Sensuous Gourmet of the Month
Malcolm Groome - Pat Ryan - Ryan's Hope
Afternoon TV Magazine, January 1984
by Bonnie Schiffer
Article Provided By WandaIn the mood for something exotic? Try India. From the Taj Mahal to the Himalayas, it's a land of mystery - and contrasts. Most of us will never get any closer to the sub-continent than Nirvana, which is pretty close to heaven itself. Nirvana, a dreamlike state, is also the name of a New York restaurant which offers a panoramic view of Central Park from its rooftop location. Here, a meal is an adventure, a mini-excursion into another culture.
As you enter, you're enveloped in the soothing, yet strangely stimulating scent of a potpourri of pungent Eastern fragrances. The decor, rich with colorful tapestries, is a feast for the eyes. The palate is intrigued, for this cuisine inspires curiosity. We are challenged to explore, and then rewarded by the discovery that Indian food goes far beyond curry. That's only one of an abundance of spices available to the creative chef. Simple ingredients can be enhanced by these magic powders, until you have a meal fit for a maharajah. Subtle or spicy, the choice is yours.
Malcolm Groome felt quite at ease in these surroundings. He made his own journey to India in 1971, a time when many of the world's young people were following The Beatles to India, in search of a spiritual direction. For some, the pilgrimage resulted in nirvana, the goal of inner peace.
Malcolm lived for three months in an ashram (retreat) in Hardwar, studying meditation. As he recalls, "it's the beginning of my looking for truth in life. It set me on a certain path. The meditation was a period of a lot of growth for me...a clearing away of a lot of concepts and conditioning I'd had since childhood. It was re-evaluation of what had been values for me."
"I was very touched by the humanity there, the way people really made contact with you. I remember looking into a lot of eyes, and seeing into a lot of souls, because the people in that part of the world are very in touch with that."
"For the past several years now, I've been doing 'Actualism'. It's something my wife, Rebekah teaches. In fact, we met when she was my teacher. It involves working with medicine and the holistic approach to health - mind and body. It deals with the power of healing, and the laying on of hands."
Rebekah, who joined us at Nirvana, explained the extent of her connection with Actualism. "I teach classes, and do lots of counseling...I also do body work, somewhat similar to Rolfing, but not as 'heavy.' What I'm actually doing is working to bring out human potential, emotional stability, and better health."
Now that Malcolm is back from California, being a Ryan's a full time job. Nine months ago, he returned to the role of Patrick Ryan, which he originated in 1975. Now, Malcolm finally looks old enough to a doctor. He is quite excited by the arrival of Joe Hardy, RH's new executive producer.
"Joe's changing the whole look of the show. There's new lighting, sets, casting, and even wardrobe changes. Joe's background is theater," Malcolm notes, "and he's got wonderful tastes. Our ratings dropped when the story got away from the core family. Now we're going back to the Ryans."
And Malcolm's glad to be back 'home.' When we inquire, however, as to who does the cooking in the Groome household (where vegetables, chicken and fish - no meat - are the staples), Rebekah replies, "Nobody! We're never home." Then, her husband adds, "But when we are there, we share all of our duties."
Indeed, Malcolm and Rebekah seem to have achieved a blissful partnership, which is, at the same time, very much in the real world. Love, respect and understanding radiate from this couple, along with an inner glow. They find supporting each other to be a privilege, not a burden. There are definitely two stars in this marriage!