There’s been a bit of a lull in my blog activity but I’ve had a good reason. A four-day-early baby arrival isn’t something that can be planned, and the ensuing chaos that follows makes it hard to find 30 quality minutes or two free typing hands to get stuck into a keyboard.
Allow me to digress from restaurants and chefs and to introduce a very special somebody. Daniel Thomas entered the world on Sunday August 8th weighing 3.45kg with a hearty set of lungs. Neither of his parents had changed a nappy before, and were of the opinion that tiny babies were scarily fragile items to handle. We’ve been delighted to learn that nappy-changing isn’t enjoyed by babies either, that little people are fairly robust when their arms are crammed into sleeves, and that certain facial expressions make adult hearts wobble with love. We’re really enjoying the learning curve.
A decision was taken not to find out the sex, but our instincts led us to believe our baby was female. (Parents at birth: “He’s a boy. Oh? But he was meant to be a girl. I know!”) During pregnancy he was commonly referred to as Nugget. The nickname has stuck, frequently shortened to the Nug Bug. For a person whose head is smaller than an adult hand, it seems appropriate.
Now the food connection…
He was born on a Sunday evening during a long weekend. Twenty lengths at the indoor pool were followed by Sunday brunch at Voila in De Waterkant. Eggs Benedict with a celebratory glass of Graham Beck Rosé in anticipation of the week of his birth. OK, one-third of a glass to keep the disapproving stares at bay…
After a late afternoon movie at V&A Waterfront (note the trend: soon-to-be-parents cramming in multiple leisure activities) we nipped into Pick n Pay to buy ingredients for three weekday dinners: chicken curry, spaghetti Bolognaise and pre-made spinach and ricotta panzarotti (it only needed a tomato sauce to be whipped up). Food was on my mind as we left the supermarket and my waters broke. A hasty hospital trip and by 11pm Daniel was born.
The Nug Bug’s early food preferences?
He has a healthy appetite for breast milk and like his mother, enjoys snacking. So far I’ve eaten mild stews, pizza, Asian dishes livened by chilli, homemade muesli, chocolate, cooked vegetables and plenty of fruit salad without noticeable side effects.
We’ll try not to turn him into a food snob and just let him get on with it. I remember a magazine shoot with a celebrated Stellenbosch chef and his family a few years back, hearing how his toddler had a fascination with bitter black olives and truffle oil over freshly rolled pasta. There is plenty of time for Daniel to develop a gourmet palate if he chooses, preferably on his own account! For the most part he’ll be raised on fresh ingredients, but if Daniel’s curiosity extends to factory-processed McD’s he’ll be welcome to sample the odd Happy Meal too. Kids should be kids and have fun. Provided he’s similarly open-minded about trying spinach, liver and brussels sprouts…