Dinner 21.3.09

After a hard day's labor, it was time to prepare an extremely simple, rustic and healthy meal to congratulate ourselves.  I finished cleaning up 19 square meters of cement encrusted terracotta tiles (that's around 200 sf worth) and Micha got the entire upper level of the property clear of overgrowth and downed trees.  

Nothing is more satisfying for two hungry workers than premium quality chicken, slowly roasted in its own juices.  We went into town in the afternoon and picked up a 6 pound free range chicken at Moretti, our favorite polleria, and some fruits and vegetables.  Our herbs are all growing again, so I picked some and stuffed the chicken, basting it with some local Chardonnay.

The Italian flat beans looked great a the market, so I picked up a bunch.  My favorite way to prepare them is to let them saute slowly in brown butter with some fresh chives thrown in. The new potatoes are cut and tossed with lots of fresh spring rosemary, onions and garlic.

For dessert, I simply peeled two pears, and poached them in a local sparkling wine, lemon and sugar.

We opened a bottle of 2003 LaGuardia Leone, which is a Monferrato Rosso blend from the LaGuardia winery in Morsasco near Ovada.  This particular blend is one of our favorites -- Dolcetto and Barbera.  The acidic barbera cuts and complements the high tanin of the Dolcetto, and we think that we drank it at its perfect time,  5.5 years after the harvest.

Candles lit, Miles jamming on the CD player.

After dinner, I whisked four egg yolks (picked up fresh from Franco's chicken coop) with some sugar and the leftover sparkling wine from the pears...

...and served both together while still hot.

The highest quality ingredients, simply prepared to bring out their flavor.  Excellent (but not over the top pricewise) wine, served at the right temperture and time.  That is Italy at its best, in my view.