Issues → July/August 2007 → Feature Stories →
Cooking Aboard Sailboat
Recipes for family meals on the ocean
by Annie B. Copps
For 30 years, the Boston Sailing Center has been offering courses to all types of sailors, from those just getting their sea legs to seasoned captains preparing to make coastal passages. The center also offers memberships that include the use of a variety of vessels and opportunities for bareboat charters in the Virgin Islands and other destinations. 617-227-4198; bostonsailingcenter.com
"It was our love for the ocean that brought us together in the first place," says Helen Gallo Bryan. She met her husband, Dave Bryan, manager of the Boston Sailing Center, more than a decade ago when she first signed up for sailing lessons. "We quickly figured out we had a passion for wine and food, too," says Dave. "So being on the boat for a day or a week, with or without the boys, we eat and drink well."
Helen understands multitasking. The couple has two young sons (Daniel, 6, and Oliver, 3), and she is an executive with Winebow, an importer of Italian estate wines. She admits it takes a little forethought to pull off a fresh and delicious meal while under sail, but she says once you learn a few tricks, you can apply them to any meal -- at home or with the spinnaker flying.
"People think we're nuts," says Dave, "when we talk about a great meal we had and that it was while we were on a sailing vacation with the kids. We take the kids everywhere, and if we're out cruising, they come along -- we don't get enough time with them as it is, and the ocean is a great place for them to be. What better way to spend time as a family and for them to understand, love, and respect the water?"
Helen and Dave chose a menu that includes healthy ingredients that can be made in advance and then quickly assembled, easily grilled (or placed in the boat's tiny oven in case the weather turns), and kept in a cooler for a few days -- important when you can't run to the store for missing ingredients. "Normally in the summer, I'd use fresh tomatoes, but oven-dried are more forgiving in case we hit waves or we can't use them before they go south," explains Helen.
Planning ahead is the key. "Almost all the provisions we take along are ingredients that mix and match well. We put olive oil and garlic in everything. Olive oil doesn't need to be refrigerated and is a better health choice than butter," says Helen.
"If you're going to be out for a few days, think of your meals as a three-day picnic and plan accordingly." And there's no reason to skip dessert. "I got the idea from slice-and-bake cookies and experimented. I make a batch, form them into logs, and freeze them. They also help keep the cooler temperature down, and they're delicious -- by land or sea."
Wine Selections
Helen's company imports these wines (and hundreds more), and she chose them for their charming flavors and versatility with a variety of foods.
Rose wines are in the midst of a revival, with more and more producers showing us that pink doesn't have to be a sweet, mass-produced white Zinfandel. To get the meal started, Helen chose a 2005 Valle Reale Cerasuolo Rosato ($14) from the Abruzzi region of Italy, on the Adriatic. It's a light and refreshing wine with berry and herb notes.
As a nice change from Chardonnay, Helen poured a 2005 Zenato Lugana di San Benedetto ($13), made from Trebbiano di Lugana grapes from the Veneto region of Italy. This white wine is full of tropical flavors and has a crisp citrus finish that makes it perfect with most meals.
Helen opted for the rich, plum-tasting 2002 Di Majo Norante Ramitello Rosso ($15) from Molise, Italy, as an excellent match for the steak (and chocolate cookies). It's made from a blend of Prugnolo Gentile (a clone of the Sangiovese grape, which is what Chianti is made from) and Aglianico grapes.
Helen's Helpful Hints
If dining on deck, especially with kids, avoid snacks that will blow away or are oily: "Chips, pretzels, and crackers fly away with the slightest puff of wind, and the kids' hands get covered in grease -- which ends up on everything they touch on a boat, and that can be dangerous. Cut-up fruits and vegetables work better." Helen also recommends wrap sandwiches, which her boys love: "I use small flour tortillas that they can easily hold with one hand. I try not to overfill them -- just some nice sliced turkey and a mild cheese."
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