March 17th, 2014
Spring arrived early this year. And though I am covering my optimism with some naked puts on late frosts, we are enjoying our warm spring weather as we live in denial of California's ongoing drought.
One of the early indicators of Spring at our olive 'farm' in Boonville is the arrival of Miner's Lettuce (AKA Winter Purslane. See photo.) along or walking route on Anderson Valley Way. Foraging for this tasty but short-lived treat has become part of our seasonal ritual. Dress these greens very simply with a squeeze of lemon, our Lila Farms EVOO and a bit of crunchy, flaky sea salt - our favorite comes from Mendocino's Bob La Mar, or simply "Captain Bob's" in our household.
We've harvested many baskets worth of Miner's Lettuce over the past few years. It has a thicker texture than most lettuces, with less veins and more leaf. One might say it's meaty in its texture, though that description seems a bit lacking - the flesh of an animal used to describe a vegetarian delight? Maybe it's best described as just this side of baby spinach, with the hopes that you know what that delight is like. But don't steam or saute this treat or you'll miss it's toothiness.
Recommended Wine Pairing
The wine to pair with Miner's Lettuce doesn't differ all that much from the wines that pair with most spring salads. Spring greens exude an enthusiasm for life, a fresh greeniness that the wine needs to compliment. For this reason, and I hate to dissapoint the "I drink red with everything" crowd, you really must eschew anything with more than a tint of color. Crisp, dry Rose's work well. Heavy Chardonnay does not, Chablis-style does. Sauvignon Blanc is brilliant, though the extreme versions from New Zealand would over-power. Crisp whites from Northern Italy or Iberia are brilliant. But, when are they not?
A Word on Acidity
Salad dressing is the one ingredient that ruins most wine pairings, so the wise host will focus the wine choice around the dressing. Here's your fool-proof guide - pair acid with acid. In other words, if you have a dressing that features vinegar or citric acid, ask your local fine wine merchant for a white wine with similar acidity. Because the wine world has its own vocabulary, you might hear words such as "Crisp" and "good structure" or "acidic backbone" when referring to such wines.
Cheers!
March 17th, 2014
Spring arrived early this year. And though I am covering my optimism with some naked puts on late frosts, we are enjoying our warm spring weather as we live in denial of California's ongoing drought.
One of the early indicators of Spring at our olive 'farm' in Boonville is the arrival of Miner's Lettuce (AKA Winter Purslane. See photo.) along or walking route on Anderson Valley Way. Foraging for this tasty but short-lived treat has become part of our seasonal ritual. Dress these greens very simply with a squeeze of lemon, our Lila Farms EVOO and a bit of crunchy, flaky sea salt - our favorite comes from Mendocino's Bob La Mar, or simply "Captain Bob's" in our household.
We've harvested many baskets worth of Miner's Lettuce over the past few years. It has a thicker texture than most lettuces, with less veins and more leaf. One might say it's meaty in its texture, though that description seems a bit lacking - the flesh of an animal used to describe a vegetarian delight? Maybe it's best described as just this side of baby spinach, with the hopes that you know what that delight is like. But don't steam or saute this treat or you'll miss it's toothiness.
Recommended Wine Pairing
The wine to pair with Miner's Lettuce doesn't differ all that much from the wines that pair with most spring salads. Spring greens exude an enthusiasm for life, a fresh greeniness that the wine needs to compliment. For this reason, and I hate to dissapoint the "I drink red with everything" crowd, you really must eschew anything with more than a tint of color. Crisp, dry Rose's work well. Heavy Chardonnay does not, Chablis-style does. Sauvignon Blanc is brilliant, though the extreme versions from New Zealand would over-power. Crisp whites from Northern Italy or Iberia are brilliant. But, when are they not?
A Word on Acidity
Salad dressing is the one ingredient that ruins most wine pairings, so the wise host will focus the wine choice around the dressing. Here's your fool-proof guide - pair acid with acid. In other words, if you have a dressing that features vinegar or citric acid, ask your local fine wine merchant for a white wine with similar acidity. Because the wine world has its own vocabulary, you might hear words such as "Crisp" and "good structure" or "acidic backbone" when referring to such wines.
Cheers!
