Family heirlooms

Recipes in honour of Nana

We lost our dear Nana Ngaire (Galloway, ne´ e Lane) a few weeks ago. She was well-known for competing in the 1948 Olympics (swimming, backstroke), but, for me, it was her amazing home cooking that will remain my strongest memory.

When I was younger, Nana would pick me up after school on a Thursday, and we would spend the afternoon cooking a meal for the family. I think, because my parents weren’t great cooks, she decided she would make certain I was. This time spent cooking together has essentially shaped my whole life and career, leading me to first train as a chef and now as a food writer. Even up until recently, I would still often discuss recipes and methodology with Nana.

Although Nana could cook anything, I think soup was her mainstay, with most dinners beginning with a small bowl of soup. Onion soup was one of her favourites, so today I share this recipe in her honour (photographed in her own handcrafted pottery bowls).

Nicola Galloway is an award-winning food writer, cookbook author and culinary tutor.