As I write this, many of you will be preparing to give up
various foods and drinks for the next 40 days. Shrove Tuesday has come to an end, you will all surely have
stuffed your faces with as many pancakes as possible in an effort to use up
those eggs and yet why? During the early Middle Ages Thomas
Aquinas argued that fasting from them was essential because "they afford
greater pleasure as food than fish and greater nourishment to the human body,
so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for
seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust."
Or not… You see for those of us raised under the Davidson
roof, Pancake Day has always seemed slightly odd to us. Now for those of you,
who have not had the good fortune to wake up in our house yet, allow me to
explain. We have regularly given into the carnal pancake temptation.
My mother has always and famously put on a rather lavish breakfast
whenever there are mouths that warrant it. Her tremendous breakfast consists of
a platter of Scotch pancakes, thick cut bacon (smoked and un-smoked), yogurt
and the usual cereal, oatcakes, juices and, replenishing pots of tea and
coffee.
Now I remember being taken on holidays around America when
we were young, breakfast frequently involved pancakes with maple syrup, ketchup
and chocolate sauce, as well as blueberries and an endless list of other
toppings. However I feel the sweet ones were the main ones we adopted on
returning to Scotland. There was a distinct lack of fruit, which although part
of our heritage perhaps explains why mum has always tried to encourage fruit in
our cereal bowls.
As I write this I realize I have been spoilt, but rather
than reject my past I would seek to take it further and build on it. What could
you have on your pancakes to raise the bar, as it were? I would vouch for
pistachio honey butter, white fudge with bourbon and pecans, raspberry goats
cheese and truffles. My mouth is watering at the thought of these ‘pancakes’ but then again these are not just pancakes…
I bumped into my chum Jamie earlier this evening. He was on
his way to a sort of 'fusion party' involving reeling and Shrove Tuesday. The hostess had instructed him
to bring something to complement her pancakes. What should he bring he asked me…
The answer at that point seemed so obvious, jam. At such short notice my
suggestions would have been ridiculous, how about cranberry champagne jam, or
grape jam, or strawberry balsamic thyme jam? With no time to prep and only
Sainsbos for help a St. Dalfour Rhapsodie was the only solution.
As I wondered home though, I thought about what you should or
could drink with your gourmet pancakes (after the watershed of course) but
fruit beer perhaps? Maybe even sherry, I love sherry. I would like to see some Pedro Ximenex with chocolate fondant pancakes. Some pink champagne to complement any fresh
berry toppings on the others. Innocent Bystander Moscato, Michele Chiario
Nivole Moscato d’Asti and Contero Brachetto d’acqui could all pair nicely with
some of the outrageous jams I have suggested.
So while Nigella is busy rustling up something warm and
filling and Hugh stays in the sticks with honey and butter (which though I have all
the time in the world for) I recommend you go for opulence. Fasting
during Lent was more severe in ancient times than today but come on
after all, we are not here for a long time, we are here for a good time.
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