Now, in New York, I always try to have fresh groceries at home for last-minute meals with just a few ingredients. Pasta and zucchini, for example, is delicious with only olive oil, salt, and pepper. Or I'll bake fish stuffed with sliced fennel. (Make diagonal slices about an inch deep on each side of a whole fish and insert the fennel. Then add lemon slices, olive oil, and salt on top, and put it in the oven for 20 minutes at 400°F. In the meantime, cook some rice.) Voilà, a simple and yummy dinner!
For good food, you'll need these essentials:
A kitchen isn't a kitchen without…
Olive oil. Get a simple one for cooking and the best you can find for salad dressing.
Herbs. My top three? Basil, parsley, and mint, grown in pots right at home. They make the room smell like heaven.
Salt. Beautiful sea salt flakes will take your food from great to amazing.
Pasta. You should always have pasta in your kitchen. And always cook it al dente.
Garlic. Because if you have garlic, pasta, olive oil, and salt, you will have everything to make the most delicious pasta there is.
And the more people the better. In the South of France friends drop by for aperitifs (our famous predinner drinks) or for the entire evening. Everybody socializes and sips while cooking (no snacking until the food's ready!). Assign tasks to people: chopping vegetables, washing herbs, and stirring the pasta. Remember, the cook is the commander and nobody can say no.
And don't forget about lunch!
What's up with eating in front of your computer? I remember being floored the first day I saw that in New York. I believe in taking a break—even a short one—to recharge. In Corsica some people still go home for lunch! That might be a little extreme, but I do recommend…
- Sitting in a park. Being in nature, away from phone calls, makes a huge difference.
- Taking a team break. Join coworkers at a common table for food and jokes.
- Trying a fast nap. Seriously! I used to squeeze in 10 minutes of sleep in an empty conference room, or rest on my desk.
- Reading your favorite book. The idea is to disconnect from the office in order to come back refreshed and creative.
- Calling your mom. People in the South of France talk to their mothers every day. It might not be as relaxing as a nap, but it will definitely take your mind off work.
