Ilona Cole, Story 88
Published by Administrator
Marcie Sims is a teacher, author, and editor. She teaches literature/film, composition, and creative writing courses at Green River College in Auburn, WA. She lives on Vashon Island, just a short ferry ride away from Seattle, Washington. She writes fiction (short stories and novels), poetry, composition textbooks and has written one historic overview of Capitol Hill Pages as a former U.S. Senate page herself. View more posts
As many of Ilona’s friends and family know well, Ilona is an amazing cook and most gracious and generous hostess, always making the most delicious food (and drinks) and setting the table as a creative work of art, like a masterpiece on an easel, with gorgeous dishes and glassware and stemware and tablecloths and centerpieces to wow the eyes and the stomach both.
“The eyes eat too,” she told me once.
This story (and the one we will post next week–Part 2) is about the creation of her beautiful cookbook that many of you own and treasure as I do. I will never forget the period over a year that Ilona made these dishes and meals for the cookbook and the special meals and works of art I was able to share with Ilona and Hal (which makes these memories all the more special) and many of the “featured guests” that she invited to these celebrations of love and food and the art of the table while we were creating this book. Those meals and times are forever precious memories to me that I will cherish forever. They are some of the best gifts I have ever received. I have been deeply influenced in my own cooking and hostess skills by Ilona, but I will never come close to the talent and grace that comes so naturally for Ilona.
Thank you, dearest Ilona, for the many years of friendship and the gifts of your love and food, talent, and generosity. Love, Marcie
Yum! Indeed…… And Marcie has expressed so beautifully the combination of Ilona’s talent, grace and hospitality. It can be too easy sometimes to say “love”. Ilona lives it and offers us her deep and abiding gift. Yes, we are each so very fortunate to be gifted by her as we strive to even practice in our own lives the way she touches us. So many years of exquisite food, drink and lively conversation. All undergirded with bonds of such fierce and tender affection and loyalty. Gratitude is ever present. Yes, dear Ilona, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Always love….. Sharon
I have been amazed over the years by the beauty and creativity of Ilona