Beachcomber Magazine 03

or the one in Mahébourg. No need to thank us, we’re delighted to send you somewhere else! PROUD AND GENEROUS Take a good look at the Mauritian pineapple. It’s not very big (15-20 cm). But don’t take that as a flaw. Specialists will even hint that what you are holding is the queen (which oddly enough is the name of the variety: Queen) and in particular, the Victoria, unquestionably the best variety of pineapple on earth, and the one that all good restaurants want. A pineapple has character. Just look at its scaly coat, playing on hexagons, prizing the diagonals. It’s like a plastron, a coat of mail. A kind of pride, bordering on arrogance, as if it were hiding a treasure. Which it is. Pineapples have lots going for them. Vitamins galore, fibre, trace elements and good humour. Basically they aid the digestion, and fill you up without too much sugar (it’s all you need). It is therefore good-natured. That is also why it makes such a regal entry in the kitchen. Not to lay down the law – far from it – but to help, remove, accompany, to uplift the dishes. They do all the work. Calm the meat, full of sweet-talk it (think sweet and sour). They brighten up the fish, take themup into a different song. They also liven up salads, and smiles, and as for desserts, well, there’s mousse, crumble, juice and delicious cakes. It’s all there in their character. Proud perhaps, but generous too.  A PINEAPPLE HAS CHARACTER. JUST LOOK AT ITS SCALY COAT! A KIND OF PRIDE, FLIRTING WITH ARROGANCE, AS IF THERE WAS A TREASURE TO HIDE. WHICH THERE IS. L’ANANAS A DU CARACTÈRE. VISEZ SA ROBE EN ÉCAILLES ! UNE SORTE DE FIERTÉ, LIMITE ARROGANTE, COMME S’IL FALLAIT CACHER UN TRÉSOR. CE QUI EST LE CAS.  © Christian Bossu-Picat FINE CUISINE THE ART OF TASTE 80