Polenta, artichokes, chard

Eastside Road, February 7, 2011—

DINNER IN TOWN with friends tonight — their house, not out somewhere. And it's amazing how you can live three quarters of a century, eating dinner almost every day, and still find something new. Tonight it was a simple dish combining chard, artichokes, and polenta, with a little grated Parmesan cheese on top. The vegetables complement one another perfectly; and since we had barely-cooked broccoli on the side the taste and texture of vegetables was accentuated that much the more, with just enough cheese to highlight the meal. Absolutely delicious, and no green salad required, thank you.

And dessert! sliced oranges, dressed with orange and lemon juice, and a little lemon zest, and a tiny bit of sugar, and left to stand. And, with them, wonderful shortbread cookies that Becky said were a recipe of Carol Field's; Google "carol field shortbread cookie" and you'll get a number of possibilities.

Dinner with friends, sharing thoughts of other friends, appreciating flavors from so many yet others — there's no higher human activity.

Cheap Pinot grigio; Cheap Nero d'Avola; delicious Zinfandel, Alvey-Sinclair, Dry Creek Valley 2008