Kaia. The taste of Tunis
The illustrator of my last book is from Tunisia. French, British by blood, but living there, in that heat that she loves. We met in person when the book was finished, meeting in Cognac to celebrate (the book was about that). Leaving, she gave me a bag. An authentic taste of Tunisia with olive oil in it. A passion and weakness of mine, as nothing sweeps me off the feet like a good olive oil that I simply cannot get enough of. She said it was from a friend’s farm close to where she lives.
Returning back home, I opened that can, so nicely designed in colours of blue and white, and I took a loud sip (that is how I was taught many years back on a trip to Umbria to discover olive oils). My God. That admirable taste. Not too strong, yet with such a character. So powerful but delicate at the same time. So masculine and yet feminine. Round, nutty, tiny but grassy, and so subtle. I read the story on the label “.........”, closed my eyes and pretended I was there. On the farm, soaking up the sun the same as olives do, dipping a local bread in this stunning oil. I am happy this oil is available in a shop not far from my apartment in Lyon.
Look for the oil in
Paris, La grande epicerie de Paris
Paris, Printemps
Paris, La maison plisson
Paris, Berrie
Paris, Causses
Paris, Adar
Paris, Sabah aligre
Paris, La Fabriquerie
Marseille, Bonjour
Bruxelles, Petit Mercado
London at Selfridges
London, Hackney Essentials
London, Grocery Post
New York, Sabah House in NY
LA, Monsieur Marcel
Dubai, Comptoir 102