A Menu of Literary Delight

I just finished reading Rose Tremain's

award-winning 

The Road Home 

and enjoyed it very much. 

It tells the story 

of a middle aged 

Ukrainian widower named Lev 

who leaves his homeland 

seeking a new life in the UK. 

Lev lands in London

where he works his way up 

from dishwasher

to chef. 

The whole book was wonderful.

At one point, Lev is working

with the aid of a young assistant, 

cooking for a group 

in an old folks home. 

He's using great ingredients

and recipes he's come across

while working in other restaurants. 

Having created the new menu,

Lev hands it over to Simone,

 his young "native speaking" assistant 

so she can write it out and have it printed up for the residents. 

Here's what they came up with:

YOUR MENU FOR WEDNESDAY

Wickedly lovely free-range chicken breasts

stuffed with mushrooms, shallots, and herbs,

served with a totally brilliant jus

or

Chef's fantastic fish gratin with

zero bones and non-crap crumb

and

Choice of non-frozen broccoli or beans,

or both if you want

Creme brulee jacked by Chef from a 

recipe at GK Ashe

or 

Watermelon sorbet with no black

seeds or rubbish in it

The "extreme language" of the menu 

was a smash hit with the residents. 

In the weeks that followed they enjoyed 

"the bloody delicious vegetarian sausages with the non-packet-shit mash"

and 

"the totally non-bull-shitting Guiness-marinated Irish stew".

In 

The Road Home,

Rose Tremain

clearly serves up 

a tender and savory

feast of delights

(and non-crap).