A recipe for good times

Food is an essential part of human life and whilst some people preach no-food diets consisting of only water in reality a human being will not subsist for very long without food. I believe a human can survive for around 21-30 days without food however the last several days would not be pleasant, those right before death. Water is a different matter with the time from failing to drink to death being some 3 days or so depending on exertion and ambient temperature. So, let's just say food and water are essential to life...Because they are.

The sumptuous meal you see in the image is fish and chip Friday UK style. I was in the historic port town of Bideford on the estuary of the River Torridge, north Devon in the south-west of England. It's a fun little place and we saw no reason not to continue our fish and chip Friday tradition...Especially considering the quality of food on offer at many of the local spots.

You're looking at cod fish and peas on the bottom plate, calamari rings, prawns and salad on the upper plate and a serve of deep fried camembert cheese on the side plate. Of course what fish and chip Friday would be complete without chips...

The food people eat is so different when compared around the world and of course the quantity is also different. Some have plenty and are wasteful with it and other's have little making sure that what they do have is used to the fullest extent. My father for instance would never waste food; It just wasn't in his DNA due to his upbringing and the hardships faced by he and his family during the Japanese occupation of his town in the Second World War. He has passed that down to me, although in the world of plenty here in Australia food wastage is, unfortunately, commonplace.

I always tend towards more simple meals myself; I mean when I am preparing food for myself. I suppose even when eating out I tend to prefer simplicity, not complicated fancy food. Good, wholesome food, presented well trumps a steak the size of a 50 cent piece, one bean, one carrot slice and a smear of gravy at some fancy restaurant every day of the week!

Tonight after getting home from work I decided on a simple meal of some crackers, olives, little cucumber things, cheese and some chilli flavoured tuna. You can see the meal here, eaten outside in my back yard as the sun was dipping. It was a little cool however quite relaxing. I had some tunes playing and just enjoyed the moment, the simplicity. I don't always eat alone but on this occasion I did and didn't mind.

Sharing food with friends and family has always been a social moment. The term breaking bread is used to describe the sharing of food amongst friends. It originates from the old days when guests would tear chunks from bread loaves at a communal meal most probably prior to utensils being employed during meals. Today it indicates a gathering, a social interaction between one of more people. It smacks of friendship, sharing, generosity and kindness.

Food can be good bad or indifferent however when shared, offered freely to those who may need it, or the company that comes with it, it improves. A simple pizza and bottle of soda or a beer becomes a valuable and memorable moment when a couple of mates are added into the mix. Throw on some tunes and it's a recipe for good times...