La Convivialita'

I love the word conviviality ….. whether you are rich or poor, the pleasure that comes from sharing and enjoying a meal together and in the company of friends and family is the most enjoyable and memorable experience in one’s life. That is what memories are made of….. at “La Convivialità”. My first knowledge of Parmesan came from my Mom, Clara, who is now 86 years young, but my first understanding of the love of Parmesan came together when I got married to Chris because once out of my Mom’s house, I had to start cooking and making use of all the ingredients that I grew up with. Chris can tell the story of when I firsts met him and I drove to the Italian Deli in Orange Grove to buy Parmiggiano, imported Italian pasta, Italian tinned tomatoes so that I could make him sauce for spaghetti for our evening meal, being inexperienced (my Mom did all the cooking when I lived at home) the whole process took ages, needless to say, when he finally came home from work I pranced around to serve dinner which was a plate of pasta topped with napoletana sauce and parmisan cheese, (nearly as good as my Mom’s) just to see him go to the cupboard and take out the Allgold Tomato Sauce bottle and add it to my pasta dish, I was devastated, I grew up with not even being allowed to have AllGold Tomato Sauce in the cupboard, never mind add this to a pasta dish. Allgold is banned forever I could never understand why my Mom would go to great lenths to get someone to bring Parmesan from Italy. In the 50’s and 60’s Parmesan was not available in South Africa and any friend who was on route from Italy would have to hide Parmesan in their hand luggage so that they could bring it across, obviously bringing any foodstuff was not allowed by SA Customs. Often they were stopped and all the food was confiscated, I remember being present when the hand luggage was opened and was amazed at what came out, salami, prosciutto, cheese, torrone, amaretti biscuits, grappa etc.. I still remember the excitement of being able to share and eat all these exotic foods and what a beautiful times we all had together sharing food from Italy and chatting about the first world country that produced Parmesan, good salami and very good wine………. And let’s not forget…..the “the best food critics in the world"! Well, that was a moment, which after 35 years I am still reminded about. Once a food heathen always a food heathen. Though I sometimes profess to being the better Italian cook today ha! Koo tomato sauce, by the way is made from REAL tomatoes. But it is definitely relegated for Boerie rolls only. Having progressed from Cheddar and Gouda and Sweetmilk to real cheese, Parmesan has without doubt been the biggest change and food influence in my life. Whether a slice on its own, finalising a pasta dish, in a salad or with fruit, it transforms the sublime meal to the ridiculous. Ridiculously great!