Arancini Panic Attack

Good things come to those who wait. So, after two years in Sydney, 30 minutes on the A4 and 20 minutes on the M4, through some stormy weather- please God let me taste my last supper- I arrive in a small little town called Fairfield. An imaginary place suspended between the present and the past, more specifically, between Paramatta and some remote country fields- to try the famous Arancini made by the hands of Signora Maria.

The place is called Gigino. It doesn’t feel like a restaurant. It feels more like some familiar house where you can knock at the door at anytime, to see if dinner is ready and they are not fed up with you yet.

I don’t even need to order, dishes come out in a smooth flux of consciousness, like words, laughs and kisses. The Italian way.

I am chatting to my friend Mena and somewhere between my second glass of wine and my pathetic recollection of my twenties, the famous Arancini make their entrance onto my table.

I probably don’t give them the attention they deserve. Like I tend to do with everything that matters.

They are round, warm, soft and understated. They seem to say: "Relax, we don’t mean to interrupt."

And when they finally interrupt and reach my mouth, they are layers of goodness. Starting from the lightly fried silhouette to the delicate heart of saucy rice. No frills. No spices. No hidden flaws. Like the best people in life, when you bite under the surface and you find heaven.

I see where they come from. From the gentle and respectful hands of Maria, that day by day fed his husband, children and friends with pills of love, without asking anything in return. You end up wishing she was your mum too- (sorry mum!)

I am still food dreming and the Arancini are gone. Shit. Too son. The pizza arrives, but I couldn’t care less. I want the arancini, where are they? Bring them back!

I am panicking. (And BTW this must be where they invented the phrase 'keep the balls rolling' now I see why.)

I haven’t even left yet and I am planning to come back asap. And that is dangerous.

Like with the best people in life.

They’d better put up a sign on the arancini next time, that clearly warns you: “Don’t fall in love with us.”

Nothing is fair in Fairfield!

@Gigino Fairfield

#giginofairfiled #arancinigigino #giginorestaurant #arancinifairfield