17 reasons why I am just like Nigella
Nigella in conversation with Maeve O’Meara at the Opera House
Exactly two years ago I fangirled shamelessly through this post on why I love my foodie hero, Nigella.
Nigella was back in town recently which means I am back in adoration mode. But this time our likenesses really struck me. Time and time again during her two talks (naturally I went to both), I found myself thinking, she’s just like me. Or rather I’m just like her. So here are the 17 reasons why, direct from Nigella herself.
“It’s a long time not to eat. Missing a meal would make me panic.”
This was Nigella’s response to the question ‘Have you tried the 5:2 diet?” and I completely agree with her. I am flummoxed at how people survive for a day on a boiled egg and cup of black coffee and could never, would never do it.
A section of my bulging bookcase of cookbooks
“People would faint at disapproval if they knew how many cookery books I owned.”
I would love to know what number that is. For me it’s 113 and steadily rising. And yes a good chunk of those are Nigella’s books.
“Food shopping is very pleasurable.”
I LOVE food shopping and can spend hours in a supermarket, especially if it’s an international supermarket. Granted I am not shopping for a family of six however the size of my trolley often suggests I am. I remember how much I loved the Thursday night shop with mum when I was little and I take great pleasure in examining produce and products, comparing value and picking up random new finds to have some fun.
“I love salt.”
I love it so much I often commit the culinary sin of salting my food before tasting it. I hope dearly that I’m never put on a low sodium diet, it would be the end of me.
Me eating spanakopita at around 18 months. The only thing that’s really changed is my taste in socks.
“Food memories conjure up feelings of safety, the smells take you back and give comfort.”
My earliest memories all involve food. Hell, ALL my memories involve food. And nothing gives me greater comfort than my yiayia’s cooking, or the smell of a barbeque. ”Food says a lot about identity… we develop bonds through food’ Nigella noted to sociologist Hugh Mackay. One meal with a Greek family is all that’s required to prove this point.
“How do people live without leftovers?”
I live for leftovers. I cook for the aforementioned imaginary family of six and then portion out leftovers for lunch and future dinners. There’s nothing better than arriving home late and tired knowing there is a home cooked meal waiting to be reheated.
“Over half the recipes in this (new) book are vegetarian.”
Nigella noted that despite embracing every food type voraciously, she subconsciously leans towards vegetarian food much of the time and I am quite similar. I love meat but I rarely buy it, for a mix of health, environmental and fiscal reasons. I tend to save juicy steak and pork ribs for restaurant dining and dig into vegetables, seafood, pulses and whole grains at home. Which interestingly enough is a standard Mediterranean diet – perhaps I am more like my Greek islander ancestors than I realise. Read More
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