Arugula

Eastside Road, August 5, 2011—

AFTER A STRENUOUS DAY, in the course of which we climbed 1500 feet (and descended the same), and hiked maybe five miles altogether, we were tired and thirsty and hungry. Breakfast had been a soft-boiled egg and a slice of toast, with the cappuccinos. Lunch had been a handful of dried apricots and another of mixed nuts.

After the walk, an affogato for me, a hot fudge sundae for her, at Lala's in Petaluma: nice ice cream (not gelato), decent coffee. I'd go back.

Dinner: a good Martini, another hunk of yesterday's Pan Bagnat, and then what I'd been really hungering for: “wild” arugula, simply dressed with first good sea salt ground onto it from between thumb and first two fingers; then the juice of half a lemon from outside the kitchen door; then a generous drizzle of olive oil. I think this is the perfect salad.

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Armento, 2009