A walk down memory lane
They passed on but have left a mark on our lives; the aroma of their creations continues and will continue to tickle our senses and palates and their memories inspire and spread cheer. A tribute to Norma Shirley, Anil Sud and Rudolph Gschloessl as we unfold another chapter of Restaurant Week starting November 13.
Norma Shirley ... Jamaican culinary icon
Her names were as multifaceted as her culinary skills, she was "Norma the food stylist, decorator, chef and cook par excellence, host, mother, god mother, aunty Norma and to her friend Norms," recalled Joy McHugh, an old friend.
McHugh's husband Ruddy and Norma Shirley were friends since high school, "she was the god mother of my son and we are the god parents of her son Delius," she said.
Shirley studied to be a nurse and practised in New York, she was not a born cook though, " Norma couldn't cook to save her life," McHugh jokingly remarked.
Food became the love of her life.
Her foray and subsequent love for cooking started when she was living in Dorchester, in New York, McHugh recalled, "Her apartment was on a high rise and overlooked Central Park, it was on the occasion of the 40th birthday of her husband, that she moved all the furniture in the living room and converted into a dining area."
This was a small step to what would become the catalyst to transform Jamaican food to gourmet fare.
McHugh said Shirley's venture into catering began when she and her husband moved to Berkshire, NY. "None of the ladies used to work there and she was at home, bored stiff."
Shirley went to Tanglewood Music Festival and found the food awful, it is then she decided to do lunch baskets for the concert.
"Shirley went to local farmers market and bought peach baskets, put her cutlery - soup bowls, wine glasses from Bloomingdales and served a scrumptious lunch," McHugh said.
For Shirley, it was all about giving the best, she was a true country person to the heart, humble yet classy.
"She used to enter she enters your life like a whirlwind, and she had her way of announcing her arrival when she drove to my house but was a very private person."
LOVE FOR SPORTS
Shirley was very fond of sports, "she loved athletics, and sometimes she and my husband went to Manning cup and to watch athletics, imagine two people in their 70s, cheering and shouting in the stand." McHugh recalled.
"Norma has touched the lives of so many chefs," McHugh said. "I am proud to say that she single handedly increased GNP of local farmers; she used to use jack fruit, Nesberry in her colour taste and texture in her food."
Her legacy lives on as her son Delius, who owns and operates Ortanique-on-the-Mile restaurant in Coral Gables, Florida, spreads her mother's warmth and culinary fare to the world. "He is opening another restaurant Ortanique, in Caymans, on 24 November, day-before thanksgiving."
Shirley was inspired by food, "She lifted the food bar to another level...she challenged her own self and raised her own bar every time, she will be dearly missed," McHugh said.
Norma Shirley ... Jamaican culinary icon
Her names were as multifaceted as her culinary skills, she was "Norma the food stylist, decorator, chef and cook par excellence, host, mother, god mother, aunty Norma and to her friend Norms," recalled Joy McHugh, an old friend.
McHugh's husband Ruddy and Norma Shirley were friends since high school, "she was the god mother of my son and we are the god parents of her son Delius," she said.
Shirley studied to be a nurse and practised in New York, she was not a born cook though, " Norma couldn't cook to save her life," McHugh jokingly remarked.
Food became the love of her life.
Her foray and subsequent love for cooking started when she was living in Dorchester, in New York, McHugh recalled, "Her apartment was on a high rise and overlooked Central Park, it was on the occasion of the 40th birthday of her husband, that she moved all the furniture in the living room and converted into a dining area."
This was a small step to what would become the catalyst to transform Jamaican food to gourmet fare.
McHugh said Shirley's venture into catering began when she and her husband moved to Berkshire, NY. "None of the ladies used to work there and she was at home, bored stiff."
Shirley went to Tanglewood Music Festival and found the food awful, it is then she decided to do lunch baskets for the concert.
"Shirley went to local farmers market and bought peach baskets, put her cutlery - soup bowls, wine glasses from Bloomingdales and served a scrumptious lunch," McHugh said.
For Shirley, it was all about giving the best, she was a true country person to the heart, humble yet classy.
"She used to enter she enters your life like a whirlwind, and she had her way of announcing her arrival when she drove to my house but was a very private person."
LOVE FOR SPORTS
Shirley was very fond of sports, "she loved athletics, and sometimes she and my husband went to Manning cup and to watch athletics, imagine two people in their 70s, cheering and shouting in the stand." McHugh recalled.
"Norma has touched the lives of so many chefs," McHugh said. "I am proud to say that she single handedly increased GNP of local farmers; she used to use jack fruit, Nesberry in her colour taste and texture in her food."
Her legacy lives on as her son Delius, who owns and operates Ortanique-on-the-Mile restaurant in Coral Gables, Florida, spreads her mother's warmth and culinary fare to the world. "He is opening another restaurant Ortanique, in Caymans, on 24 November, day-before thanksgiving."
Shirley was inspired by food, "She lifted the food bar to another level...she challenged her own self and raised her own bar every time, she will be dearly missed," McHugh said.
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