Pina is one of my closest friends in Singapore. Originally from Bari, Southern Italy, her family lives in Montreal. She is a wonderful cook – and cooks everything from Italian to Indian, Mediterranean to Laotian. It’s not really fair though – she had an early start as she started cooking full meals when she was just 10!
Her daytime job is serious – as Assistant Professor, Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the NTU in Singapore. But her real passion is dancing salsa and cooking. She is famous for hosting these big dinners – and although she lives “far away” (on the NTU campus), she always has a full house for her dinner parties! Not many I know will miss a meal cooked and served with style by Pina.
(NOTE: Anything more than a 15-minute drive in Singapore is “far away”)
As I was contemplating about writing this blog Pina’s parent were visiting and I asked if her mum could prepare a couple of dishes for the blog. I was delighted when she obliged!!
Pina’s mum is a natural in the kitchen, like Pina. But unlike Pina (who is fastidious about measurements and precision – her mathematical bent, I guess), her mum is intuitive and easier with the quantities and the way she likes to work.
Watching them in the kitchen together was a lot of fun – the love they share is evident. But the differences were also stark – and at one point Pina’s dad had to be brought in to be the judge!
I won’t tell you whose side he took – that’s for you to guess. Pina will be back – on the blog – I hope – in several avatars.
For now – it’s Pina and her parents cooking home made Cavatelli pasta, a basic tomato sauce and an absolutely delicious meat loaf!
Try it – and cheers to Pina’s mum!!!!
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