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The first time I saw Laura Calder was on her James Beard Award winning TV series French Food at Home. She was cooking peasant food while wearing a dress the color of flesh, and although it was her outfit that caught my eye, it was her voice and her words that pulled me in. I listened, captivated, as she described the menu for the 'Thrifty' show, effortlessly rolling her tongue around words like croûte and crêpe, shrugging her shoulders just the tiniest bit to emphasize each 'R'. Somewhere between the Soufléed Spinach Omelette and the Baked Onions with Vinaigrette, I knew I was hooked.
Later that evening I found all 25 episodes from Season 3 on the Food Network Canada’s website, then spent the next three days immersed in a world of French food (a cuisine that seemed very exotic to me at the time). Laura cooked in a kitchen from another era - a kitchen where milk came out of the refrigerator in glass bottles and butter was stored in earthenware crocks; a place where napkins were pressed before being laid on the table and ingredients were measured out in dollops and dribbles.
Looking back now, I realize I was seduced as much by her phraseology as I was by the romantic food she prepared. Laura wrote every episode of French Food at Home, producing scripts that were filled with evocative language. The way she described vegetables - at times sensuous, as buttery strands of cabbage that tangled together or oil-slicked beets that glistened like jewels in a crystal bowl, and at times whimsically personified, with onions that wore jackets, mushrooms with heels, or tomatoes with waists and butts, either way - her viewers got the message: French veggies are sexy veggies.
It should come as no surprise that Laura Calder is also a bestselling author. According to her Facebook page, she is a writer by profession. Not a celebrity chef, or a television personality, or even a food writer, but a writer. It should also come as no surprise that the moment I saw this Tweet I was on the phone to Barbara-Jo:
Barbara-Jo is the owner of Book to Cooks, a sublime Vancouver bookstore that specializes in cookbooks of every kind, including many unique and rare finds.
When I walked into the shop, I saw Laura doing exactly what I imagine she might do in her free time, browsing French cookbooks. The first thing I noticed about her was her height. The second was her seemingly pore-less complexion. Barbara-Jo greeted me then introduced me to Laura who was gracious enough to pose for a few photos and chat with me about nothing in particular until it was time for the event to begin.
The bookstore has a full kitchen where guest chefs and cookbook authors can come and share their culinary wisdom.
For this special event, Laura Calder was at the hob cooking up a casual Sunday Supper with recipes from her latest book Dinner Chez Moi - The Fine Art of Feeding Friends.
Supper started off with Tuna and White Bean Salad on Toasted Baguette served with a sparkling glass of champagne.
Followed by the main course, sticky-sweet Apricot Ribs...
Served with Quinoa with Spinach and Hazelnuts (loaded with fresh veggies, nuts, grains and luxurious hazelnut oil). Yum!
Laura was an animated and charming host, entertaining her guest with stories, answering questions, and chatting about her plans.
For dessert, Pistachio Semifreddo with Poached Peaches.
Each dish was fantastic and better than the one before. The recipes were not the least bit fussy (nor were they particularly French) and each one could be made ahead of time, leaving the host free to enjoy a relaxing evening entertaining friends, old or new.
Watch for my review of Dinner Chez Moi coming soon!
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