Well Matured & Delicious

You are sitting at a dinner table, lavishly decorated and beautifully laid out in such a way, that reminds you of a page from the 'Ideal Home' magazine, or 'Beautiful House and garden'. Most of your table companions are food experts: critics, writer and authors of fine cuisine, professional chefs and gourmets. As previously promised, you have just been served the first course of, amongst other delicacies, the star item, a very special cured ham, denominated 'Jamon de Joselito'. The colour is perfect, wine red with just a hint of discernible sheen, the aroma alone would have the critics write a thousand words, and the texture is so smooth that it practically melts in your mouth ...

Then, as if a bomb had been dropped right on top of your head, the host of the evening proudly announced that the piece of ham had taken 55 months for the curing process to have acquired that exquisite quality. Your heart misses a beat, and that last little bit still in your mouth seems to have suddenly turned to stone as if by magic, and your brain works double time thinking what you should do now. Swallow a piece of meat that has been hanging about for 4 years and 7 months?

With the rest of diners going wild and absolutely elated about the discovery, and the privilege of being amongst the first to taste it, you certainly can't be the only ignorant idiot to spit it out. I guess the only recourse you have would be to wait for the right moment when no one's attention is on you, to have a little gentlemanly wipe of your mouth with your hankie (not the serviette, it might somehow be discovered later) and stealthily wrap that little piece of offending meat up, then thrust it in your pocket.

Or, have a quick but intelligent reasoning with yourself: How come something 2 seconds ago tasted so divine and made you so happy could suddenly become so revolting to you, simply because someone said something, not even against it, but an explanation of how it got to be so delicious? You can't rely on your own judgement of something you like or not? Chances are, you love it so very much you are willing to die for it! Like love itself. I just wish I was amongst the invited!

The Gastronomic Festival is celebrated this week in Cavas Vilamiu. Many people also give private 'Do's' to special friends. Very much like the Chinese, any excuse for indulging in good food in company of good friends.

Tags:curedham,gastronomicfare

• Current Mood: ecstatic