PRECIOUS FONDNESS

BIRTHDAY HARVEST

     Growers in the Paso Robles Appellation have already begun harvest, earlier than normal.  The drought and weather seems to have rushed the calendar, but the crop is expected to be extraordinary.

   The Brix level, the amount of sugar in the fruit, is reportedly very good and that leads to a better wine. 

    Many vineyards "dry" farm, which causes the roots to extend deeper into the soil, that also produces a better fruit.  Some varietals need water, so the drought has forced some irrigation, still the overall report is the 2014 harvest

in Paso will produce extraordinary wine.  Cheers to that!

YOU CAN'T FORGET

     The good nature and spirit of friends make sure we note the click of yet another year.

     Though other plans kept me from this gathering at Sebastians, our Friday Lunch Flash Mob was full of good cheer and well wishes.  Sorry I missed those brownies!  Thanks to our "hostess" and wonderful friend Jeanie for the photo.

     We were able to enjoy the American Provence' with dear and sweet friends.

      A dinner and concert with former Hoosiers Griff and Jacque gave us a chance to marvel again at the extraordinary music talent residing here on the central coast.

   This is an aggregation of talent that has individually toured or recorded with the Steve Miller Band, Carol King, Diana Ross, Tower of Power, Eric Clapton, Smokey Robinson, Diane Shurr, Inga Swearingen, Marvin Hamlish and others. Most of them are also composers and their music has scored TV and film.  

    Though you can't see Diane Steinberg-Lewis, her music has been recorded by Natalie Cole and Cleo Lane.  She was also the original Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds in the Robert Stigwood production of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  On this night, she, Kenny Lee Lewis, Danny Pelfry, Ken Hustad, and Dean Giles were producing a new video. A special birthday gift for this boomer.

    And there was a poignant moment that provided a profound perspective reality check.  I chatted with a friend who also worked in the video and media business. I met him 7 years ago when we came to the central coast.  A couple of years ago we learned he faced a serious health challenge. Last evening he told me that his doctors had missed something and he had just been told that he is likely to be gone by October.  He said he would like to be awake at his death, though that is not likely, given his illness. In the meantime he is making the most of the days he has left, traveling when he can, watching his daughter who was the guest artist for a couple of numbers last night and he prepares.

      That afternoon I was interviewed and engaged in a  conversation with an eminent author/theologian from San Francisco. She is now in recovery from lung cancer. A non-smoker who was surprised by the diagnosis last year, she has endured chemo, radiation and surgery and is learning with live with the affects and altered lifestyle.

       On this day when my mother brought her eldest into the world, I am grateful for health, family, friends and the wonder of life.  Speaking with Paul and Mary and my prayers for them were gifts of another sort, and of exquisite and priceless value.  My birthday wish is that we all enjoy and celebrate each day. Life is precious. 

FONDNESS
Look carefully

   See you down the trail.

AND WE AVOIDED THE GUILLOTINE

 MADAME DEFARGE WOULD NOT BE PLEASED

   Oh how the queen of revenge would spin if she knew how so many of us choose to celebrate Bastille Day.

    The celebrants above, Larry, Mary Margret, Tom and Lana, cases in point, have reveled in the delights of France and by some force of nature have been drawn to the American Provence'. But there are limits and so in form from which Madame DeFarge and the Jacques' would recoil as decadent, we civilized the process.  After all who wants to toast the Great Terror which followed the storming of the Bastille?  If you are lost I refer you to either Dicken's Tale of Two Cities, or a precursory read of the French Revolution.  

     Being an artful and adventurous crowd we worked our way into the Paso Robles appellation to take up residence at an Olive Farm with true French management.  Loyal they are to their history, Bastille Day was celebrated with a light feast beneath the spreading Oleander blooms and gracious shade of Olive and Mulberry trees. Wine? Yes. And a never ending supply of Pommes Frites, done in olive oil of course.

      Sun kissed, blessed by breeze, beauty and American oenology, Bastille day was recorded as probably Thomas Jefferson would have appreciated.

     And just to show good form, the merry party meandered to a nearby vintner of Cal-Italia wines.  Salute! A votre sante! Cheers.

       After such international merriment a bit of the breeze along the Cambria coast was a sweet tonic. 

       Liberte', égalité, fraternité!  Noble still, though easier in notion than nation. 

       To history, then….

    

      See you down the trail.

ROMANCING THE FAVA

THE FINE ART OF THE SECOND SHUCK

The finesse of a culinary affair

     It approaches a near sensuality. Near, I say, lest you think I've gone around the bend. Perhaps it is the knowledge that your effort will lead eventually to a taste unique, a culinary dance rich with flavor, aroma and the certainty of kitchen alchemy where almost anything you do ends up delicious. Such is the Fava. And so the endeavor to get these  tasty morsels into their prime nakedness, while not an easy task, is not without its pleasure, in the moment and in the anticipation of what is to come.

     When Lana bought the beans we are growing on our back hill the lady said "So you're growing these for cover crop huh!"  

      "No, my husband loves to cook with them."

      "Really!"

    Native to North Africa, the Fava, also called the broad bean, has been eaten by almost all cultures through history. Getting to that point, the eating, begins the way it is with most beans, getting them out of the pod-a common enough exercise. But the Fava is special. It requires further attention, a kind of special seduction.

     Out of the outer shell, these nutty companions of succulent dalliances need further prompting for culinary amour. 

     Some will tell you to parboil them, to soften the casing in which they hold their precious treasure. NO, NO, NEVER do that! You are not mashing potatoes here, you are instead courting a freshness and taste that merely is being coy. You must speak the language of food love, with your hands and a longing caress.

     Each Fava bean needs to be seen for its individual structure and promise.  You begin by an examination to find the proper side and spot where you begin the journey.

    Carefully, I prefer a thumb nail, you incise a small point

to reveal the inner bean, the essence of the taste.

     You then begin a gentle squeeze, not unlike the way some Mediterranean men or women apply an approving, even if an uninvited, pinch of your derriere. 

     A digression-both Lana and I have been the receiver of such. It is a special kind of touch and practiced by those of a particular nation where this bean is prepared in rapturous excitement. Maybe there is a connection.

     As you can see in the frame below, the gentle pinch brings the tasty little dear out into the world and ready to satisfy. 

Such delight, ready for the kitchen and the eventual 

consummation of the romance.

CLINICAL NOTATIONS

   It may enhance your experience with Favas if you know that a particular kind of pasta, perhaps Italian sausage, cheese and or creme fraiche and wine await.  In fact having the wine open, and in a glass and near your work station is also advised.

    I've wondered if there couldn't be some use for the now discarded inner shell.  Ours goes into the compost which is a good purpose in itself.

   If your climate permits, doing the work outside also enhances the love affair.

   Cheers!  I wish you many happy hours in your romance of the Fava.

    See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER-SANGUINE, WINE, SAX AND BLUES

SANGUINE ON THE COAST

     Pacific blue, lined by rocky coast and wide brown sweeps of sand roll to the horizon ahead and to the right as I cruise south on Highway 1 from San Simeon to Cambria.

       Son House rhyming and proclaiming John the Revelator is the audio marriage to this far western shore of the US, passing at 55 mph.  Knots of tourists on vista points collect memories.

       

        Rich colors, shades and hues in spreading patches, sweep the rolling pastures and mountain hill sides. Gold, yellow, blue, white, red and pink flora blend in and out of still spring green cattle grazing ranges. They come in long and tall miles of coast grazing lands.  Cattle roam those miles where the mountains fall to the Pacific.  Earl Hooker is "bluesifying" with Is Yo Ever Seen a One Eyed Woman Cry? 

Ticket to a Hooker video interp.

This is why California has always been a "car state," moving from shore to mountains, into broad high deserts, through farm land and vineyards while the music plays. As did this from Boz Skaggs, a Californian, who has driven the highway where now he is the sound track.

     North Korea is behaving like lunkheads.  Official Washington appears bought and paid for and apparently not the least bit concerned about it, the President can't hit the basket, his jump shot not there, and my team is not in the Big Dance, but none of it seems to matter, so much. 

A SIDE TRIP 

AN ULTIMATE WINE CELLAR

   As guests of Diane at a recent Halter Ranch wine pick up  we visited the cave beneath a hill of vines.

   The cave is perfect for barrels and Sax.

 A SAX TEASE

    The loading and process area provides space for a buffet and "slider tasting" contest.

  The Halter covered bridge is reminiscent of the bridges in Parke County Indiana.

     Have a good weekend.  
     See you down the trail.

GOOD NEWS IN WINE COUNTRY

PASO SHINES

IN ALL SEASONS

Living in the Paso Robles Appellation has its

obvious advantages, but it also has made us

partisans, or provincials.  

We love the beauty of the area, certainly

enjoy the outstanding wine and

we love to share it with friends.

We are also excited when the wine

or the image of area wins awards.

As is the case in the Wine Spectator video contest that you can read about by linking here.

The producer/director is Dina Mande of Juice.

Though it is not my favorite of her work

here's a link to her most recent video which is 

a lot of fun.

After watching this on YouTube, you 

can also access her award winning video

plus her other work.

Congrats to Dina, Christopher Taranato and cheers to all

in the Paso wine district.

See you down the trail.

NOT YOUR BASIC PICNIC

A FOODIE REPORT

       Hello Lightbreezes readers.  I hope you will permit a bit of indulgence, in more ways than one.  Today's post is about food, good food and a lot of it.  For a year now, a group of friends have gathered about every month for a "moveable feast." The offerings at our 

"American Independence Feast" push Fourth of July picnics to a new level.  I assure you the pictures can't do justice to the meal.  

Beginnings

Provolone and Pesto 

Stuffed Mushrooms

Fennel Salad with

Chickpea/Fava/Spinach Cakes

Quiona and bean salad

THE ENTREE

Kosher hot dogs with

New York Style Cole Slaw

pulled chicken barbecue

bourbon baked beans

smoked tri-tip with

chimichurii sauce

SWEET ENDINGS

Strawberry Muerbeteig

Aunt Bertha's Cherry Pudding

Peruvian Chocolate

the wines 

Pipestone Grenache Rose

Sofia Rose

Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

D'Abnbino Sauvignon Blanc

Kukkula Lothario

Justin Petitt Verdot

Pipestone Zinfandel

Venteux Farmhouse Cuvee

It was an extraordinary evening,

See you down the trail.