Seafood Soiree on Th 28 Jan 2010
MARVELLOUSLY sweet Cape Breton Island North Atlantic Lobster, Scallop and Shrimp was the order of the day last evening at the grand Residence of HE The Canadian High Commissioner to Singapore, my good friend David Sevigny. It was to celebrate the victory of the Cape Breton Island yacht on leg 5 of the round the world Clipper Race.
There were representativess from the island too who were there to promote Cape Breton Island for business, investment and tourism. I savoured a lovely deep golden Canadian Reisling 2003 from Stonechurch Vineyards with warm notes of forest honey and integrated oak. It went well with the seafood, espcially the lobster.
Talking to spritely William Ward, who hails from Piortsmouth and is the CEO of Clipper Ventures Plc. (Clipper Ventures owns all the yachts in the race), I discovered to my suprise that the crew of the yachts in the race actually PAY to be on board! Only the Skipper is paid.
William explained enthusiastically, "They pay between 8000 pounds to 39,000 pounds depending on their position which includes 3 weeks of training, all the food and meals on board and about 1000 pounds worth of clothing. Do you want to sign up?"
“I’ll consider it…” was my reply.
My non commital answer was because I had found out from a pretty blonde member of the crew that the meals consisted mainly of heated canned rations and pasta. Hardly the fare for The Travelling Gourmet and besides such meals bring back too many memories of Army food in the jungle.
I talked too to charming and gracious Lori Kennedy who kindly sponsored all the seafood for our splendid repast at the soiree. Lori told me the waters around Cape Breton Island are so clean and and pristine that the seafood has a distinctive sweet taste.
Cape Breton Island, which is off the northeast coast of Nova Scotia, is off the main shipping lanes so the waters are pure and unpolluted. I really hope to visit one day if only for the luscious lobster, scallops….mmm
The Travelling Gourmet 