The Culinary Travels of James Cook Continued

 

- But, the coffee beans suddenly stretched out thoughtfully, what did he bring back in the end? What culinary treasures did he dig up in his wanderings?

The pan clinked weightily against the stove.

- First of all, he had proved that it was possible to eat properly and survive long voyages. But as for the treasure...

I stepped forward. The tomato froze. Even the sugar bowl stopped pretending to be indifferent.

- Come on,” I said impatiently. - What did he bring?

- Disappointment.

There was a pause.

- What do you mean? - The tomato asked stunned.

- I mean that the best culinary riches have long since been brought by others! - sighed the frying pan. - Potatoes? The Spanish brought them from Peru two centuries before him. Tomatoes? Again, the Spaniards. Corn? Same Spaniards and Portuguese. Cocoa? You've already guessed it.

The tomato puffed up resentfully.

- So, he was traveling for new dishes, and everything had already been discovered?

- Not really. Cook brought Europe not so much new products as knowledge. For example, that coconut water can be drunk and its pulp can be used to make something resembling cream. Or that in Polynesia people manage to cook fish so that it literally melts in your mouth despite the fact that it is not subjected to heat treatment at all.

- Is it like sushi? - I asked, taking a sip of tea.

- Exactly! - Approvingly nodded the frying pan. - Although the Japanese also long ago mastered this trick. But Cook brought stories about how in tropical lands fish marinate in lime juice, add coconut milk, a little pepper - and get a dish that would make any European gourmet salivate.

- And it didn't get a standing ovation back home? - the tomato was clearly sympathetic to the traveler.

- Of course they did. But many people would have preferred that he bring back gold.

- Ungrateful people,” grumbled the coffee beans.

- But!” continued the frying pan, sounding much more cheerful now. - He left behind something much more important than gold.

I raised an eyebrow.

- What was that?

- A cookbook.

There was silence in the kitchen.

- He... wrote a cookbook? - Stunned, the tomato asked.

- Well, not exactly him,” the frying pan admitted. - But thanks to his notes and reports on his crew's diet, it's possible these days to recreate the dishes that helped sailors survive. Flour and lard pudding, for example.

Tomato shuddered in disgust.

- Or soup made of dried peas.

The coffee beans rustled unhappily.

- Or even baked turtle.

- We are officially dissatisfied with this trip,” Tomato declared.

- Don't worry,” grinned the skillet. - The important thing to remember is that, thanks to people like Cook, people began to treat food not just as survival, but as an art form.

I nodded thoughtfully and sipped my tea.

- Well then, here's to the great Cook!

- To Cook! - The pan, the tomato and the coffee beans echoed in unison.

Kitchen conversation is over. Until the next meal.

To be continued.