Food comes in many forms such as whole food, soul food and comfort food. This column covers all three, and writing it brought me great comfort. Our beloved cat, Chibi, passed away and Bob and I have been trying to deal with our loss. Food, especially fish, has become a great source of comfort. We remember how much she loved her fish and how she would jump on the counter where we ate our meals. She would stare us down until we offered her a piece of the fish.

Yes, I know you are not supposed to do this and she should not have even been on the counter. What makes it worse is that Dalai our dog, down on the floor, would also stare us down until we offered her a share. In all the literature we have read, this type of training (human training) is a definite no-no. Sigh. Although Chibi and Dalai routinely ate veterinarian-prescribed pet food, we did give in at times.

We are guilty, but we will never forget the way Chibi would daintily chew her morsels of fish while Dalai would inhale hers. For every bite that Chibi took, Dalai ingested three. It was the most fun watching her eat poke. She was a real tita. She would hungrily chomp down the pieces and turn her head to the side and chew as if she had caught it herself.

As a tribute to Chibi, Bob wrote this poem that I would like to share with all of you who love your pets.

"Chibi"
By Bob Langen

Was looking for a home.

A place of love and comfort

So she wouldn't have to roam.

With gentle ways and faithfulness

Her new life soon would start

Always grateful for the place

She won in Carol's heart.

And through the years we always loved

Her little tricks and capers

Whenever I would try to read

She'd flop down on my papers.

When we tried to pick her up

She'd dig her claws in tight.

In protest she would call meow

and then give up the fight.

We might find her on the roof

Or in the neighbor's yard

She'd balance on the narrow fence

And say "It's not that hard."

She loved to stalk and prowl at night

Her catch she'd bring with pride

To show her mom the love she felt

that was so deep and wide.

She'd dart across the driveway

But then she'd stop half way

She'd wait for me to pick her up

But look the other way.

At night this nimble agile cat

Could not walk up the stair.

Her mom would have to cradle her

And carry her up there.

She'd always go and sniff her food

But eating she'd decline.

Then later when she felt the mood

the little queen would dine.

Although she had a doggie door

She knew that she could win

By mewing at the sliding door

Until we let her in.

At night she'd jump up on the stand

And leap from there to bed.

And then she'd wander up and down

And flop by Carol's head

Sleeping softly I would see

the cat and her sweet charms.

Resting in the sweet embrace

Of her mother's arms.

Cheeb, we won't forget you

And you can count on that.

We'll treasure always memories

Of our beloved cat.

CHIBI'S FAVORITE FISH GRILLED SWORDFISH

• 4 (6-ounce) swordfish steaks (approximately 3/4-inch thick), rinsed and patted dry

• 2 tablespoons lemon or lime zest

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Place the fish in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Combine lemon or lime zest, juice, olive oil, salt, ground pepper in a small bowl. Spoon over fish. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Set steaks on a greased grill rack. Cover with grill lid and grill over medium-high heat (400 degrees) for 2 minutes. Rotate steaks a quarter of a turn to create cross-hatch grill marks (if you want to be fancy). Grill, covered, 2 more minutes. Turn fish and repeat the process. Grill until fish flakes easily when pierced with a fork. Transfer to a platter and serve with tender loving care.

Makes 4 servings.

• Per serving: 270 calories, 14 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 65 mg cholesterol,300 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 34 g protein

Want a local recipe lightened up? Write Light & Local Taste Section, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802 or mail to taste@honoluluadvertiser.com. Carol Devenot is a Kaimuki-raised teacher and recipe consultant, and author of Global Light Cuisine (Blue Sea Publishing Publishing, paper, 2008). Cookbooks and e-books available at bookstores and Web site: www.globallightcuisine.com.