the biblical verse, the story you would like to tell or the title of your column?”

I probably said then that it may be either. Now I might say that I start with the content and the biblical quote and title follow.

It’s a challenge, but I actually have done it every week for over 29 years and there isn’t a reason why I shouldn’t proceed, deo volente.

Once I sat down to put in writing this column, I used to be inspired to share some awesome hospitality and dining stories which I actually have experienced over time. A colleague said to me, but that will take you many weeks. He was right.

Please join me as I’m going randomly down memory lane.

On one in every of our regular annual trips to go to my aunt (who worked for the United Nations) and her family in New York, we went out to dinner at a restaurant on the Long Island Sound.

Lobster was the specialty on the restaurant. We were allowed to pick out the live lobster from the tank and ordered the dish lobster thermidor.

The waitress advised us that it might take a while to organize and cleverly introduced us to quite a lot of hors d’oeuvres available on the lazy susan turntable.

We began chatting, got stuck into the delicious rotating appetisers partnered by regular refills of our beer glasses. We were having a beautiful time but sooner quite than later I started to snooze to the extent that I used to be about to suggest that it was time to go away.

I used to be reminded that the important course is yet to come back. We left several hours later nursing and savoring the lobster and continued the superb evening. Moral of the story: Don’t be distracted by lazy susans. Within the mid-70s, I visited Geneva, Switzerland for the primary time – hosted by my godmother who was based there on the time.

After showing me around Geneva, a city of pristine cleanliness, she kindly invited me and another friends on a mini adventure by bus from Geneva to Chamonix, France and Courmayeur, Italy – towns at either end of the Mont Blanc tunnel.

This tunnel is a significant Alpine automotive connecting France and Italy and crosses under the very best mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc within the Alps.

The unaccustomed mountainous scenery in Chamonix and Courmayeur was beautiful and the towns unbelievably charming.

Although they’re so close, each town provides a wholly different but delicious culinary experience. From Alpine classics in Chamonix, to classic Italian Courmayeur.

We lunched in Courmayeur within the open air and indulged in a full Italian menu: Antipasti (appetisers), Primi (carb-based from pasta to rice and even soup); Secondi (meat or fish); Contorni (veggies); Dolci (gelato and tiramisu); and Bevande (digestivo or other liquor together with dessert).

Moral of the story: Keep in good grace with family and friends all around the world.

Because the late French chef Auguste Escoffier once quipped: “Good food is the inspiration of real happiness.”

And as we create pleased culinary memories across the Caribbean and the world over, let’s partake with a grateful heart and all for the glory of God.

Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a Change-Engine Consultant. His email address is [email protected] His columns could also be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com

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