Before
I forget the exact tastes and feelings of the moment (or two moments in
particular, rather), let me please just divulge. My two favorite meals of our
vacation juxtapose each other quite nicely, so very different in their plates,
context, and company, yet so very high up on my list of highlights over the past
few years.
TUESDAY:
Consensus reached that our meal at Redd in Yountville (home of the famed French
Laundry) tops all others in the past few years of our marriage. Our reservation
taunted us all afternoon until a late 8:30 when we finally sat down in our
little corner booth, 1 glass of Green and Red Zinfandel warming our mood
already. We each ordered the 5 course tasting menu and ended up tasting a
fantastic 10 courses by the end, as each course presented itself with a
different plate from the kitchen for us both (which of course I nudged husBen
to only eat half of so that we could switch and taste double). I felt myself falling
more in love with husBen over each bite as we ooed and ahhed over the presentation
and then the complexity of flavors on our tongues. Sashimi of hamachi, sticky
rice, soy ginger sauce. Yellowfin tuna taretare, asian pear, avocado, chili oil
and cilantro. Switch. Duck confit salad with stone fruit, haricot vert, fried
shallots, and balsamic vinaigrette. Carnaroli risotto, maine lobster, meyer
lemon confit, truffle oil. Switch! We felt present and satisfied and so lucky
to share this moment with another equally appreciative of food. And he just
looked so darn handsome…Glazed pork belly, apple puree, burdock and soy
caramel. Caramelized diver scallops, capers, almonds and golden raisins. Need I
continue?
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A
meal like this merits attention, and mind you, we bowed and praised it. We
could not stop talking about it for days. We appreciated those hours, those
tastes, that person across the table. We indulged in sitting and letting
ourselves slow down enough to be amazed. Sometimes that makes a meal.
THURSDAY: We rolled the bar car out of the corner
of the kitchen of Paige’s adorable studio apartment into the bedroom/living
room to serve as our “dining room table.” I had been cooking all afternoon
while Paige and her boyfriend worked (they have real jobs) and was so in my
element searching through drawers and cabinets for the right tools that I
hardly noticed the passing of time. Paige arrived home and dressed the cart in
a tablecloth; Steve set the table like only a well reared boy from the South
could; I began to crowd the top with dishes and snacks meant to share; husBen poured the Kuleto Rosé, our only tangible souvenir from Napa. Roasted
figs atop arugula (both farmer’s market finds from earlier that week) with
candied walnuts, blue cheese and honey vinaigrette. Halibut with caramelized
soy ginger glaze (maybe me trying to emulate the flavors of our meal at Redd).
Flatbread with garlic infused olive oil and basil, served with burst heirloom tomatoes
and fresh burrata (inspired by one of our favorite dishes back home at Pass
& Provisions in Houston). Two people sat on the couch with chins up to the
table and two in chairs, but we were each reclining fully by the end of the
meal. I cannot recall the subject of our conversation or the root of our
laughter, but I do recall the feeling of wanting to stay at this table forever
(or at least for hours and hours, which is a rare feeling in me to want to sit still).
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These people, this comfort…this is a
blessing. This a is a rare find in life. This whole scene in my mind still
brings a sigh of appreciation for these friends and intentionality around a
table.
What
are your favorite times around the table? When and what do you appreciate? A meal? A face? The perfect marriage of
the two?
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