friends, fun, and food

The joy of living in Newport is only fully realized in the summer months. Yes, the winters have a beauty that I appreciate, but it is always in the middle of summer, on a warm July evening, not unlike tonight, that I am reminded why I adore living here. Everything is lush and green, the air even late into the night is warm and sits upon your skin with a fresh soothing creaminess, and while we find comfort in the historical sensibility of Newport, there is always the feeling of something new awaiting. This imminent newness is what keeps me from ever having down time--I might miss something!

This summer has brought a lot of new things for me, or perhaps, I am just looking at things differently, due in part to a change in my own perspective. Either way, I like the way things look, taste, and feel.

Like the heirlooms that are beginning to arrive on the scene.

These beauties are stunning to look at, but they are even better to enjoy with some fleur de sel and fresh local goat cheese.

I recently developed an addiction to Simmons Farms Fresh Chevre. I love goat cheeses in all shapes and sizes, from the dry and tangy flavor of a crumbly goat like Humbolt Fog to the fresh herb covered creamy goat Fleur Verte to the aged hard supple goat cheeses and the cakes--chevrot, drunken goat, tomme de ma grandmere, oh my!

The goat cheese from Simmons Farm speaks to my commitment to enjoy local bounty. It tastes like Aquidneck Island. It is like fresh cream in a solid form, so while we typically reach for fresh mozzarella...in the spirit of newness, I drop dollops of fresh chevre and sprinkle with sea salt, drizzle with hazelnut oil, and dig in. And, it is fantastic.

For a wine, you need acid with tomatoes, but creaminess is also on my mind, I want texture and complexity, so my wine will match the flavors of the dish. Punta Crena Vermentino. This is another Kermit Lynch import, and in keeping with Kermit's portfolio, it is delicious. I could wax on poetic, but in the blog world, I am told, one does not want to monopolize your audience's surfing time, so go and read elsewhere about food, wine, and what inspires you.

cheers!

Thoughts on Summer's Charm