Georgio

The memory of a young Italian boy sitting with his parents eating dinner jumped into my mind the other day. He was tiny; probably not even two, lifted up to the height of the table with the help of an extra chair and a cushion. This content family threesome was at the table next to ours during another Corsican restaurant meal and I could not take my eyes off them. He was an expert diner for such a young age, focused, pretty controlled with spoon and fork, determined and happy. His parents intervened occasionally to turn around the plate, push his food back into the centre of his dish, but they did not fret or worry when he missed his mouth or whenever he decided to lean over and help himself to some more. Georgio did not attempt to get down from the table -not until he’d finished eating anyway – and then he quietly slid down from his chair to gaze adoringly into Nina’s eyes. A true Italian!
At two this little boy had already entered the pleasure world of eating.
Watching this beautiful family dine together made me realise how far our society has wandered from this simple, natural act. A constant stream of angry, fed-up parents also reminds me of this sad state of affairs.
Just the other day someone launched into an endless moaning drawl about their son’s eating, pleading with me to provide some answers.
“He hates mealtimes” she declared, frowning and scowling at the thought of her rebellious son.
“I make healthy dinners, with vegetables and everything” she went on “but he sulks whenever I mention dinner”
“Have you tried buying some flowers and smiling?” I suggested to my angry friend.
You see, I believe we are now so focused on the healthy aspect of eating that the pleasurable side of food has somehow become lost. We are forcing, growling and sometimes cheating our children into being “healthy”, unwittingly turning the dinner table into a battleground.
“Music also helps” I went on, unabated by her puzzled expression.
I’m not going mad. Take heed. Think pleasure, contentment, joy and the eating will follow. Start with the atmosphere, lighten up the mood and then gradually apply this pleasure technique to the food you serve. Think fresh, glistening, ripe and delicious, seasoning and simplicity, and you’ll be on your way to joining the pleasure world of Georgio.

< back