Rogier's PhD Regalia

I met Rogier in 2008 at Cornell University. We immediately became friends, and in the six weeks we spent at Cornell we developed what I considered a very dear friendship. While I haven't seen Rogier since that wonderful summer, I kept in touch with him regularly, always shooting back the same jokes we enjoyed in 2008. I had hoped to visit Rogier in South Africa soon, and I wish I could have even sooner. He is missed, and there is a space in my heart for Rogier that can never be filled by another. Peace be with you, Rogier. We miss you dearly.

Rogier's Love of Animals

One thing I remember most about Rogier was his love of animals--and particularly dogs. When we were together on the Cornell campus he would often stop and shout "look at the squirrel! Aren't they cute"--with the joy of a child almost in his voice. It was incredibly endearing. Sometimes "look at the bunny!" or "see those geese!" would be followed by how tasty they might be in a red wine sause, or some other joke, but his genuine adoration for animals was always clear.

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When I visited Rogier in South Africa in 2009 I discovered that everyone there had dogs--some for love, and some for security, but Rogier insisted on stopping and petting every dog we came across, or saving scraps and treats for his neighbour’s dog. When going over to dinner at his friend Liz's house he always made sure to pick up some dog treats for her four pooches--whom he loved and would often email me pictures of out of the blue--along with his ingredients for dinner.

While in Capetown I had to beg Rogier to take me to see the African "Jackass" Penguins near Kalk Bay, and he suggested we just go see them at the aquarium, which would give us more time for wine tasting. But I finally got my way and he took me out to see the penguins on the beach and had to admit they were "pretty cute."

There are so many Rogier stories I would like to share--and I look forward to reading stories from his friends all over the world. But I thought I would start by sharing how I first came to know Rogier--which was through his love of cooking.

During the Summer 2008 Critical Theory Program at Cornell I happened to be rooming next to Rogier in the dorms. We had flown in on the same tiny flight from Philidelphia to Ithica and first met while sitting around in the dorm courtyard waiting for someone to show up with keys to the rooms. But how I first got to know Rogier was when he started talking about wanting to make a peppersteak filet with basil and balsamic reduction--or something like that. Now here we were in the middle of this intense theory camp with everyone concerned about keeping up with the reading and in a hyper-studious mode and Rogier decided to start cooking elaborate meals and inviting people to join in. It was one of the best parts of the entire experience and really humanized this sterile academic process.

One night, as pictured here he came up with an amazing lentil soup. He insisted that our friend Eric drive him to Walmart to by a handblender because you just could not get the right consistency for the soup without it! He also made some South African butternut and continued to tell us how his step-mother would be so proud of how the butternut came out!

One evening in the dorms at 2am Rogier insisted on making shortbread: fresh homemade shortbread cookies at 2am in the dorms! I think I knew that night that we would be friends forever because Rogier was like no one I had ever met. There were many other meals that summer and many great times we shared swimming in the gorges in Ithica, going across the street for our favorite "Rockett 88" drinks, and surviving all the geust lectures and receptions together, but Rogier's cooking and dinners in the dorms were really a special occation that I will always remember fondly.

Random Good Times II

Rogier always representing Cornell!!







I love the Beat Stanford T-shirt!



I think Rogier must have taken this picture, because I couldn't look more deranged!



All about the Panna tone, I don't think he'd ever had it before, we were eating our Dean & Deluca while sitting in the parking lot of the Culinary Institute of America, cause we just had to have both! ahhah



Rogier just said something outlandish! But isn't that why we love him???

Random Images of Good Times

Rogier at his gym best!

Rogier and Karen sharing a bottle of Stag's Leap, at one of the best (and most memorable) meals in my life!

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone - W. H. Auden

    Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
    Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
    Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
    Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

    Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
    Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
    Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
    Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

    He was my North, my South, my East and West,
    My working week and my Sunday rest,
    My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
    I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

    The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
    Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
    Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
    For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Last Facebook Message I Recieved From Rogier...a South African Wine Lover till the End!

Rogier Courau November 18 at 12:04am

Hello Charlotte. Hope you are well. I think in terms of New World wineries that the US is a leader in the industry. Indeed, most of the root stock for the rest of world comes from California - especially after the phylloxera blight of a century ago. I think your strengths are Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Chardonnay. In the South African case, our industry is much older than the American one and better than the Indian one that Stefan works for. Our strengths are dessert wine made from Muscat de Frontignan, Chenin Blanc (lightly-wooded), Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. We also have the local Pinotage (a hybrid of Pinot and Cinsaut/Hermitage developed in the 1920s), though I'm not very fond of it.

It obviously has everything to do with terroir and individual taste sensibilities. I was impressed with some of the places we went to in Napa, and I would not profess to know anything substantial about American wine. I may have joked a little when I met you during my trip last year, but I must reiterate that I found it fascinating to visit another major wine-growing region. In fact, I look forward to another trip and you visiting me in Cape Town at some stage! It's the only reason I remain in South Africa...

Amusingly, the worst wine I ever tasted was in upstate New York where I met Karen at Cornell. It seems to be Riesling country - if it can achieve anything at all viticulturally :) - and reminds me a great deal of German wine.

You would love the food in the Cape (South Africa) and the distinct local cuisine - a fusion of Dutch, English, Malay slave, Indian, French and several other influences. So, in my case, it had everything to do with ego when I was having those tremendous culinary and wine debates with you - and little to do with the wonderful variety and complexity that Northern California represents viticulturally.

Anyway, I look forward to keeping in touch and comparing notes with you :) Cheers and have a glass on me! Best, Rogier