Sumptuous September
It’s Sumptuous September and the start of Harvest Season.
The strenuous physicality of cleaning offices and homes sometimes up three times a day meant my mum Rose made it her business to make a quid, and a pound note stretch – to eat well and cook even better. Growing up, my siblings and I learned from an early age the importance of a healthy diet consisting of organic produce and ingredients. Take away food was regarded as a treat, reserved for special occasions with the exception of Long Lane’s renowned Fish n Chips on a Friday when she felt like it – that I remember!
Soup was on the menu every Saturday of my life, the preparation was a carefully planned, aromatic ritual and woe betide the shopkeeper that didn’t have the sweetest piece of pumpkin (and when the price of Ackee increased, we knew about it). Our Catrina, the eldest grandchild was enlisted with the job of running down to our favourite local shop Ali’s, to get 8lb of potatoes every Sunday morning for our Sunday Roast with all the trimmings and Jamaican razzle dazzle.
As I type, I’m overcome with emotions of grief and nostalgia; thinking affectionately about mum whizzing around with her poor loyal shopping trolley, dutifully trailing behind her to Brixton Market, East Lane and Rye Lane. She’s past down the fixation with food & lifestyle, sourcing where has proper herbs and spices, the best teas, the freshest of fresh fish and reasonable prices for callaloo, spinach, plantain, variations of yam, sweet potatoes, green banana and the biggest avocado pear. My maternal Grandparents grew their own tomatoes, red and white onions and potatoes and my uncles followed suit; Uncle Fitz can be found in the sanctuary of his allotment sowing the seeds of nutrients and vitality, growing root vegetables from earths soil.
September - to me, since way back when, has consistently felt like waking up to a morning alarm clock in the most beneficial way - it really is THAT month - a similar feel to January and moreso natures official, special turn of each Spring. The start of term in educational settings adds a wave of newness that almost has a societal ripple effect and there is a wistful urge and mentality to be motivated from a clean slate - to take charge from wherever you are, whatever you’re going through, whatever is happening around you and begin again. If you have a business idea, want to try a new hobbie, go back to study, change jobs, need to prioritise wellbeing, etceteraaaa - September is a open window and a signal from the universe to do you. Oh and it’s always been a lovely month to travel and holiday to many destinations, less commercial and touristy. Is touristy even a word? well its staying put (shrugs shoulders).
Every 1st week of the new month we will be carrying on the tradition and sharing Roses’ fluent love language with what’s in season, and kick off with September and some of what’s cooking and simmering on down in our kitchen.
