Final Review - Sian Gammie

Final Challenge 23 January 2012 - Sian's Perfect Spaggy Bol (from memory)

After a  year of witnessing blanching, burns and bleeding it was finally time for me to step up and assume the role of reviewer.

My enthusiasm towards Jo’s cooking had risen significantly since her repertoire moved beyond dinners involving the microwave or things poured from jars. Gone were the days where she would need to ask me how long to cook two-minute noodles and it had been quite some time since she’d put al-foil in the microwave.

Things were looking up.

We forgot to take a picture - but this one is cute

We started with a quiz to see just how far Jo’s knowledge had come in the past year. I could not stop wishing I’d asked her these questions last year. I can only imagine how it might have panned out-

Sian: What is a moderate oven?

Jo: Is it a brand?

She did so well on the quiz that she ended up with bonus points. I think her final score was 71/50 or similar.

I then devised a Mystery Box style test. Jo would pull three ingredients from a hat (they were written on paper- not actual ingredients in a hat. That hat would be huge. I want one.) and then she had to discuss what meal she would make using those items.

It was a triumph.

Olives, butter, sweet potato:

I’d make like a salsa verde* with the olives and put it over some meat, whatever meat I want, and then I’ll serve it with sweet potato. The butter would be used throughout.

*I think she means olive tapenade which I guess is equivalent to what salsa verde might be if it had olives in it.

Carrot, rice, egg:

Pffffft, easy! Fried rice. Delicious.

Lime, mince, tomato:

I’d hollow out the tomatoes and put some yum mince inside and bake it. Then I’d make a sauce. And I’d make the sauce taste like it needed lime in it.

Genius.

We now moved on to the actual cooking. Jo was to cook my favourite dish of all time. Classic Spaggy Bol.

I have spent years perfecting my recipe, so it was a tough gig. And here’s the wee on the toilet seat- she wasn’t allowed to use a recipe.

I think throughout the process she only asked me two questions.

1. What do you want in your salad? and
2. This tastes disgusting, what should I do?

Needless to say, she was wrong- it was far from disgusting.

The pasta was salty and perfectly al dente, the sauce was not too thick but not runny and had a delicious sweetness from the wine she added which was so divine I am considering adding it to my recipe.

I had three servings and the leftovers have been calling out to me from the fridge all day. I wish they would shut the fuck up. Why does the lettuce never call? Rude.

I was very impressed with the whole evening. I don’t know which was more exciting, the fact that Jo can cook a delicious feast off the top of her head or the fact that there’s a huge fat lesbian on the new Biggest Loser.

It’s all too much.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to eat those leftovers.

Well done Jozie & thanks for having me (your flat-mate is so hot).