Alla giapponese

Eastside Road, September 30, 2012—

TO MARKET THIS MORNING for Nancy Skall's limas and Dave's fresh-caught salmon; then this afternoon into Healdsburg to a book-signing, where our friend Nancy Singleton Hachisu was presenting her new book Japanese Farm Food, a marvelous and beautiful introduction to her way of cooking simply and directly within the Japanese idiom.

Then home to marry the day's two outings. I built a little fire outside, using rosemary and fruitwood branches, and Lindsey sprinkled the salmon with salt and vodka (no sake on hand), put a dot of butter on each and a few scallions, then wrapped them in foil.

They cooked over the coals for maybe fifteen minutes, and we had them, as you see, with an ear of corn and the limas. The fish was absolutely delicious. Green salad afterward, and some melon and fruit. A perfect Indian-summer supper. (It was 104° in Healdsburg today!)

Cheap Pinot grigio

Japanese Farm Food, by Nancy Singleton Hachisu (Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012), p. 242