Buying Memories

Whether it's something to do with a growing realisation that ones time on this earth is not unlimited, or the remnants of a sense of adventure I know not, but I do like to take culinary opportunities to buy memories. For those with deeper pockets than mine (though happily they remain far from empty) such memories may include meals cooked by major chefs with major egos and international profiles. I'm happier to settle for simpler things.

One such last year was what felt like an investment in three T-bone steaks that were barbecued to perfection and gnawed until nothing of their fleshy deliciousness remained. The cost was more than £30, if memory serves, but I'm certain that it will be the yardstick against which any future T-bone indulgence is measured by our small son (a mere 6' 2.5").

On our break in Norfolk last week another such - though far cheaper - chance arose. Driving back from Potter Heigham we spotted a fisherman selling freshly boiled Cromer crabs from a trailer parked in a lay-by. Noting exotic about any of that, clearly. And why should it need to be exotic? What was marvellous was that we got to eat a whole superbly fresh crab each (the vendor removed the dead-man's fingers as we waited), the cost for the three just over £8. I guess that doesn't qualify as austerity cooking on two levels - no cooking involved, and £8 could pay for several meals if you tried.

There is something extraordinarily satisfying about eating a crab as they should be: cracking the legs and claws, poking the innumerable cavities to get the last bits of meat. That is perhaps austerity thinking in a way.

A crab and a couple of slices of brown bread and butter each were the sole components of our lunch once we had returned to my father's house (he'd lunched already and anyway hates all seafood). It needed no wine, no sauce, no cooking beyond the boiling done that morning. The taste made me happy, and so too did the way we all tackled the task. It took several soapings to get rid of the crabby scent, all adding to the memory.