When I saw The Traveler's Lunchbox' 'Calling all foodbloggers' message to write about the 5 things to eat before you die, I just followed my instincts and wrote the following list in the comments section (I had not started this blog yet)

• Dungeness Crab in San Francisco
• Oysters from Etang de Tau in the South of France
• Fresh raspberries, straight from the bush, still warm from the sunshine
• Danish Fjord Shrimp
• BBQ'ed langouste from the Indian Ocean

It was a flow-of-consciousness-moment and looking back at it, I find it very revealing.

Firstly: Of my own mortality, which I apparently was either thinking imminent or non-existent, depending on how you look at it, since these are  all things I have already eaten. So did I think 'Yep, I have tasted these 5, now I can die in peace, forever happy'? Or - much more likely if you knew me a bit better - I didn't give my own mortality much thought and just went straight to the 'eat' part of the sentence rather than the 'die'.

Secondly: Apparently I am presumptous enough to think that these 5 of my own favourite things are so fantastic that other people should eat them before they die (being an ex-consultant, it's hardly surprising that I should think that I know what is best for other people).

And thirdly, 4 out of 5 of them are seafood.

Come to think of it, this stream of consciousness wasn't so far off the mark mortality-wise since, given the choice of a last meal, this is probably what I would ask for. Yes, all 5 of them. And given that these are local specialities from around the world, gathering them all would take some time, and therefore afford me a bit more time before the grim reaper appeared. Who said "cunning"?

So why did I choose these 5, out of the many delicious things I have tasted? I couldn't say. All I know is that these 5 just appeared at the tips of my fingers and from there to the keyboard.

Some of them deserve a Madeleine of their own (once the site's design has been finished by Skat, my lovely husband - I can't help giggling a bit at writing 'my husband', although it's been over a year now!), but a few words about each choice are in order, I believe:

1. Dungeness Crab: this is Numero Uno, as I simply cannot get enough crab. But the Dungeness Crab in San Francisco beats all the others I have tasted. It is truly the Emperor of Crabs, in my book (for the rest of the story, stay tuned on the Madeleines Project).

2. Oysters from Etang de Thau - these are the oysters we eat every Easter at my parents', courtesy of a friend of theirs who brings Huitres de Bouzigues, since his family owns an oyster farm. They have a nut-like, smooth and elegantly nuanced taste which is unrivalled by any others, be they from Oleron, Arcachon, Cornwall, Bodega Bay or Nosy Be (you guessed it, there is another Madeleine in there somewhere...). Incidentally, we also had these oysters the day after our wedding last year, as nothing beats oysters and champagne to prolong festivities...

3. Fresh raspberries, straight from the bush, still warm from the sunshine - the quintessential taste of summer and an eternal reminder of the huge raspberry bush in my parents' previous house. Although I live in strawberries n' cream country, I still prefer raspberries any day, dressed with nothing and preferably eaten without cutleru and outdoors.

4. Danish fjord shrimp - my family-in-law would probably not believe that this had made it to my list, but shelling these little creatures will either prolong your life ALOT, since it takes forever before you have anything vaguely resembling a portion (unless you happen to be Barbie or Ken), alternatively you might wish your life was over much sooner so you could just stop fiddling with the little microscopic thingies. The secret is to have a few portions on some nice sourdough bread and relish the time spent with family and / or friends while doing so. And drink copious amounts of white wine to keep you patient and sane, if not sober. And then take the remaining boiled shrimp, just remove the heads and the tails, lightly dust them with flour seasoned with salt, pepper and chilli and fry them. They are such an expensive delicacy that no-one in their right mind in Denmark would buy them just to do that, but having a few portions comme-il-faut first, helps to alleviate the guilt. Trust me.

5. BBQ'ed Langouste from the Indian Ocean - now, for this week's über-decadent affirmation ' I like lobster, but I luuurve langouste'. Not that I have any of them often, far from it, but given the choice I would always choose the one without the claws but with the sweetest meat. Preferably BBQ'ed. Served under a starry African sky. While on honeymoon. Or grilled by my mum, as the last meal in Madagascar (before leaving, not before kicking the bucket! Enough of these morbid thoughts, already!). And yet another Madeleine-in-Progress...

Aaaah, I feel like Sheherazade, enticing you to come back to read me, never ending a story before teasing you with a new one. In this case, 3 new ones! 1001 posts? One day. Maybe...

PS: spare a kind thought for Skat who is doing the washing-up and tidying the kitchen, so I can blog away... Thank you.