I've just been to the most amazing food festival. It was held in a English country house where there were a wide range of activities including demonstrations of crafts. Getting into the place was quite difficult as I travelled behind a large tourist bus negotiating the tiny cobbled drive that took us behind the house into the courtyard. I couldn't see round the bus as to where we were going and I wasn't sure if we were going to get stuck as the road was very narrow with buildings each side so I just had to trust we were all going in the right direction.
Once inside I was immediately attracted by the photographic display where a particularly fine processing of photographs was taking place. A specialist actually mixed the processing fluid herself so that it was vaguely violet and this had an effect on the overall development of the photos bringing out an incredible quality. She was using a fine paint brush in the fluid to "paint" the photographs and as her brush went backwards and forwards it revealed portions of the photographs that were being brushed. Some of the photographs on display were a special and previously unreleased collection of Prince Philip and blow me but who should also be there but the chap himself!
The food area was a massive hive of activity with tables of food stuffs that could be freely tasted. Of all the places in the world there was an old friend of mine who was there doing some demonstration cooking. I didn't know that she would be there and she was ever so lovely and walked round with me and we talked "food". Someone had brought in a photograph of a yellow split pea/lentil type dish which my friend made just by looking at the photograph! It was identical and so delicious - I love dahl type dishes - and I was so impressed with my friend's ability. The interesting thing was that they had the same dish ready made in a carton - one of those quality cartons and another ready made dish and they compared the texture, taste, colour and quality. It was amazing - I didn't realise how highly coloured the ready-made stuff was and was so bland and thin in comparison to the "real thing" made with organic produce.
In the background I could hear the "man" of this country house, I'm not sure if he was some landed gentry Lord whose inheritance had dwindled so that he was reluctantly forced to open up his family house to such gatherings. He was becoming frustrated and cross with his large dog who wouldn't come eat some lovely concoction someone had lovingly made. He sniped at his dog that the dog wasn't going to get some piece of steak like some common mongrel. How bizarre!
It is a pity because I can not remember all the lovely foods I tasted but what stood out the most (after the fabulous dahl dish) was a display of weetabix! I was asking my friend about these weetabix because they surely were not the regular branded weetabix with rounded corners. No, these had perfectly square corners and looked very stylish. They were stood on end in a display against the wall that gave it support. At the top end of each weetabix was a clear plastic sleeve that stood proud and contained a large serving of honey. There were a whole range of honeys and was the most beautiful display. With the crisp cornered biscuits each crowned with gorgeous amber colours of different shades. I'm not even one for honey but I started tasting the different honeys that I must admit I was carried away. The display fell a bit but I was just so into the honeys and ended up quite sticky and feeling heavenly. The jars were nearby but I can't quite remember all the different exotic and unusual names.
Next to this display were cheeses. In particular an English brie-type cheese from which I could freely take slivers. The soft cheese oozed its voluptuousness out the sides and was the finest cheese I had ever tasted in my life. Truly a culinary experience.
At this point I wondered whether I would say that everything written above this paragraph was actually a dream. There was no country house, no food festival, no photographic techniques display, no foodie friend from the past and no tasting. It is Saturday morning and I've woken up late. That's it. It was a very lovely dream though except the worrying bit at the beginning with the bus. I think I actually went to the festival by mistake because of being stuck behind the bus. Curious.
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Oh my gosh Doris I was so sucked in. What a nice dream. Not sure what the being stuck behind the bus meant though.
You described it so perfectly. You are very talented.
Have a great weekend.
Take care xx
Saturday, June 24, 2006 10:06:00 PM
You do have the most multi-sensory dreams! :-)
Saturday, June 24, 2006 11:35:00 PM
What a lovely dream :-) Could you possibly have it again and find out the name of that cheese, it sounds delicious?!
Very detailed too hon. Did you write it all down when you woke up? I have to do that if I want to remember dreams, or the details tend to fade.
Sunday, June 25, 2006 12:25:00 AM
I did write it up straight away otherwise I'd forget. It slides out of my grasp otherwise. I had another lengthy dream last night that was "worthy" of writing up but I haven't the time this morning and it is already eluding me.
I definitely dream in colour. I wonder if all that food I ate and the pleasure I got from it was calorie free? Hmmm :-)
As for the menaings of it all, I reckon I can read into the bus thing... it is about me trusting others and sometimes I don't need to see where I am going! It will be OK!
Sunday, June 25, 2006 10:09:00 AM
Wonderful! I can almost taste the honey from your description :).
Sunday, June 25, 2006 2:25:00 PM
I love a good food festival! I always come away broke (I swear they overprice the dishes), but very, very satisfied. ;p
What is dahl anyways? Is that Indian?
Around here, Thai food is huge. There's easily Thai restaraunt or two in each neighborhood. I love it.
Sunday, June 25, 2006 3:51:00 PM
Hanging out with Royalty, huh? In your dreams.. ;-)
(my word verification was prrrhug, so I hope you're a happy kitty today.)
Monday, June 26, 2006 5:25:00 AM
I'd love to have known where it was, do you think you could go back again and write down directions for us?
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 4:16:00 PM