Sunday, October 5, 2008

Autumn in Vermont


It was a picturesque day, hiking in the mountains in Vermont on the peak foliage weekend in October. The air was a crisp 48 degrees with just enough of a wind to remind you that winter is coming.

Later that day, with a fire roaring in the fireplace, a table is set for 10 friends, old and new, lit by candlelight.

A huge platter of Prime Rib is placed on the table, surrounding a mound of mixed baby potatoes - red, yellow and purple. Next to the platter was a salad of mixed greens, onions and late season gold and red tomatoes straight from the garden, dressed just right.

The house is filled with a glorious smell of wood smoke - partially from the fireplace but also from the dinner placed before us.

For the last few hours, an emornmous Prime Rib of Beef along with the potatoes have been slowly cooking on the charcoal grill with a handful of Hickory wood chips.

The meat, juicy and delicious, cooked to a perfect medium rare, the potatoes, the flowing red wine, the friends and the scenery. Most definitely a memorable meal.

It's what food is all about.

"It is a true saying that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him."
Miguel de Cervantes, 'Don Quixote'

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