With Friends Like These

Last Sunday, we invited a few friends over for a “peasant’s dinner.” I had spent several days milk-braising a pork butt, which we served in a tomatoey sauce over polenta, along with some broccolini tossed in olive oil, anchovy paste, red pepper flakes and some parm. My friend Amy had made a now-famous warm shrimp and tuscan bean recipe, Adam brought homemade vanilla ice cream, and William—well, William, who was bringing the wine, went a different direction altogether. Let’s call it a rags-to-riches selection: a bottle of 1990 Chateau Lynch Bages Bordeaux, a truly spectacular wine from a truly spectacular vintage. It’s a powerhouse Cab-heavy blend with smokey, dark plummy flavors and a bit of spice. Oh my god. William, thank you so much for sharing this incredible bottle!

Feeling Bleu

Last weekend we grabbed three cheeses from Surfas in Culver City—two cows milk and one sheep. The latter was a wonderful Pecorino Fresco, whichwas soft and mild. The other two were a sharp Vermont white Cheddar (what’s not to like?) and a small piece of St. Agur bleu. I usually go for a Stilton or Roquefort when I’m feeling bleu, but the guy behind the counter sold me on this double-cream cow’s milk blue from the Auvergne region in France. It’s kind of like a Roquefort, but milder and creamier—and not as salty as your typical blue. We went wild for it spread on Raincoast Crisp cranberry hazelnut crackers, which I got suckered into tasting at Whole Foods a few months ago before having first seen the “crunchy” packaging. The name is a total turnoff, as is the suggestion of dried cranberries in a cracker, but wow – they’re shockingly good, especially slathered with blue cheese!