A simply perfect summer dinner

Everytime I catch myself complaining about the Bay Area -- the traffic, the cost of living, the ridiculously early-ending public transit -- I only need to head to the Ferry Plaza for an hour to remind myself how blessed I am.

I alternated slices of Capay Farms' gorgeous Purple Cherokee and Orange Brandywine tomatoes  with Mozzarella di Bufala from Cowgirl Creamery, and topped them with a chiffonade of basil from our planter box (you can just see it in background of the photo above),

All were drizzled with a first-press olive oil from Bariani, fresh ground black pepper and Maldon sea salt.

I mounded a small pile of prosciutto purchased at GB Ratto's in the center. And on the side, a whole Epi loaf from Acme, along with olive oil and a drop of aged balsamic vinegar for dipping.

This, along with a bottle of easy-drinking Chianti, was our dinner last Saturday night.

When people ask why we put up with the outrageous cost of living here? A meal like this is all I need to point to.

Comments

[john]

Total agreement. We come home Saturdays from the Ferry Building with tomatoes and corn and favas and pluots and insanely fresh herbs and cardoons and my God, *figs,* and we think, "Yeah, this is why we pay these housing prices."

[Lenn]

Looks (and sounds) perfect...truly.

Where's the local wine for WBW?!?! ;)

[Fatemeh]

Yeah, yeah... it's coming today, alright??

It IS Wednesday, you know. That means I have ALL day to blog about it!!

[Lenn]

I didn't mention that WBW only operates on Eastern Time? ;)

I already KNOW what winery you're writing about...just don't know the wine.

[shuna]

a gal who goes to Ratto's!
there is much rejoicing in the land.

but Capay for tomatoes? "The Peach Farm" does a better job, especially those amazing Zebra Stripe...ooooh. Not to mention their irridescent H'Aogen melons! Thank god tomorrow IS Saturday!

[semolina]

very well said. same here...
I really enjoy reading your blog, keep it coming!!!