A Love Affair

and the Allure of Rare Wines and Cheese
January 17th, 2018

“Meet me by the river at 7.”

He had sent her a picture of a neon pink and yellow bridge on WhatsApp — the colours seemed rather faded now — “it does need some sprucing up,” she thought, and texted back,“I know that place, see you there.”

She had an uncanny sense of familiarity walking along the river from the train station, navigating her way towards the structure she identified right away as the Bridge of Art. On her last visit to Singapore in 2005, the Alkaff Bridge had just received a fresh coat of paint. Pacita Abad — she remembers vividly, was the artist commissioned, and it intrigued her that she had died a few months after the project was completed.

His face looked like a poster that had stayed in a shop window too long. Like the bridge next to him, both of them needed more colour. Some wine might do the trick. “Hi!” She had fortuitously met him when they were both stranded at the airport last year, after it was forced shut by a volcano spewing ash clouds.

***

The wine connoisseur was a sartorially suave, bearded man, and introduced them to the art of appreciation with flair. The exquisite wines were imported from Tuscany and had been selected to elevate the flavours of the rare cheeses. The cheeses were of limited production from a tiny household in Italy, they were told, specially delivered to Singapore for this event.

The Italians know it best — how to love life and love food. Like a good Italian aperitivo, they were also treated to rustic home-baked bread, alcohol-infused marmalade, and caramelised onion chutney that were a match made in heaven, if heaven allowed a union of three.

The cheese connoisseur was a sprightly, elegant woman who used to be a judge in Italy. Her passion for her country was infectious. There was a certain joie de vivre about her as she introduced the cheese platter in her heavy Italian accent, punctuated with gentle pauses and a knowing smile.

“I’m only going to tell you about the Pecorino, or you’ll forget everything else I say.” The magic was in breaking the cheese — the aromas escaped and it was almost like a breath of fresh air. “There is a certain science as to how cheese and wine are paired,” she explained. “It’s like finding a soulmate. There needs to be chemistry.”