So this is how my kitchen looks like today. Not very encouraging, I know.

Dreaming of my new kitchen IMG_5959 copy

Dreaming of my new kitchen IMG_5958 copy

If you have been following my path, you know I just came back to Europe after five wonderful years in Mexico. There I had a good size kitchen and I cooked like never before in my life.

This blog was born in Mexico a bit more than a year ago, inspired by my travels and all the wonderful produce I discovered in the colorful markets, the amazing variety of chilies, spices and herbs. Also by tasting and discovering the various traditional dishes of the different states. 

I learned so much and I’m also so grateful to all the people who taught me about Mexican food and even shared family traditions and recipes with me. 

This experience made me a better cook and opened my eyes to new flavours. Now in Austria I am looking forward to being inspired by seasonal products at Farmer’s markets. There is so much to discover and learn. You can find at these markets not only local Austrian products but also from other European countries. There is also a big choice on Middle Eastern and Asian products and produce.

I suspect all this will inspire my cooking here. Being in Europe will also bring me back to my roots and Portuguese cuisine. Can’t wait!

The problem is, I have to! Tomorrow fingers crossed, there will be a new kitchen in place. To say I’m nervous is an understatement! I know how it should look in paper but will it live up to what I envisioned I wonder…

Size does matter I’m afraid and it is like a magician got hold of my Mexican kitchen and shrank it!I had to think of ways of gaining a bit more of space and it wasn’t easy.

I also had to change the style completely. The first time I entered it I thought I was having visions. It looked like something trapped in a time warp looking kitchy and trying very hard to imitate an Art Nouveau style! I wish I could show you but it is all gone now, thank God!

Hopefully it will look much better tomorrow. My kitchen designer is a Czech who can only speak his own language. He came with a translator who can only speak Czech and German. My German is still very basic so my husband helped. However yesterday, when they came to dismantle the kitchen (two Czechs!) he was not here. So there was a lot of pointing, making up words which I’m sure cannot be found in any dictionary and thinking about others that are not appropriate to repeat here! Somehow we managed to communicate and they did take those awful looking cabinets but what about tomorrow ? 

What if I don’t like what they are doing? Will my facial expressions and my desesperate pointing be enough?

Ah yes,  did I tell you my painter was a Hungarian who could only speak Hungarian and my floor man a Polish? Why? You may wonder. Well, still  the reflexion of the once mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire and now with the possibilities of the European Union, motivated people are setting up service companies in Austria. Obviously, their prices are a lot more appealing!

I will keep you posted!

Maria

Maria

Welcome! Through my photography and my travels, you will discover the people I have encountered and the places that will stay with me forever. In this crazy new reality we seem to be living, it is even more important to be grateful for all the people who have crossed our path and touched us in same way. As for all the old and new stones, they can live in our imaginary for now, waiting, when the time is right again ...

8 Comments

  • Carmen Pacetti says:

    Dear Maria:
    I am glad that you remember your Mexican Kitchen….But knowing you I am sure that you will have a very nice one in Austria. Even though you have to speak speranto…..
    I want to see it when it will be finished. We miss you!

  • Mena Shaw says:

    Ola Fatinha

    Fartei-me de rir com a tua discricao dos homens que estão a por a tua nova cozinha!
    Espero que tudo corra bem.

    Beijinhos

  • Monica says:

    I can’t stop laughing, sorry.
    Drawing, maybe? Skype for anything related with the painter, I speak Hungarian., I know colours and shades!

    • Maria says:

      Dear Monica, I’m afraid I never had talent for drawing and now your translator skills would be very precious if you could speak Czech! Although your Hungarian would still be useful to shout at the Hungarian as one of the doors he put almost fell on my foot today! But you should read today’s ranting, I will publish it soon 🙂

  • Monica says:

    Being sorry for ruining my image, I must tell you I know a lot of Hungarian insults and they are among the most conplex in the world:)

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