Saturday 16 July 2011

Special Guest: Nicole Murphy ~ Rogue Gadda

With a blog title of Eleni’s Taverna, there was only one thing I could write for you all about – food and drink in the Dream of Asarlai trilogy.

I love reading about food and drink. I love seeing characters interacting in real social environments, or celebrating or commiserating in a way that seems real to me.

Food is something that’s really important in every culture. Even here in Australia, where at times it can be hard to see what is our culture, the one thing that shines through is food.

Major holidays. Celebrations. Australia Day has now become one of the major food moments of our year, with picnics and barbecues. Anzac Day has become synonymous with the biscuit. And at Christmas, we’ve moved from the traditional meals that came with us from England – roast and pudding – and we’re into barbecues and salads. Prawn consumption is higher on Christmas day than any other.

Drinking, of course, has been part of Australia’s culture from the moment the first fleet came into the cove. At one point, our entire economy ran on rum. Watching a sporting event doesn’t seem RIGHT without a beer on hand – at least for me.

So when it came time to write about the gadda, to write about people and relationships, food and drink automatically become an important part of it all.



At the very beginning of Secret Ones, we see Maggie shopping for sparkling wine and nibbles to celebrate receiving her master’s degree. I purposely mirrored this in the first time we meet Lucas – he’s also celebrating a career achievement. It didn’t seem right to be having these celebrations without food.
As the story goes on, we learn that Lucas doesn’t drink much – he’s not comfortable with losing control. Stephen as well, in Power Unbound, states that he only drinks occasionally – his focus has been on reaching sixth order, and he doesn’t want anything to interact with that.

On the other side, both Maggie and Ione are quite comfortable drinking. It showcases the easy attitude both these women have to life – an attitude that their respective partners come to need and appreciate.
Then there’s the famous Hammond Stew – the family secret that only marriage to a Hammond can reveal. I’ve always loved the idea of a family recipe. My family has one – all seven of us Dunkley kids cook our spaghetti bolognaise in pretty much the same way – Mum’s way. We’ve all got variations (I for example add canned tomatoes to mine) but the basis is the same.

So when I realised that Ione was a bit of a gourmet, it made sense to have her be the owner of the secret recipe. It also made sense that Maggie would forever be after her for it. But Ione will remain firm, because family and tradition is important.

And when Hampton and Charlotte are getting to know each other in Rogue Gadda, food is an important part of the courtship – it’s incredible how in the act of sharing a meal, you often end up sharing yourself as well.

I like food – a little too much, my waistline would say. I also like drink – again, much to my waistline’s dismay. But my favourite food and drink nearly always corresponds with people – sharing beers with my brothers, cracking a bottle of champagne with my friends, the first meal I cooked for my husband.
Magical moments, for me and for the gadda.



To win a copy of Rogue Gadda, tell me – what is your favourite meal memory?

Rogue Gadda cookie:


“I can’t cook, I’m afraid,” Hampton said as he brought two dishes out. “I got this from a restaurant in town. I hope it’s suitable.”
 He put the dishes down and the aroma of coq au vin rose to Charlotte’s nose. “Perfect. Although I would have been more impressed if you said you’d cooked it yourself.”
 He sat down and for a moment his eyes were so clear she thought he was looking deep into her soul. “No lies between us, Charlotte.”



~~~
Thanks Nicole for joining me on my blog, and for the giveaway.
So what are you waiting for everyone? 
Comment for you chance to win a copy of Rogue Gadda.


~yia~

13 comments:

Nicole Murphy said...

Thanks for the opportunity to be in the taverna, Eleni. Hope lots of folks join us for a drink and a natter.

Mel Teshco said...

Hi Nicole and Eleni!!

Your books look and sound great Nicole =)

And great post topic - unfortunately one close to my heart too LOL!!
I love food and I love a couple of drinks in the afternoon with my husband (home brew is spot on)

My favourite meal memory is probably my 21st birthday with my oldest brother (who is 5 years and 1 day older). We each had a huge black forest cake brought out with the candles. A nice, simple memory I treasure.

Nicole Murphy said...

Thanks Mel :)

Those simple meals are often the big ones, aren't they? It's like with my husband, because we met when living far away from each other, our romantic meal became pizza and champagne, cause that's what we always had the first night together (easy, simple, allowed time for 'other things') :)

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hey Nicole, you really do talk about one of my favourite topics - food and drink. And so very very fitting for the Taverna.

With my family, food has always been a big part of our lives and celebrations. On my 21st we had two lambs on the spit and a pig on the spit - very Greek celebration. There's nothing like eating straight off the spit (sorry to my poor vegetarian friends).

And I could not get by without my mum's Greek sweets for celebrations, nor her cheesecake. I'm blessed. I think every special occasion has been marked with great food.

I'm not a big drinker, but the occasional Pale Ale is nice, especially in summer.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Mel, what a lovely memory to have. Very special indeed. Thanks for sharing.

Peta said...

Thanks Eleni and Nicole.
I must say that chocolate plays a big part in my food memories.
On one of our first dates my now husband took me for a picnic. He had cooked me a sour-cream chocolate cake (takes something like three hours to cook so he scored major points on that one). We ate it sitting next to the river at sunset watching the yachts float past.
I also love it when my kids and their friends tell me I make the best brownies ever.
Now all I need to do is try chocolate beer....

Nicole Murphy said...

Peta - chocolate beer? I can't decide if that idea terrifies or delights me :) But your husband sounds a delight - any man who cooks is a keeper. Like mine :)

Eleni - I do love me a good spit roast. My mum used to be big on the baking - I still drool when I think of her chocolate rough slice.

Christina Phillips said...

Hi Nicole and Eleni :-)

My memory being what it is (dreadful!!) I'm going for a very recent foodie memory that completely made my day. It was this Mother's Day and my husband, unknown to me, had bought huge freshly baked French sticks. He then bbq'd bacon and eggs and stuffed the warm bread with our breakfast and presented it to me with fresh coffee. OMG double yum what can I say. It was a million times better than the ones from Dome!!!

Shayne said...

My Mum's rum cream pie. You could get drunk on one piece.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Okay, my mouth is watering with all this lovely food mentioned. Yummity yum.

Nicole Murphy said...

Hi Christina - Ah, the surprise breakfast in bed - is there anything better? And fee things taste better than fresh bread.

Shayne -rum cream pie sounds awesome!

Nicole Murphy said...

Hi everyone

Time for a winner to be chosen - and thanks to random number draw, that winner is Christina! Congrats, Christina, and thanks everyone for coming along and taking part.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Woohoo Christina!

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