The weather is true to this time of year in Norwich: undecided between rain and tentative sunshine, and temperature with mood swings.  A gust of warmth and coffee greets me as I open the glass door to Chocolate Notes.  And an unusually loud wave of Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Pastorale de Noël.  

“Are you on your own?” I ask Fiamma, while removing my duck down coat, hat and scarf, and throwing them on a chair near the counter.

“Chrystelle’s in Paris with her family and Jan was supposed to be around, but as it’s been quiet in the past few days, I told him he might as well stay in Antwerp with his parents until after New Year.  Especially with all the Eurostar cancellations because of the flooding.”

It’s true that there are only a couple of tables occupied.  I wonder if Fiamma has turned the music up to fill the space.

“You and Howard going out on the town tonight?” she asks, her tone suggesting she already knows the answer.  

“No, no.  A quiet evening in.  We’ll be watching the fireworks from our windows.  What about you?”

“Piers is here for a few days.  For once, we’re in the same place at the same time.”

“So no going out either…”

“Absolutely not.  I’m a musician: I’ve been to many, too many New Year’s Eve parties…” She glances at her watch.  “As soon as I close here… I’m going straight home and not stepping out till I absolutely have to.”  Her large hazel eyes suddenly open wide with girlish excitement.  “Piers is cooking – and he’s brought a box of fireworks!” 

Piers is Fiamma’s other half and a conductor.  I haven’t met him yet.  

“Perhaps we’ll see them from our window!”

I’ve always enjoyed New Year’s Eve parties more in my imagination that in practice.  I’ve left a few either straight after midnight or even before midnight.  If I’m not having fun, I don’t stay.  Just like I can walk out halfway through a film or during the interval of a show if I’m not enjoying it.  There’s a part of me that still dreams of a New Year’s Eve party in some glamorous Venetian palazzo, black tie, evening dress, small live orchestra, dancing, crystal champagne saucers, golden fireworks mirrored in the black waters of the lagoon.  That kind of thing.  Or in the company of just a few very close friends in house in the countryside – as long as it’s a warm house (so probably not in England) – with an open fire, Baroque music in the background, gentle conversation, comfortable armchairs.  That kind of thing.  

In recent years, Howard and I have seen the New Year in quietly at home, with a nice meal, a bottle of good wine, and, as always, unparalleled excellent conversation.  And cake. 

Oh, I forgot to make cake yesterday. 

“What would you like?” Fiamma asks.

“A hazelnut hot chocolate, please.  And… I’ve just realised, I forgot to make a cake for Howard and me for tonight.”

“Would you like one from here?”

“Oooh… That sounds promising.”

Fiamma pops into the kitchen at the back and returns with something in a brown paper bag.

“Heavens, that’s what I call efficiency.  What is it?”

“Our signature Christmastide cake: beetroot and apple.  You have to have a red cake at this time of year.”

It certainly sounds original.  I reach into my rucksack for my purse.

“It’s on the house,” Fiamma says.  

“No, I can’t accept that –”

“Sure you can.  Besides, I’ll be closing soon and unless we suddenly have a coach party, I’ll have this as a leftover, and it’ll go stale. So do me a favour.”

She hands me the package, matter-of-fact, and smiles.  “Happy New Year to you and Howard.”

“And to you and Piers.  Thank you so much.”

   

BEETROOT AND APPLE TEA LOAF

Because for Christmastide, a red cake is the thing.

(all measurements are approximate, see https://scribedoll.com/2023/01/15/new-blog-feasts-fancies/)

You will need:

❧ 2 eggs

❧ buckwheat flour (as much as needed)

❧ 1 small peeled, washed and grated beetroot

❧ Sultanas (as many as you like, since they will be the only sweetening ingredient)

❧ 1 peeled and finely sliced russet (or red) apple 

❧ Milk (enough to make the cake mixture of the right consistency)

❧ Salted butter, melted

❧ Rapeseed oil 

Mix it all, make a wish for the New Year, bake and enjoy.

A happy, healthy, wealthy, creative, peaceful and beautiful 2024 to you all!