The Taste of the Past

It’s probably pretty safe to say that you can never really know what will come of utilizing our friend the Internets to air your rambling thoughts, express your heated opinions, share your latest million-dollar idea, or perhaps just talk about something you ate long ago, something you know you’ll never taste again in this lifetime. 

Quite some time ago, Clotilde tagged me for  a meme on childhood food memories.  Among several different food memories,  I wrote about being haunted by the memory of a  flavor -- that of some little cakes called Lisettes (scroll down to number 4),  made by a family friend when I was a child.  I was quite sure that the recipe for these had been lost forever, and that they were not baked at all by anyone, anywhere on the planet.

I was wrong. 

A few weeks ago, on my birthday in fact, I received the following email directed to the addy that I use for this site:      

My daughter, who now lives in Beijing, just baked a sheet of Lisettes.   Just for fun, she Googled "Lisettes" and came up with your August 2005 web blog entry.  She, my brother and I were all astounded to see it:
http://fingerineverypie.typepad.com/my_weblog/2005/08/baby_bites_chil.html

We are all very curious as to WHO you are.   Presumably some long lost family friend.

As for the recipe, Liesel sadly died very suddenly in 1980 without passing on the recipe to either of her sons.  But several years later, I managed to piece together the recipe by writing to a number of people who had baked the cookies with her over the years.   And I have been baking them ever since -- albeit only once a year.   And although we don't share the recipe with others (!), both my brother (and his wife) and my wife and I now all have the recipe.  As does our daughter.   So, your predictions on daughters-in-law didn't pan out.

Please write and let us know who you are.   One of us will then bake a special batch up -- just for you.

Regards,

(name protected for anonymity, mainly so that you don’t try to contact this person when you become wild with the desire to try Lisettes for yourself)

The email contained a luscious photo of row upon row of Lisettes, obviously freshly baked and just glazed.  I replied posthaste:

Dear _______,

Today is my birthday, and hearing from you is a lovely gift.  I'm Julie ________. My parents were _____ and _____, owner-proprietors of the shop ____________, in (the town of our childhood).  Liesel and her husband were close family friends, and Liesel worked in my parents' store along with other friends of their social circle.  She was a treasured member of the staff for many years.  I remember going to your house for Rosh Hashanah parties, and Liesel was always at our home for the many parties my parents had.  I was so inordinately fond of Lisettes as a child that I have long despaired of ever tasting them again, or being able to re-create the recipe for myself.  I often buy Elisen Lebkuchen at Christmas time, but it just isn't the same.  The beautiful picture of the Lisettes evokes a craving in me!

Thanks for contacting me -- and I'd be more than happy to have a batch of Lisettes!  I live in New York City with my fiancé (I'm going to be married in April), and my brother lives in Manhattan too -- he and his wife are about to have twins.  Although my mother passed away some years ago, my father still lives in Yonkers and we see him often -- he always love to hear when we've had contact with old family friends.

Best,

Julie

Long story short, it turned out that my new/old friend and his wife live only twenty blocks from G and myself.  After another flurry of emails, exchanges of memories, and trying to coordinate times, my friend contacted me again, saying that he and his wife had baked me a batch of Lisettes, and that they (the Lisettes) were waiting for me, snug in their tin, to come downtown and pick them up.   

Words fail me in trying to describe the delight of meeting these completely charming people.  I had never really known them – I was a child when they married (they had their wedding registry in my parents’ shop, and still had many items in their home from that time).  We talked of various family members, what they were and are doing.  Of course food was a big topic, since cooking and baking and eating well are threads of connection for both of our families.  They told me about their daughter, a journalist in Beijing, who has persuaded local people to begin growing vegetables organically.  We spoke of our deeply missed mothers, and how cooking their signature dishes brings them back to us.  And they told me the story of how they resurrected the recipe for Lisettes, as we sat down to cups of tea and a plate of the little cakes. 

Even more do words fail me when I try to describe what it was like to taste this sweet of my childhood after many, many years.  I was a tiny bit teary, thinking of childhood and holidays – the Christmas Eve party in my parents’ shop, when we would close early and my father would break out a case of champagne.  All the employees would bring in special treats to share.  It was kind of an alumni night, too – employees from years past would always show up on Christmas Eve, such was their devotion to my parents.    I remember Halina’s mother’s inimitable, melting Polish butter cookies, and Skeeter’s cognac-laced paté.  There were always delectable cheeses and spreads, as well as sweet treats.  And to my particular delight, there was always a big plate of Lisettes. 

As memories flooded my mind, so too were my tastebuds flooded with the particular flavor of ground hazelnuts and candied fruit, spiced to perfection and glazed with just enough chocolate-confectioners' sugar glaze.  I thought about the miracle that had just occurred, and how we now live in a world where, for better or worse, we can actually recover those people and even those experiences that may, once, have seemed truly lost to us. 

There will be no recipe for Lisettes published here, now or ever.  No matter how much I coveted being able to make these fabulous little cakes for myself, I would never even have asked, since it was clear to me that the recipe is a guarded family treasure.  However, without saying a word, my friends told me that they’d already had a family council, and that I would, eventually, be vouchsafed the recipe – on the condition, of course, that I keep the secret.  Deeply honored that they would want to share this with me, I promised.  And we made a date for next holiday season – to make Lisettes together – a day when we will all doubtless eat too many treats, and talk of life, love, family, food and connection, and our mothers’ legacies to us.   

Comments

[Bakerina]

Oh, my dear. As I read this, growing happier and happier, I thought to myself, "the only thing that would make this a perfectly happy ending would be if the recipe were bestowed to her." Then I read your final paragraph. My heart is full to bursting right now -- in a good way. :)

(Of course I would never ask for the recipe. I understand. :)

[brian w]

What a lovely story! You should send this in to the Times or something.

[Jessica "Su Good Eats"]

How touching! Can you make Lisettes for a food blogger party? They sound so delicious, and only a few people have gotten the privilege of eating them. Congrats on your engagement, BTW.

[Tanna]

Wow, Julie I can't imagine all the ways the internet brings us together but this has got to be one of the best happenings yet. That is so very beautiful! Joy!
Have a lovely April!!

[Julie]

Oh Jen -- at the very least, I hope to someday bake you your very own batch of Lisettes.

Thanks Brian -- I'm still somewhat staggered by the amazement of it all myself.

Hey Jessica -- I would love to bake these for a food-blogger event. And thanks for your good wishes...

Thanks Tanna -- this moment certainly struck a very joyous note in a truly joyous season. April brings even more joy, but I have a lot to do between now and then!

[Yvo]

That is so touching. I'm tearing up right now and you've got my brain gears turning with ... 'hmm... what do I remember from childhood...' Unfortunately, I don't think any of my childhood favorites that are long gone...can really be brought back. But then, neither did you! Hmm, hmm :) Happy for you!

[chirky]

I have chills all over my arms and legs, and tears in my eyes. What a beautiful story - It's wonderful how something so large as the Internet can connect us to our past, our legacy, can create such delightful memories and frienships!

[Susan from Food "Blogga"]

This story warms my heart. It's amazing how a series of simple events can lead to such a beautiful ending! This is my first visit here, and you've just hooked me.

[Glenda]

That story gave me goosebumps! How very wonderful that you were able to meet them, that they baked you some lisettes, and that they were kind enough to share an obviously-cherished family recipe with you =).

Glenda

[Elle]

That is so touching and a wonderful birthday gift indeed.
When the computer is cranky, crashes, and otherwise is frustrating, it's good to remember that it also can be the instrument of such an unlooked for connection. Tasting the past and your mother's legacy. Priceless.

[vanessa]

I'm sorry, I'm all teary! I've never had a Lisette, obviously, but I think we can all relate on having a particular food, smell, object, or song that takes up back to a special place and memory. What a wonderful birthday surprise! thanks for reminding us that this crazy box we call our computer and that nutty thing called the internet can help us connect and love better. Thank you!

[Caroline(creaturecomforts)]

Julie,

that was beautiful! Thank you for your wonderful food-evoked memories. And how happy I was for you that your food-evoked wishes came true.

I'm more than a little teary for you.

[Julie]

Hey Yvo -- as my experience proves, you never know what can happen with this crazy technology! It makes us fearful that people or institutions are invading our privacy, but sometimes it's a great thing that people can find each other...

Hi Chirky -- You're right -- I'm so delighted to have made these new friends who are actually a family connection...

Thanks Susan -- I'm so glad you stopped by, and that you plan to visit again!

Hey Glenda -- these are kind and wonderful people indeed. Just another incident that serves to remind me that I'm generally a lucky person with a great many good people in my life. Good to remember on those days when nothing seems to be going right...

Hi Elle -- it's kind of an amazing dichotomy that through NEW technology we're able to recapture the PAST...and through the kindness and generosity of others, of course.

Hey Vanessa -- I'm glad you enjoyed my sharing this story. So many people seem to worry that computers mean that we'll all spend our lives isolated in little cubicles -- but these crazy boxes can serve to connect us, too, especially if that's how we make use of them.

Hi Caroline! I'm so glad to see you here, and to know that you still drop by! Thanks for your kind comment about this story.

[Joe C]

Wow. What a treat to read this in a hotel room on the book-tour journey. So beautifully written, this touched me deeply for reasons only you can understand. I love them Internets...

[Cathy]

Oh Julie, I'm late to the party but so happy for your reacquaintance with Lisettes and your friends. What a wonderful story! P.S. happy, happy birthday!!

[Linda]

what a lovely & touching story. these look divine. thanks for sharing.

[Julie]

Hey Bro -- we're coming into a spring when sharing memories becomes more important than ever, as our family increases and comes together to celebrate...

Cathy -- it's never too late for a visit from you! I'm glad you enjoyed this tale, and thanks for your birthday wishes.

Linda -- So glad to have you drop by AFIEP, and I'm pleased that you enjoyed the story. I'll come visit you too!

[David/Almost a Chef]

There is not much I can say about this post that hasn't been said already. What a great story of food, the internet, blogging - and the good feelings each can somehow relate to. Thanks for a great read.

[Mevrouw Cupcake]

What a delightful and moving story; an example of how taste and memory are such integral parts of our lives. Thank you for sharing this beautiful moment in your life.

[Lisa]

What a great story. I love hearing how the internets have a hand (if internets can be said to have hands) in bringing people unexpectedly together, or back together. Enjoy those Lisettes... they sound wonderful.

[Cece Smith]

Julie, please tell me where I can buy your llittle Lisettes cakes? Or the Bahlsen Contessa cookies in the United States. I live in Nebraska. Recently, last November I was returning from the Holy Land via Frankfurt. THE Airline served us he usual light snack. However, the gentleman next to me then offered me one of his Bahlsen cookies covered in bitter chocolate. Icould hardly wait until he offered me a second cookie. All I could think of the rest of the flight were the remaining cookies left!
They were delicious.
Do you bake and sell Lisettes during Christmas season. I remember this gentleman telling me that these cookies were available only during Christmas. also know that he was flying to Chicago, where he said he helped his friend during the Christman holidays at his German Store in Chicago Butwhere?????
please keep me on your mail list.