Good_Things_Magazine_AprilMay_2017

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Tell us a little about

your beautiful home

The house has gone through

many lives, from being home to a

prominent winemaking family, to

becoming a hotel and restaurant

and then, finally, a home to one old

woman who took good care of it

before she died.

And how you came to be

running a restaurant?

Since I love cooking and writing

cookbooks we decided to bring the

house back to life. I host regular

cooking workshops at my house

and, two years ago, we did a pop-up

restaurant for a few weeks which

was great fun.

Has the house's history

inspired your menu?

Yes, up to a point. The kitchen

had a reputation for offering the

best harvest lunches for vineyard

workers. Aer we moved here I met

so many people who told me they

used to help in the harvest, not least

because the food was so good. I also

found old recipes and menus.

What’s your favourite dish

on the current menu?

As it was a pop-up it’s not always

open – only in summer – but my

favourite would probably have been

the quail millefeuille. My husband’s

favourite was the tomato gazpacho

made from our own tomatoes.

Do you grow a lot of

your own produce?

Absolutely, and more every year.

There is nothing more rewarding

than popping over to our 'potager'

with a wooden crate and filling it

with gorgeous seasonal products.

It’s more of a spring and summer

garden though, so in winter we rely

on good local producers.

You have a large family – do

your children and husband

pitch in with the cooking?

Everybody’s interested in food,

how could they not be? My

husband cooks less than me, but

still a few meals a week. He always

dras some kids to help him

and I oen do, especially if I’m

baking. It’s something of a ritual,

making breakfast together on the

weekends. 

Who would be your dream

dining companions?

I would love so many people but,

to choose only one or two, I’d say

Sophia Loren. I have her cookbook

and it’s filled with genuine love

for food and traditions. The other

would be Woody Allen. I’m not

sure he cooks much, but I know

he loves dining out and I think the

three of us would have a smashing,

delicious time. 

Five minutes with Mimi Thorisson

goodthingsmagazine.com 53

FrenchCATHY ZP.indd 53 02/04/2017 22:09