Victoria Allman's Blog, page 5
September 10, 2011
Mama Goes Yachting-Himmarshee, Florida
For the past 13 years I have been traveling around the world as a chef on a yacht. I write about my experiences and the food I find in each port. Usually, my tales involve a trip to the market in Spain, grilling octopus under the scorching Greek sun, or catching mahi-mahi in the azul waters of the South Pacific. But last weekend, as I was reading Mama Sees Stars, the fourth Mace Bauer Mystery by Deborah Sharp, I traveled--in my mind--to a place I'd never been—the fictional town of Himmarshee, Florida (based on Okeechobee, Florida). I fell in love with both the book and the place. And, really, isn't that what a good book should do? Allow you to escape in its pages to a different place.
As I read, I couldn't help but wonder what a trip to Himmarshee would be like. Mama Sees Stars is set in a little known part of the Sunshine State--the center--away from the beaches and neon of Miami that Florida is famous for.
And, so, with a good book, entertaining characters, and an interesting (fictional) town in my mind, I wrote a yachting story starring Mama, Mace and Mama's favorite dish—Butterscotch Pie.
So, here is my travel essay on an imaginary place that I wish I could go see.
As I read, I couldn't help but wonder what a trip to Himmarshee would be like. Mama Sees Stars is set in a little known part of the Sunshine State--the center--away from the beaches and neon of Miami that Florida is famous for.
And, so, with a good book, entertaining characters, and an interesting (fictional) town in my mind, I wrote a yachting story starring Mama, Mace and Mama's favorite dish—Butterscotch Pie.
So, here is my travel essay on an imaginary place that I wish I could go see.
September 3, 2011
SEAsoned Review in the Miami Herald
Once again, I am thrilled...and this time amazed at the review in the Miami Herald of SEAsoned. Not only was I splashed over the front page of the section, but the article was syndicated all over the country! An author couldn't ask for better than that.
Check it out!
Yacht Chef Travels The Seas Cooking For the Rich and Famous
Thank you, Ana Veiciana-Suarez!
There is even a recipe for a late summer Corn and Tomato Salad
Photo by Partick Farrell
Check it out!
Yacht Chef Travels The Seas Cooking For the Rich and Famous
Thank you, Ana Veiciana-Suarez!
There is even a recipe for a late summer Corn and Tomato Salad
Photo by Partick Farrell
August 27, 2011
Tribal Bartering-Papua New Guinea
"Are they still there?" I asked Patrick as he walked through the galley.
"They haven't left." Patrick grabbed a slice of pineapple from the platter in front of me. "We're surrounded."
I swatted his hand as he reached for another slice. The fruit tray was for the guests on Pangaea, the 185-foot yacht I was chef of, not for the crew, whether he was my husband or not.
"They haven't left." Patrick grabbed a slice of pineapple from the platter in front of me. "We're surrounded."
I swatted his hand as he reached for another slice. The fruit tray was for the guests on Pangaea, the 185-foot yacht I was chef of, not for the crew, whether he was my husband or not.
August 20, 2011
Bimini Breakdown-The Bahamas
We were only going to be in Bimini for two days. There was no time to waste. I wanted Bimini Bread.
Trouble was, we were anchored two miles off the east coast of the island and the tender was broken. Harry, our engineer, was busy trying to fix it. But by the descriptive words coming out of his mouth, I held little hope it would be functioning in time to get me to the craft market and to Natalie's stall before it closed.
Patrick came into our cabin as I stuffed a few loose bills in the pocket of my swim shorts.
Trouble was, we were anchored two miles off the east coast of the island and the tender was broken. Harry, our engineer, was busy trying to fix it. But by the descriptive words coming out of his mouth, I held little hope it would be functioning in time to get me to the craft market and to Natalie's stall before it closed.
Patrick came into our cabin as I stuffed a few loose bills in the pocket of my swim shorts.
August 14, 2011
Citrus and Sunshine-Key West
"The best Key lime pie is the one you are about to eat." David Sloan, author of the upcoming The Ultimate Key Lime Pie Cookbook, told me.
I was in Key West on an odyssey. Instead of doing the Duval crawl, I was in search of the taste of Key West. In the past six days, I had tried eight key lime pies; each one different from the last. I was overwhelmed and confused.
"What about traditional versions?" I asked as I dug into the ninth slice a hint of cinnamon in the crust stood out as unique. Next to us, a woman with Medusa-inspired blond curls cocked her head to reveal a red, green and blue phoenix-rising from ashes-tattooed up her neck and across her throat. It had been hidden in the tangle.
I was in Key West on an odyssey. Instead of doing the Duval crawl, I was in search of the taste of Key West. In the past six days, I had tried eight key lime pies; each one different from the last. I was overwhelmed and confused.
"What about traditional versions?" I asked as I dug into the ninth slice a hint of cinnamon in the crust stood out as unique. Next to us, a woman with Medusa-inspired blond curls cocked her head to reveal a red, green and blue phoenix-rising from ashes-tattooed up her neck and across her throat. It had been hidden in the tangle.
August 6, 2011
Comfort Food- Nantes, France
My mother is a trouper. Over the years, I have dragged her to dinners that consisted of raw tuna, when she had never had anything but canned before, and spicy curries from countries she had never heard of. She would smile and eat what was in front of her, when I knew she would feel more at ease with a chicken breast or a plate of spaghetti. And although, it all seemed normal to me, the meals tested her comfort level. Now, she was in France for ten days and we were stretching all of her boundaries. I had signed us up for a day of cooking lessons in a French home. We had started early that morning at the market in Nantes, Brittany. Lars wound us through stalls pointing out baskets of mushrooms cultivated in the surrounding caves and misshapen pumpkins with popcorn bumps blistering their skin. The cheese stalls held enticing, yet unknown varieties for mom.
"These are the last of the summer peaches," Lars told us. They were smushed as flat as a skipping stone; a different variety than mom bought at home, but not so foreign that she couldn't recognize it. So far, it had all seemed familiar and mom was enjoying herself, that is, until we got to the corner stall.
"These are the last of the summer peaches," Lars told us. They were smushed as flat as a skipping stone; a different variety than mom bought at home, but not so foreign that she couldn't recognize it. So far, it had all seemed familiar and mom was enjoying herself, that is, until we got to the corner stall.
July 30, 2011
An Allergic Reaction--being a yacht chef
Before Amy and Scotty Angelo opened Oceana Coffee, a local Florida speciality roaster of high-quality coffees that I brew every morning to start my day, we all worked together on a yacht in Tahiti. Amy was our cheif stewardess and I the chef. Those days are some of my favorite memories...even if crazy things like the following story happened.
If you like great tasting coffee roasted to order, check out Oceana Coffee, brew a pot and read on...
An Allergic Reaction
I was lucky the yacht was equipped to handle the situation—not every boat could have.
It was during our morning meeting that I first recognized the problem.
If you like great tasting coffee roasted to order, check out Oceana Coffee, brew a pot and read on...
An Allergic Reaction
I was lucky the yacht was equipped to handle the situation—not every boat could have.
It was during our morning meeting that I first recognized the problem.
July 17, 2011
A Reminder of Home-Switzerland
I was a child in the 70's. I remember playing in the cupboard with my mother's fondue set, but I can't say I ever remember tasting the bubbling cheese mixture that came out of the pot. When fondue was fashionable in our house, I wasn't exactly a connoisseur of cheese. If it wasn't melted in a sandwich, I wasn't interested.
These days, things have changed. Three of my top favorite things are cheese, wine, and bread, so to mix those all together and serve them in a mountain setting, another of my favorite things, sounded like heaven to me.
"Let's hike first and lunch later," Patrick suggested. He was already twenty-feet ahead of me and racing to the start of the trail. He leaned forward and marched with his arms pumping by his side. By the time I had opened my mouth to reply, he had already doubled the gap between us. I quickened my pace to catch-up. His enthusiasm in the mountains can be overwhelming and hard to keep up with.
These days, things have changed. Three of my top favorite things are cheese, wine, and bread, so to mix those all together and serve them in a mountain setting, another of my favorite things, sounded like heaven to me.
"Let's hike first and lunch later," Patrick suggested. He was already twenty-feet ahead of me and racing to the start of the trail. He leaned forward and marched with his arms pumping by his side. By the time I had opened my mouth to reply, he had already doubled the gap between us. I quickened my pace to catch-up. His enthusiasm in the mountains can be overwhelming and hard to keep up with.
July 9, 2011
It Ain't Pretty-New Orleans
"It ain't pretty, but it's tasty." These words ran through my head all weekend in New Orleans. They were spoken by our taxi driver.
"Howdy, folks. Welcome to New Orleans." The wrinkles on the back of the man's neck told a story of how long he had been greeting people. "What brings you to town?"
Patrick and I spoke simultaneously:
"Jazz fest."
"The food."
"Howdy, folks. Welcome to New Orleans." The wrinkles on the back of the man's neck told a story of how long he had been greeting people. "What brings you to town?"
Patrick and I spoke simultaneously:
"Jazz fest."
"The food."
June 26, 2011
Guest Blogging on The Lipstick Chronicles
Today, I am guest blogging with a wonderful group of women on The Lipstick Chronicles. I'm thrilled to have been invited to join their lively conversation.
Come check out my story, Something Simple, about additional guest showing up for lunch onboard the yacht and my recipe for Spicy Tuna Sushi
Come check out my story, Something Simple, about additional guest showing up for lunch onboard the yacht and my recipe for Spicy Tuna Sushi
