It was last Christmas. Our eyes met across a crowded bookshelf. You reaching for Nigella, me the latest Ottolenghi.
We didn’t speak, didn’t acknowledge. Both lost in recipes, imagining how flavours on the page would taste on the plate.
‘I want to try that’ our first words.
Two culinary daydreamers.
We cooked together that night, and haven’t stopped since.
Whatever’s going on elsewhere, you’ll find us in the kitchen. Our domain, no spice too strong, no sugar too sweet, no boundary can’t be challenged.
Except for trifle, of course. Nigella will always win that one.
…….
Looking at the paltry number of posts I’ve put up over the last year, it’s clear that despite my best intentions, I haven’t been writing enough. I’m not going to fall into the trap of making a New Year resolution about having a specific schedule. That’s a fool’s game and only leads to disappointment when it fails by the end of the month, never mind the end of the year. But I am determined to be here more often.
To kick things off I’m sharing this microfiction piece. I wrote it for a 100-word story challenge set by Kitty Johnson ahead of publishing her novel Five Winters. Kitty was my tutor on a couple of creative writing courses I took, and her guidance and encouragement had a lot to do with me starting up this blog.
Happy New Year.
David in the kitchen. 