Jacqui
My friend, the kitchen diva
Even the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates recognized the positive effect of certain foods on the psyche, recommending donkey’s milk when suffering from depression. Modern studies have proofed that people who eat a wholesome and fresh diet are less likely to suffer from depression. We eat with all 5 senses, for example, odours awaken memories as they reach the brain unfiltered via the nose. Good odours, have a proven positive influence on our mood. Who doesn’t remember certain scents from childhood? Memories that are linked to beautiful moments, which give us a sense of security and a good feeling.
Where else, if not on Menorca, can you eat such a relaxed, healthy and seasonal diet, with a wide selection of fresh and local produce, crisp vegetables, ripe fruits, freshly caught fish and organic meat? The rhythm of the Illa encourages us to pause, savor the moment, slow down, embrace a „to stay instead of „to go“. Giving us the freedom to concentrate on the essentials and appreciate the simplicity of high quality ingredients. The best way to heal is to spend time with family and friends, and honestly, what better way to do that than over a delicious meal?
However, not everyone has the skill, leisure, desire or time to prepare a truly good meal, and this is where my friend Jacqui, the kitchen goddess, comes in.
Happiness is the only thing that doubles when you share it
We met what feels like a 100 summers ago in Paris. A young Englishwoman and globetrotter from London, me, a German from Munich. Jacqui carried a diplôme de cuisine from the venerable Institut Le Cordon Bleu, me homesickness. We quickly bonded and I gradually came to appreciate her culinary skills. Our first shared meals were at picnics in the Jardin des Bagatelles, where Jacqui’s basket was always the most popular, not only because it was filled with the most delicious home-made treats, but also because everything was so stylishly coordinated: delicate rosebud-patterned picnic crockery a pink and white striped blanket, matching napkins.
I was deeply impressed by how organised and creative my friend was, especially given my more pragmatic approach to these outings. Soon we became regular guests at her legendary Sunday Roasts. Seemingly effortlessly, my friend brought the traditional English Sunday dish to the table, always adding her own personal touch, making each meal unique and heavenly. It goes without saying that Jacqui’s invitations were much sought after and eagerly anticipated.
Jacqui has since made her home in Madrid and Menorca. Her passion for cooking is unbroken.
She loves hosting extended lunches and exquisite dinner parties paying attention to every detail, ensuring everyone and everything is taken care of her hospitality.
The attention she pays to her guests comes from the heart, nothing is left to chance, yet everything appears effortless, making everyone feel at ease. Her gatherings are characterized by grace and elegance, but elegance requires time, careful selection, the best ingredients and a sure intuition.
Her food is outstanding, beautifully presented and melts in the mouth, creating those memorable moments.
Encouraged by her friends, she turned her vocation into a profession and now works as a private chef on the island. Hosting a successful dinner party, Sunday roast or a barbecue, requires careful planning shopping and preparation as well as expertise.
After all, as a host, you want to focus on your guests and not be tired in the kitchen. The details make a successful evening.
Recently, while sitting on her terrace in warm temperatures with a cold Rosé, I asked her what she considered to be the perfect meal? After a moment’s thought, she said: “to make people happy and that there probably isn’t such thing as the perfect meal. Good ingredients, passion, creativity and perseverance help in the search for perfection, because I never given up looking for it. She added that this appearance of effortlessness is the result of hard work and that she’s had her share in kitchen failures. It is important to never give up, not to lose the satisfaction and joy she feels when cooking. Because if cooking becomes purely mechanical, it won’t taste good. That evening I was very happy, enjoying her Asian marinated spare ribs and a delicious summer salad that made all my taste buds explode. She concluded, „the most important thing is the best ingredients, or to put it in the words of Leonardo Da Vinci “Simplicity is the highest form of perfection“
I think you’ll agree, that it is through simplicity we create those special moments that stay in our memories. My friend , the kitchen goddess“ ist right, when she says „it’s all about simplicity“ It doesn’t have to be that sophisticated. We just need to be surrounded by people we care for.
Here are Jacqui’s favorite places on the island: She loves to drink her morning coffee at Esforaster, her favorite place is her terrace, she loves the beaches in the north, chilling on the boat and one of her favorite artists is Paul McKenna, Madrid.