This time we were in rural Virginia on one of those rare summer days when it's not too hot or muggy or buggy or too overcast or too rainy to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery -- and this on a Saturday to boot. Our friends built a house on a farm with a terrace facing their pond, framed by wonderful green trees and blue sky. They have been experimenting for some time to create the perfect "slow food" lunch -- where the pacing and amounts are just right to stretch out a meal for the full afternoon. It was our good fortune to be there when they succeeded.
A word of warning: Sitting in the summer sun (even in the shade as we were), you will get more dehydrated than you realize and this results, judging by my recent experience, in alcohol consumption having a bigger impact than usual.
We started with prosecco, and moved to white or rose and then red. There were radishes and other munchies that have faded in my memory after what followed. The first course was a lovely grilled toast with a canned truffle spread accompanied by a fresh burrata. As with all the subsequent courses, this was exquisitely plated and as pleasing to the eye as to the taste buds.
The second course consisted of shrimp, lobster and scallops gently grilled in a basket in the Big Green Egg so that they all were delicate, tender and moist. Again, the presentation knocked your socks off (though on a hot summer day none of us were wearing socks). There was only the faintest taste of smoke and a subtle taste of sea though we were deep inland at the foothills of the mountains.
The courses were spread out. Our hosts would disappear into the kitchen to work their magic while we continued a leisurely but stimulating conversation with the other guests, sharing views on travel, Europe, Santa Fe, food, wine, politics, movies, books -- the kinds of things you talk about when relaxed.
The third course was a delightful celeriac soup, creamy with a touch of green from some subtle herb and decorated with a drizzle of oil.
At this point we switched to the Chateauneuf du Pape for the homemade beef carpaccio, accompanied with thick stalks of asparagus and a tangy spaghetti squash and shaved parmesan, all al fresco as the perfect light main course for a summer lunch.
Dessert (unfortunately no photo) was also delicious. It was a chocolate tort with whipped cream that was rich but still light enough to finish off this summer lunch.
After coffee and more conversation, we retired to the upper deck to enjoy some more red wine and the 360-degree view. Time had not so much flown by as just stopped and suspended us in a pleasant idyll.
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