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Final
diary entry - December 10, 2003
It
is Wednesday afternoon here in Bangalore and that day off I had
promised myself by the poolside has not materialised.
I
have worked out that in four weeks in India I have only had two
days off.
All
of the cheeses where beginning to hatch flies and cockroaches
where clambering for our beautiful moist Severn and Wye Smoked
Salmon.  |
| Robert
Rees |
People
will ask me about how I enjoyed India and how much I saw - all I
can say is it's the same old kitchen routine wherever you are in
the world with a different view out of the window.
The
service industry is the same the world over - unsociable, hard work,
long hours and at the immediate beck and call of the general public
and press.
The
kitchens here in Bangalore are very old which brings certain pest
and structure issues. It also means there are no windows - so as
for the view here, it is non-existent.
Depression
and misery
Talking
of existing and materialising however I can tell you that the produce
from Gloucestershire has arrived here at the Windsor Sheraton in
Bangalore. Another eager passage to the delivery area was to end
in complete depression and misery!
A
large carton clearly labeled "store below 0 degrees" sat
in the baking Bangalore heat - already not a good sign.
Flies
buzzed around it and it was emitting an aroma reminiscent of my
visit to an outdoor toilet at the spice market in Old Delhi.
Cardboard
abyss
All
were reluctant to enter into the cardboard abyss - but bravely I
went where no man has gone before. Although judging by a number
of large holes and teeth marks at the bottom of the carton a few
of my rodent friends had indulged in some lovely Gloucester Old
Spot sausages.
How
I could have wept. The very reason for my being has been ruined.
I am so sorry for the producers and even
the Gloucestershire environmental health team had worked tirelessly
to secure the correct paperwork.
As
for DEFRA and others, well that's a different story that I shall
not go into just yet.
I know that producers are trying to be dynamic, forward thinking
and move into the 21st century but DEFRA needs to get real and break
the mould of years of Government bureaucracy and gobbledegook.
All
of the cheeses where beginning to hatch flies and cockroaches where
clambering for our beautiful moist Severn and Wye smoked salmon.
Clotted
cream from Rookery Farm in Somerset was fermenting out of its containers
and Cerney goats cheese was seeping between the boxes.
All
a bit ripe
Indians
began to stand around, as they do, looking at it in disgust - a
bit ripe after some of the things I have seen here!
Only
support from Monoj, Yogi , Alakanda and Ambika kept me sane. The
four of them have already picked up on my passion and commitment
to Gloucestershire and food.
Already
they share in it and the look of depression on their faces was plain
to see. There is however a glimmer of hope as we dived between boxes
covering our faces and brushing the bugs away.
Unbroken
and untouched, the beer from Freeminer, Bottle Green's cranberry
juice and elderflower presses. Day's Cottage apple juice, St Anne's
Tayberry Wine and Kitchen Garden Preserves chutneys all still looked
good.
Hooray
Hooray
- Gloucestershire produce will make it to the tables in Bangalore
after all. It's also fair to say that if they sell anything like
they did in Delhi then there is hope for a permanent supply route.
Mixed
emotions really at the moment. I know I will have a lot to review
when I return to the UK. If the British High Commission really want
to increase trade in food products to the India then they must:
a)
make sure DEFRA understand
b) ensure that the Indian Ministry for Agriculture pulls
its finger out
I shall
adapt menus again to use the drinks and chutneys available to me
and hopefully I
shall continue to inspire those around me here who want to learn
about food and Gloucestershire.
However, despite the mistakes and I vow to continue to promote
the foods of small producers in our county above and beyond
those that are mass-produced. |
| Robert
Rees |
I have
four days of cooking to go and then time to pack and make my way
to the airport. To say it has been a challenge is an understatement.
However,
despite the mistakes and I vow to continue to promote the foods
of small producers in our county above and beyond those that are
mass-produced. They
truly deserve success not only locally but globally.
I
have endured every emotion on this trip. Many of my values have
been questioned and some enriched by what I have seen.
Tolerance
is something I need to develop a little better and indeed some Hindi
would have come in useful. There have certainly been lessons learnt
by all involved. The question is would I do it again? Yes of course.
Now
though I am ready to come home to my darling wife, our cat and the
beautiful Gloucestershire countryside. Keep
me away from DEFRA for a little while though ...
by
Robert Rees
»
Read Robert's first diary
entry
» Read
Robert's second diary entry
» Read
Robert's third diary entry
» Read
Robert's fourth diary entry
»
Read Robert's fifth diary entry
» Read
Robert's sixth diary entry
» Read
Robert's seventh diary entry
» Read
Robert's eighth diary entry
» Read
Robert's ninth diary entry
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Finally
Robert's glorious Gloucestershire produce arrives - but NOT in the
state he would have liked. Read his final diary entry from India.
