Trying to catch summer on a big green lure...

There is plenty of time during the year for fancy refined food. It was a long winter and right now all I want is to have all the windows and doors open. The cross-breeze blowing through my casa carrying the scent of apple-wood smoke along with it. I have been very busy with work and some big changes to both my job and living situation but still I find time between acts to pull together some summer comfort foods.

Below are some pics and details of stuff we have had over the last couple of weeks around here. These things happened on different days of course but were all very fun and tasty!

This was a prime rib-eye which I split with Aubrey over a bottle of Nagual Del Judith. This is a very special wine made by Maynard Keenan of the Caduceus wine company. Apart from having a deep personal meaning to the maker, this wine is not only delicious but somewhat groundbreaking in that these vineyards are in Arizona of all places. This was my first bottle of wine by this maker but I am sure it will not be my last. We will get more into that later.

A little grilled bread and red chard were served along with this steak. Simple, and perfect.

Carnivore? Yea this was another warm evening last week. Grilled green onions, Country style pork ribs, giant sausages and skirt steak.
Bold, meaty goodness.

Burger?

Above: Bacon, avocado, cilantro, sharp provolone, burger with fried egg and Sriracha.

Above: Slow smoked chicken halves with mustard slather and lime-zest-buffalo-sauce glaze. These were later charred under the broiler before serving with grilled zucchini.

Not sure if it's obvious that when I shop super-locally, It's much easier to get meat and poultry than it is to get high quality seasonal veggies. It's true that I have to go out of my way in most cases to find good produce within walking distance of my home but it is out there and I promise to start buying more of it.

I really am quite carnivorous though... Especially when it comes to red wine.