A Friend Named Olga

IIFA drew it's final curtains last Saturday with a gala display of Indian cinema's immense talent and splendour... For me, it was time to bid adieu to work and say hello to vacation time... My very first US holiday and it was with my friend named Olga. 

And just prior to the event, she did the impossible... she dolled me up for the big night...and Cinderella went to the ball.

As we had all skipped dinner to see the show which wound

up by 4am, we decided to head for an early breakfast at I Hop. Accompanied by our respective hubbies, we ordered a king size meal. Southern fried steak with fried eggs, grits and biscuits with gravy. The cuisine of the South is rich and heavy and I had a first hand experience of it.

Olga lives in Clearwater, in Florida's Tampa Bay in a huge 4 bedroom house with a pool with her four strapping sons and loving hubby. Olga is a Latino beauty, tall, statuesque looking with long black hair and ruby lips...and she is a momma, who loves to keep home and cook awesome meals for her boys. We were right at home basking in her warm hospitality...

Her hubby, James is an American with the very unique sense

of the British dry humour. His company was what a lovely Merlot does to a steak... gives it a robust enhanced flavour. An evening with him, while his wife cooked this exotic Spanish dish called Cioppino, with crabs, mussels, prawns, cod fish and scallops, all in one big tureen, with some garlic bread, was straight out of a Nigella Lawson meal.

Every meal is home cooked for Olga's boys and guests... One night after an exhausting night's shoot, me and my IIFA friends were yearning for some home cooked dal rice. Next morning a huge hamper with plates, cutlery, napkins and pickles came the piping hot dal and rice. We blessed her from the bottom of our hearts... It was the kindest gesture anyone has done for us, on an overseas shoot. 

James is a culinary expert himself. Having made us the perfect Margaritas with Tequila, Contreau and lemon mix, James lit the charcoal barbecue for some thick juicy steaks, tomatoes and corn while Olga baked some cornbread. Dessert was this perfect strawberry. 

The food was awesome, but what sets Olga apart is her happiness at keeping guests, taking the pains for making us a part of her family and the generosity of her time. She bid us adieu at the airport, weeping profusely. Bobby and I are honoured to have found a sister in a friend. 

Thank you, Olga for your love. We will cherish it always.