Around a year ago, I realised I was terrible at celebrating stuff. This took me by surprise because I spent a lot of time in fancy restaurants, crowded parties, theatres and hotels. I could have argued that it’s my job to know the best ways to celebrate, not just in my town, but in destinations all over the globe. As a travel writer, surely I am a celebration hunter?
Nope. A nice experience is not the same thing as a celebration. A celebration requires us to be fully in the moment, basking in glory, contentment, relief or even sorrow, whatever the celebration requires. We need to taste the present moment, feel the present moment, hear the present moment. Celebrating is about wallowing in the now, like a warm Jacuzzi.
Celebrating is not an easy thing to do if you’re a 21st-century human. My life was not short of lavish experiences and pleasant sensations, but even though I tried to call them celebrations, and Instagrammed them as such, I just wasn’t moving slowly enough to truly celebrate.
Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
From personal experience
Former Hope St Radio chef ELLIE BOUHADANA invites you to gather your loved ones and enjoy an evening of good food and laughter with recipes from her new cookbook, Ellie's Table.
Kimberley Moulton
Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we applaud the international curator and Yorta Yorta woman who is shining a light on First Peoples.
Tom Wallace
We share a drop with the head winemaker for Devil's Corner, Tamar Ridge and Pirie Sparkling, a master of cool-climate grapes.
Best in class
The top drops to keep an eye out for on wine lists (and why they're worth the splurge)
A taste of refuge
Fleeing war and persecution, Australia's new arrivals push our food culture forward. DANI VALENT explores the contributions of the country's refugee communities.
BE OUR GUEST
Inspired by the sense of place conjured by Europe's Michelin-star restaurants, local restaurateurs are expanding their hospitality remit to include accommodation
Barcelona BUZZ
A popular drawcard for digital nomads and expats alike, the Catalonian capital offers equal parts sophistication and fun. Here, DANI VALENT discovers the latest dining hotspots.
HEATHCOTE BOUND
MICHAEL HARDEN hits the road to explore regional Victoria's Heathcote, home to this year's Best Destination Dining and a host of other delights.
The art of...relishing restaurants
Does working in hospitality make someone a better or worse diner
HEART AND SOUL
Not a vegetable but rather a flower bud that rises on a thistle, the artichoke is a complex delight. Its rewards are hard won; first you must get past the armour of petals and remove the hairy choke. Those who step up are rewarded with sweet and savoury creaminess and the elusive flavour of spring. Many of the recipes here begin with the same Provençal braise. Others call on the nuttiness of artichokes in their raw form. The results make pasta lighter and chicken brighter or can be fried to become a vessel for bold flavours all of which capture the levity of the season.
