Slow Food Day

In the media, a slow news day is a bad news day - nothing exciting happened. But for a cook, a slow food day is good news. Today was a perfect example.

For breakfast, we made fruit smoothies with local organic strawberries. Organic Earl Grey tea and crumpets topped with cream cheese and locally grown cucumbers accompanied them.

Having used up the remnants of last week's farmer's market treasures, we headed into town for this week's market. Arriving home hungry, we made Caprese from fresh basil, local tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella (from someplace in California). With a bowl of creamy guacamole made from local avocados, chips and a glass of sun tea, we felt well- fortified for afternoon chores .

For supper, we grilled lake trout locally caught by a neighbor, with a regionally produced, Meyer lemon -infused olive oil on the outside and herbs from the pots on our deck (summer savory and Italian parsley) on the inside. Local asparagus grilled well on the upper rack; and multi-grain pilaf boiled quickly on the stovetop. A green salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries, almond bits, and julienned local fennel made the perfect first course. And instead of a California wine, we enjoyed a light, crisp hard pear cider made in Sebastapol.

Not everything today was raised within 100 miles of home; but seasonal and local foods, prepared at home and shared with friends, were the highlight of the day all day long. Long may the Slow Food Movement reign.