When You Can’t Wait for Dinner – Tapenade

The following scenario had happened so many times: After a great day of sailing and swimming you are just about to land in a picturesque coastal village.

Your skipper has booked the dinner at the exquisite tavern and the traditional meal is just a couple of hours away from you. The calm environment looks so tranquil and romantic.

The shower was so refreshing and you already put on your evening clothes. You are so keen to spend a relaxing night without any stress but you got ready too soon.

The nervousness grows as you look at the watch and realize that only two minutes have passed. What to do in order to save the mood?

An experienced skipper would already have the solution – a light appetizer is on its way. Tapenade is proven to be a life saving trick for such situations. It is a simple but delicious and very ‘maritime’ dish made of olives, capers, anchovies and bread.

This dish originates from Provence in France but is also known elsewhere as olive pâté. The preparation requires just few minutes and some skill.

Black or green (or both!) olives should be chopped in very small pieces as well as the salted anchovies fillets. Mix them along with capers and few drops of olive oil until you get a smooth paste.

Roast yesterday’s bread in the oven and rub it with garlic. If there is no bread you can do it with toast or crackers. Spread the tapenade over it and allow your hungry and inpatient crew a sip of cold dry wine. You will save the situation for sure and won’t spoil your appetite for pre-ordered dinner.

Tapenade can also be prepared in advance. You can do it at home and take it along for such situations. There are different types of tapenade available in supermarkets but homemade always tastes better.

Try to improvise with different ingredients and spices and let me know about your ideas. Some say that a bit of mustard added to ordinary tapenade gives it a completely new taste, but don’t overdo it because you’ll lose the essence of it which is, after all, olives.

I wish you a calm sea, a fine wind and a strong mast!