The table recoils, faces slump. The eager anticipation for the best part of the day is crushed. Embarrassed I slink away. A steaming pot of orangey brown soup flecked with green looks like the faces surrounding it. The scorched earth of Athens and a rainy day washes the colour of my creation into the Med. Costas the Greek dayworker. “What the fuck is this? It looks like you had a big night and served us the evidence. Come on this is spew.” Hiding back in my sink I beg. Just open your mind and try it. It does taste good.
First week as crew chef aboard a yacht. My superior, a slender German woman brought the key ingredients- Sweet potato and Spinach. Instructions, a little more than the usual – wash dishes, peeling garlic. “Make that soup, here.” The bag of spinach tossed from the freeze lures. “What how could you woman!” But no I, “um, ur I need fresh spinach otherwise it will be a horrible colour,” cry out holding back the how could you. “Ur what else can I serve for lunch?” She exudes power in her look. “You want to do more than soup?” Well, yes you wisp of paper, it’s hard labour out there, they like protein. “Another option incase everyone doesn’t feel like hot soup on a humid day.” I scour the fridges, bread, soup, salad. The deck boys are going to hate me. Meat, meat, meat. No it is off limits. Meat only once a day. Insanity, working on a 20 million dollar boat and her budget is so tight she can only afford to serve meat once a day. “How about a cheap cut for a stew, ooh I could make a kiwi pie.” No.
Ok tinned tuna, eggs = perfect a Niciose of sorts. Bacon mushroom pasta. Enough to keep my room mate from hating me? Maybe just.
Chop sweet potato, toss in oil, some turmeric and s+p and roast with some garlic cloves. Sweat onion, add roasted potato and cover with stock or water. Add some spinach now. Simmer for an hour or two. Blitz adding heaps of fresh spinach. Season, taste and add a dash of heat. The spicy one. Try adding some water cress and play with spices.
The colour I was aiming for is a deep vibrant green. Is green soup appertising? My girlfriend says no. “It’s a bit radioactive but the taste is great.”
