On Sunday, Newport Wine Cellar & Le Petit Gourmet hosted our 1st annual Cassoulet Cook off, and it was, to my estimation, a huge success.

We had seven participants, all of whom cheffed up some fantastic Country French casseroles, from fully vegetarian to three kinds of meat.  we had over twenty people come, enjoy, and vote for the winning cassoulet, and it was a tough choice.  All the participants and tasters agreed, all seven were delicious in their own right. Some conventional, some a little more meaty than others or more perhaps more veggie, but all unique and so commendable that these folks would take a weekend to devote to crafting a gorgeous pot of beans. 

All that said, it was a competition, and there had to be a winner: 2012 People's Choice Award goes to Kelly Pennell.  She made a wonderful and all locally sourced cassoulet with pork that she and her husband raised (yes, tough to compete with this, right?), as well as a variety of delicious locally grown vegetables.

We all agreed that the Cahors paired best with the cassoulet, Coutale at $16.99 is such a steal! 

All so good, and we are going to do it again, June 24th 6 pm, Lobster Roll...start working on your recipe!

eat, drink and think,

cheers, Maria

friends

sunset

nicoise

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.

heirlooms

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!