Sweet Memories

So I received a text from my dear friend Christine. Christine was my first housemate when I went to Uganda. Her text read "I am craving those rock hard cookies from the Italian butcher in Uganda??"  Having 15 minutes, I immediately called and said, "which rock hard cookies exactly?"  She provided a few explanations and when she said "they were shaped like ducks," I knew immediately what she was referring too.  I  said "oh yeah, I loved those cookies."  Her response was "you didn't at first."  And I am pretty sure she was right. Truthfully a lot of my first year in Uganda was a blur but I do remember that there were few things that I really "loved" about my new home.  But as I recall my latter years in Uganda, I remember buying many a package of those rock hard duck, horse, and crescent shaped cookies because I really did like them.

We remained on the phone for about 15 minutes and most of that time was spent talking about the food we enjoyed and missed from Uganda.  During my early years in Uganda, Christine and I frequently ate out together.  We had access to very good food and at what was for us as Americans, very reasonable prices. We talked about the ice cream from the Belgium Butchery.  (Yes the Butcheries were SO much more than meat.)  The Belgium butchery's adjoining restaurant, Le Chateau made this fabulous Tilapia in a cream sauce as well as potato croquettes. Christine and I would go in and without even looking at the menu ask for it.  It would be brought to us and we would totally enjoy our fish and potatoes.  It was a shock when we realized that the beloved dish had not been on the menu for many months.  Yet whenever we requested it "Dirk"  the chef would make it for us.  One of my most beloved birthday presents is when Christine asked Dirk to share the recipe for Tilapia Le Chateau with me. She presented me with a hand scrawled recipe, sign by Dirk. It has an honored spot in my recipe file!  (No I haven't made it but after my phone conversation with Christine I am thinking I definitely should sometime soon!)

Christine and I talked about the fabulous affordable Indian cuisine that we had access to as well as favorite Ugandan and Kenyan dishes.  We laughed and I felt light when I got off the phone.  All that  from the memory of some food.  Kind of funny.  But it was more than food. It is sweet memories from a time that didn't always feel so sweet.  It is about sharing enjoyable experiences with a dear friend.  Experiences that overshadow the hard times.  It is about having someone remember and understand what few others can.  I got off the phone being really grateful.  Grateful for Christine. Grateful for the opportunity to experience great and varied cuisines. Grateful for delights during a difficult transition. Grateful for my memories.  And grateful that the sweet memories are stronger than the bitter ones.