Melange

I was present last night to the most delightful dining experience. I am in Trinidad and my son Marc who now lives there, and I were meeting for dinner. As Marc drove through the streets of Port-of Spain, I asked “Where are we going?” “I don’t know” he responded. Yet he drove with a sense of certainty as if he knew exactly where he was headed. We made our way along Ariapita Avenue, or “restaurant row” as I call it, in recognition of the myriad of dining establishments that have sprung up there in recent years, reflecting the buoyancy of the Trinidad economy.

Marc pointed to two restaurants – an Italian and one called “Melange”. As we neared, trying to decide between the two, a parking space right in front of Melange magically appeared as if by divine decree. The Universe was very, very clear about where we were to dine! And that was the beginning.

We were greeted at the entrance by stately Mario, who took extra care to ensure that we were seated to our total comfort and satisfaction. Then Gillian emerged. “Is it a special occasion?” she asked. Marc and I responded in unison that indeed it was – a mother/son reunion after not seeing each other for 3 months. And having declared it a special occasion, it indeed was so.

The menu reflected the name of the restaurant – an extensive melange of cuisines with a range of choices for every possible culinary habit, each of which Gillian passionately detailed. My meal was divine – from the fluffy spinach patties and melt-in-the-mouth buttery garlic bread, on to the smooth lobster and pumpkin bisque, then the rich, creamy penne pasta florentine, to the richly brewed espresso and sweet sherry at the end. Marc raved equally about his selections. The service left nothing to be desired – lovingly attentive yet unobtrusive, with frequent checks to make sure that everything was to our total satisfaction.

Moses, the owner and chef, emerged from the kitchen to greet us at the conclusion of our meal. A quiet, genteel man who obviously LOVES what he does. It shows – in the décor, the menu, the carefully chosen and well trained staff, the artistic presentation of every aspect of the meal. We joked with him – “Moses, leading his people out of bondage”. On reflection, we realised that we are indeed in bondage – the bondage of fast, mass produced junk food, of poor service, of work done without love. Kahlil Gibran wrote in The Prophet “Work is love made visible”. Moses, Gillian, Mario and their team made love visible in their work at Melange last night.