Meeting George.

Time for full disclosure: Yes, I do go weak in the knees when I get to meet my Culinary Gods.

For some of you it may be a film star you’ve grown up watching, for another a sportsperson you NEED  to watch play live, perhaps a singer you’ve tried imitating when alone (imaginary mike included) or an author whose have every written word is in your library. For me, they are the chefs and cookbook authors who I not only watch completely awe struck on TV but who I also imagine are there with me in my kitchen each time I am looking for any kind of inspiration when it comes to food.

And this Saturday I was all smiles.

So when a little birdie told me that George was coming down to Dubai and was holding a master class and was also signing books, I was on a triple high. With me, there was an equally delirious 3 feet something who was ready to jump off the walls. So I did what all mature and sensible mothers do, requested the organizers to put Sara, Age 4 on the guest list. Ah..me too, please.

Master Chef Australia and George need no introduction and the times that he has not been a part of a particular episode, he has been missed by my little chefling, No George today, mamma? She would be really disappointed.

The show was aired weeknights back in India and my schedule was planned around it. 9’o clock movie on a weekday? You’ve got to be kidding! Thank you, but I am going to be sitting cosy in my pyjamas with a three year old sitting right there (with the entire contents of her toy kitchen on the floor and behaving as if she was one of the contestants). The poor husband had no choice but to join the duo.

So two starstruck ladies, with DH in row, who was babysitting the younger one till the time the masterclass was on, went off to meet George Calombaris.

The masterclass was lovely and George and his enthusiastic and very witty team had the audience completely engrossed. 

George spoke about food, his mum’s cooking, and ingredients he likes to work with, the two episodes that were recently shot here at Dubai and asked us to imagine Matt Preston in his three piece pink suit and a cravat which went from pink to purple in the Dubai heat in minutes! He was at his entertaining best. 

He also took questions from the audience. Truly an afternoon to remember.

We were taught a sweet and a savoury dish; sushi rice pudding (risogalo) with date puree and a short crust pastry and an almost too pretty to touch recipe comprising poached baby turnip, artichokes, golden beets with a celeriac puree and zucchini flowers. Sublime.

Ofcourse I got his cookbook signed and Sara took her little notepad for the same. 

Yes, I know I am grinning and let me tell you it stayed right there, all day. 

The little girl has a “what did you do over the weekend” kind of thing every Sunday at school and I believe she started with, “I met GEORGE!”

Her mum was saying the same words to anyone who asked her, so what did you do over the weekend, “I met GEORGE!”

David, Heston, Jamie, Nigella, Ottolenghi…are you listening? Two girls are waiting.

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