Hearty, Happy Duo

Wendell Rodricks & Jerome Marrel

Wendell Rodricks and Jerome Marrel are the ultimate patrons of the good life. And they take to it with utmost simplicity, naturally, almost in a manner of, to the manor born. Although this was not so, for to reach where they have, Wendell has certainly worked hard and Jerome, French to the core, has been a 100% supporting partner. Needless to add, they both exude immense charm, class and are a world apart

"Ah, there it is," I said to my driver, pointing into the darkness, the white porch with a sloping Mangalore tiled roof over which peachy pink bougainvillea cascaded charmingly. ‘Bonne Aubaine’, said the blue and white ceramic tile in old-fashioned italic font. And there I was at the wooden door, pulling at the knotted end of a string which came through a hole in the wall. On the other side of the wall this thin rope was tugging at a brass bell announcing to Wendell Rodricks and Jerome Marrel that their friend Farzana Contractor had arrived!

It was 7 pm and that hour in Goa, in a sleepy village, it is like how a deserted city would feel at 3 am. But suddenly it all came alive. Jerome was at the door, beaming like the jolly Santa Claus, his grey-green eyes dancing, even as the four dogs surrounding him went into an ecstatic chorus of different barks. Hey, hey, hey, such happiness!

And there was Wendell welcoming me with, “Hi darling, can I offer you my Happy Coat, before we settle down…”

Oh yes, I am in Goa alright. And chez J and W. So instead of water, which is the perfunctory Indian offering to any arriving guest, I am given a choice of dressing gowns. This is only one of Wendell and Jerome’s unique ideas. Well, I am only too happy to get out of my jeans and T on this warm, muggy night, and so a quick shower later I am all wrapped up in a soft linen (happy) coat and comfortably seated in a large Goan chair on a deck I named ‘Athena’s Loft’, after hearing the wonderful story about their Great Dane, even as all four of their canine brood lay around our feet; Sophia, the Boxer, Tyra, the Dachshund, Zeus and Athena, both Great Danes.

That’s how my interview – if you can call it that – on food, wine, travel and the good life began… snuggly ensconced, feet tucked under, glass of wine in hand, we got talking about dogs, a subject close to Wendell’s heart and mine. Until the dog conversation came to an end, Jerome, a cat person, sat patiently, smiling, puffing away at his cigar, refilling
our wine glasses, tending to the candles, the only mode of lighting for the evening. “We like it that way,” says Wendell, “gives us the old Goa feel.”

This couple sure do live their life in their own wonderful way; passionately, intensely, tastefully, artistically and most important, truly and fully. They do everything they want to; travel, eat, cook, read, write, be with people they want to, entertain as and when they like. But if you think that is all they do, you are mistaken. Wendell, as fashion designer, had humble beginnings and he sure worked hard at his success with Jerome by his side supporting him wholeheartedly, with guidance and sound advice which he culled from years of his own experiences as a successful businessman.

Today, after three decades, Wendell has put away his measuring tape and scissors, put his label in the capable hands of his protégé, Schulen Fernandes to concentrate on realising his dream of giving Goa, Moda Goa; a museum related to fashion and all things related to good Goan living, to which end he has generously contributed his old home, Casa Donna Maria and moved into Bonne Aubaine, which he has rented from friends.

“You have to give back,” says Wendell emphatically, “or else, of what use is all of this?” he asks rhetorically, waving his hands to encompass the world. And we go on to discuss the profound subject of giving and taking, of givers and takers, of living life purely and honestly and generally being worthwhile people. We talked about Mario Miranda and moaned his loss, Remo Fernandes and his shifting to Portugal, Raj Salgaocar and his love for shooting wildlife pictures. We talked of Goa and its beaches and its shacks, its different cultures and cuisines and how even now, with insensitive tourist invasions, it is still a little haven of sand and surf, rest and relaxation and loads of fun.

In the middle of all our talking, we even have a musical interlude, when on whim, Wendell goes to his room and fetches a guitar, belonging to none other than the famed architect and amazing singer Lucio Miranda, a gift to Wendell from Coreen, Lucio’s wife. ‘Once upon a time there was a tavern…’  Wendell shuts his eyes as he begins singing my school favourite… ‘Where we used to raise a glass or two/Remember how we passed away the hours, think of all the good things we would do…’ And I get goosebumps as I join in the chorus, ‘Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end, we’d sing and dance forever and a day. We’d live the life we choose, we’d fight and never lose for we were young and sure to find our way…’

In this atmosphere of bonhomie, we sang and talked into the night, way past Wendell’s bedtime, with candles flickering, dogs snoring and the guitar now resting in the corner.

The next morning when I awoke in my ancient canopied four-poster bed, with silken bed nets, all I wanted to do was laze like a princess, but there was serious work to do. Shoot the food! I could already hear Wendell, now a different Wendell from last night, shouting orders like a sergeant in an army to his battalion of workers, who are actually more an extended family to him; Dennis who is the chief cook, Bappi, Sushil and Vinaik who also doubles up as chauffeur. I knew what was happening. An early riser, Wendell was already busy laying the breakfast table. I was to be given a taste of Goan breakfast, with European touches, which were to be Jerome’s contribution. And when you have a Frenchman in the house how can it be anything but a champagne breakfast! Bring out the Moet…

The tasks were divided between the two and they went about their chores with precision. So while Jerome was in the kitchen, Wendell, a perfectionist laid the table. Not only was it groaning with all possible Goan breakfast food and drink, it was also engagingly colour coordinated. Such a feast!

A line-up of juices, fresh pomegranate, tender coconut water with mint leaves, sugarcane with ginger and lime, fresh Mankurad mango, Wendell Rodricks’ Healthy Smoothie (banana, apple, orange juice, ginger, honey, lime), fresh watermelon; three kinds of lassi, mango; bimbli and jambul flavoured with honey, a melange of fruits grown on the Goan hills; cashew apple, zomnaas, fokkam, love apples, pineapple and chikoo, karwandas and jamuns. There was Goan Chorizo Chilli Fry On a Bed of Scrambled Gaunti Village Eyes, Drumstick (moringa) Mousse, there were veggies; Red Amaranth Quinoa Leaf Bhaji, Tempered Yellow Goan Pumpkin Bhaji, Chickpea ‘Ros’ Dry Curry with Green Chilli, Runner Bean Iril/Vali Bhaji.

 As you can see from the pictures there was no way we could sit at the table laden as it was with goodies, so, buffet style, we served ourselves and went and sat by the pool, eating and tasting, tasting and eating, discussing and dissecting, to our heart’s content all aspects of all food, be it Goan, French or world cuisine.

It’s always interesting to be with people who have so much joie de vivre. Wendell, pretty much in the news, one reads about regularly, it’s Jerome who stays away and who I would like to pull forward now. Did you know this man, an aesthete, a total gourmet, was born in Lyon, no coincidence that it is the world capital for gastronomy? That he did his BA in Hotel and Hospitality Management in Toulouse. That after few years in France managing various restaurants and a year of compulsory military service, he left France for the UAE, Oman, Los Angeles, Tahiti, Angola, Turkey and finally came to India and settled down with Wendell in Goa. That he handled major catering contracts, feeding thousands of people, the world over, the largest of all being the US troups during the Iraq war, thanks to which he has hobnobbed with major heads of states. That he left the job in 2005 at the height of his career as the senior vice president of Compass Group for Asia and Middle East to oversee Wendell’s fashion business, full-time. That he is largely responsible for Wendell being where he is today.

No doubt, Wendell has enormous talent, but if left untapped, the world would have never seen the growth of the once shy boy who today is the toast, not just of Goa, but India.“That’s true,” confirms Wendell, “if it wasn’t for Jerome, God knows where or how I would have been. I am so fortunate to have met him. And above all the things that he has taught me, the most important has been that my time is valuable.” But Jerome, self effacing as ever, will only say, in his sweet French accent, “Nothing of the sort, I only helped him pursue his dream when he expressed a desire to go study fashion designing in America. I gave him advice when he needed it. Rest, he did himself.” When I urge him to open up, be candid, he says, “Look, I will do anything for Wendell, but I don’t like to be in the foreground. I like to be away from all his fame. I don’t like ‘celebrity’. At airports when he has people coming to him, I just prefer to walk away.” Hmm, that’s Jerome, alright.

It’s a relationship which started in Oman where Wendell who has a degree in catering from the Dadar catering school, was working in Muscat in the catering section at the Royal Oman Police Officer’s Club. Jerome was also pursuing his food business when a friend set up the two for meeting. From then on till now, it’s been an enduring love story.

In the face of many odds, they stuck it out and emerged as the poster couple, an inspiration for the entire gay community. They formalised their union at a ceremony in Paris by signing a contract, the Pacte Civil de Solidarie and becoming one, indeed a momentous occasion in their lives.

Travel forms a very important part of their lives. They have been there, done that and not surprisingly continue to do. Having travelled to 140 countries, it was easier to check where had they not been. Central Africa and its 25 countries. And they don’t even want to go there. But they do want to go the unbeaten path. The last one was on a part of the old Silk Route, which they began in Mongolia. But clearly it’s in a boat and on a cruise that they enjoy most. The two have decided to spend all their time and money, cruising. And when they go broke, they will pop a pill in bed, on a cruise and die in each other’s arms! I chide them; it sounds romantic but you will do nothing of the sort. May they never go broke!!

And thus we move on to favourite cuisines? Favourite countries where they enjoy eating? Jerome is quick on this one, “Has to be France, where we eat every part of a pig! From snout to tail,” he laughs, “cheek, tripe, hooves…” For Wendell, it is food from any country which has a grand landmass and therefore abundant produce; like India, China, Argentina, the Ottoman area…

Today, the two are in such a happy space, all they want is to have genuine people
around them. They are content to be by themselves; most evenings they are at home in Colvale. Candles lit, they sit there, chatting, planning, working on the museum idea, discussing the new books that Wendell will write. Dinner is always a soup and one other dish, never elaborate.

Wendell sleeps by 9 pm and Jerome past midnight, by 12.30. Wendell wakes at 5 am and Jerome at 9. Wendell reads, writes, gardens, walks his dogs, potters in the kitchen, meets people at home and generally stays put in the village. Of course he spends time at Casa Donna Maria, preparing for it to become the museum of his dream. There is the job of installing central air-conditioning, making the villa damp-proof, security-proof and so on. Wendell has been collecting since 16 years; Goan costumes, statues, ornaments, dressing tables, dowry boxes… anything related to dressing up! The target date for opening is December 2018.

Jerome, on the other hand, on waking up, does not want to be disturbed for two hours.
In this time he has his breakfast, reads the papers, reads his books, tweets, posts, re-tweets. Then he heads for Panjim, to their house in Altino, the Malabar Hill of Goa,
where he teaches Thomas, his Man Friday three new recipes, three times a week, he eats lunch here then heads to their office, looks at the accounts, and then drops in at their fashion outlet called Design Space. After which he returns home to Colvale by 7.30 in the evening when they both get into the pool for a languorous swim under the stars. Their
dogs sit by the side and watch them.

If their chosen way of life sounds totally idyllic, you are totally right. And yes, I forgot, they have a lovely white boat lapping on
the Mandovi thanks to which they make
forays into inlets on the river, circling tiny islands, spotting birds. True luxury, this. Meaning, not the boat, but making time to enjoy what they have.

And remember, it’s all about karma.