Years ago, a dear friend asked me a simple question: “WHY ARE YOU WRITING A COOKING BLOG?” At the time, the words escape me. Today, I finally have my answer.
This blog is a love letter written across generations- a tribute to my mother and a legacy for my daughter. It is my way of whispering how much I love them, and how deeply they have shaped who I am. Safely tucked away in the digital cloud, these pages hold an inheritance of flavour: recipes passed down like secrets, dishes we dreamed up together, and the echo of endless laughter around the table at “El Girasol”. That beautiful Austrian style cottage, nestled high in the Andes Mountains outside Bogota, Colombia, will always be the place where my heart feels at home.
To my darling mother:
I am right here beside you through the slow, quiet march of dementia. Even as the fog rolls in, your warmth and humour still shine through, and I live for the sweet kiss at the end of our daily phone call. Arroz de Lechewas the very first recipe you taught me, and beautifully, it was the last one we ever cooked together. The time we have left has become our longest and most tender farewell. We cannot predict tomorrow, so for now, let us simply savour today.
To my beautiful, witty and fiercely talented daughter:
Be brave, be bold, and let your spirit be the brightest light in your kitchen. Watching you step out from the magic of the Ballymalloe Cookery School in Cork and into the grand culinary world fills me with standard-setting pride. Your delicious new adventure is just beginning .
To both of you, my anchors: Thank you for teaching me how to truly live in the present. If we only stop to listen, the old and the young have a profound wisdom ….
Perth to Paris Recipes 