I think of him every time I’m here.
Every time.
Every single time.
There’s something about this place that brings back a flood of memories.
That makes me want to cry into my soup.
The first time, I sat at a table for two looking out into an oasis of palms and green and purple-magenta flowers that surrounded the swimming pool.
It was something about the sauce I was eating that afternoon that brought him to the fore of my mind. The onions which he loved – his essential seasoning. I wrote a long note about how much he meant to me, how much I learnt from him.
But I deleted it. Not on purpose but in error.
Supreme
A sophisticated culinary term used to describe the process of removing the flesh, in sections, piece by piece of fruit from the membranes. The technique involves cutting off the skin from the outside of the fruit, placing a sharp paring knife between the membrane and fruit and cutting out the small pie shaped piece of fruit.Source: YumSugar
He favoured onions and hot chili peppers over tomatoes.
Still his memory remained, pervaded my thoughts. Made me wonder what he’d think of me now. All grown-up.
That passed.
Six months later, I’m back. Sitting in the hotel restaurant again.
This time, I’m breakfasting on bacon, croissants and baked beans.
And my mind is consumed with the freshness and sweetness of oranges.
Supreme
To supreme a citrus fruit is to remove the skin, pith, membranes, and seeds, and to separate its segments. Used as a noun, a supreme can be a wedge of citrus fruit prepared in this way.
Source: Wikipedia
For it is orange season.
They are piled high on wheelbarrows. Green and yellow. Sweet and juicy. He always got them by the sack. And juiced them.
He wasn’t afraid of ‘lots’. Of many. Of abundance.
Of trying.
Of experimenting.
Of stepping outside of ‘comfort’.
Strangely I grew up thinking him invincible. Untouchable. Even by death.
Supreme
(1) To remove the flesh sections of citrus fruit from the membranes
(2) The wing and breast of the chicken or game bird
(3) A fillet of sole or fish.
Source: Linda’s Culinary Dictionary on What’s Cooking America
The oranges remind me of him. They always do.
They make me miss him. A lot.
Something about associations.
As I supreme the oranges for my punch, I think about him.
About the legacy he left me.
Of cooking with heart.
Of not being afraid.
Of baring my soul – even though he never subscribed to emotional outbursts.
He had his moments.
My father did.
My hero.
Gone before I ever got a chance to say a proper goodbye.
Nothing to do with ‘supremeing‘ an orange
But memories on a raft.
Taking me to places, far far away from here
Places of love and hope and confidence.
Places I come back to.
Time and time again.
My gift to you today: a #phovid…yes another one, on oranges, and how to ‘supreme’ them.
How to Supreme an Orange
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlUjpp_1Y8?list=UU0CEBVIte3nbdcgV8RWJaGw]
Citrus Supremes Recipes
Citrus Fruit Salad, from Affi of My Belle Don Full
Winter Citrus Fruit Parfait with Whipped Cream, from USA Today
Supreme of Citrus, with Martha Stewart[wpurp-searchable-recipe]How to Supreme an Orange – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
[…] to the Hausas of Nigeria. Dried Cranberries. Tiny rose buds purchased in Vienna. The zest of a Nigerian orange and drizzles of rose […]
[…] How to Supreme an Orange […]
Very handsome indeed!
Thanks my love
Thank you dear!
A beautiful tribute to your Father Oz. I didn’t know this technique was called a supreme. I use it all the time but it takes me back to living in Jeddah and cutting up oranges for group of toddlers who were always at my house. Little slices of orange slip down so easily when they are prepared like this.
They certainly are easy to eat this way.
In Nigeria, this would be no more than a garnish/ for use in salad as we generally ‘suck’ or ‘lick’ oranges.
Thanks dear
Oh my friend, I’m crying after reading this. XO How I love your Dad’s beaming open face. I’m so glad you got to know him, even for such a short time. XO
Thank you dear.
Much love back!
A voluptuous post Oz! Filled with juicy oranges and sweet memories! It is uncanny how the mind works, smells and aromas evoke the strongest of emotions. Your father must have been a wonderful man and your tribute pays homage to his legacy.
He was awesome dear…mostly :-).
Thank you ok?
I thank God for the things that remind us of loved ones, things as sweet & inconsequential as oranges, things that make them live in our hearts lest in the business of life we forget. You are probably who you are today because of him, and from what I’ve read, that is a good thing.
I love orange season in Nigeria. I buy dozens, insist on then being peeled, never cut. I rinse them at home, cut and suck… no supremes for me 🙂
Beautiful post. I like how you show that food is very much a part of our lives.
🙂
I’m going to make a video of sucking oranges. Especially for you. In fact the entire process from buying to peeling and sucking!
Thanks for all your ‘love’. Peace, sis.
Wow. Beautiful post. Thanks.
Thank you John….
Wow such a beautiful, educative and emotional post! May your father’s soul continue resting in peace.
Thank you Lydz – I appreciate it.