Joy!! Gifted Daughter Lesley R., her husband, Massimo, and HG/BSK’s brilliant and beautiful granddaughter, Arianna R. are with HG/BSK at the family oceanfront home on Prince Edward Island. And, with them is endearing Pip, their very intelligent dog. Toby, The Wonder Dog, is overjoyed at the companionship. Only R. family member missing is Sofia, who is sweltering in New York. Sunny, warm days on PEI. (As HG writes, HG gazes at Lesley and Massimo in kayaks on a calm sea). Yesterday was a scorcher so there were many swims interrupting beach lounging. Returned home from the beach parched and sunbaked. Comforting showers and cold drinks (a large Negroni for HG). Appetites kicked into high gear. BSK’s sister, Noel, and husband, Yossi, arrived for dinner bringing a rack of lamb, many vegetables, a large bunch of fragrant lavender, all from their verdant Ocean Mist Farm. (Noel and Yossi are super industrious and athletic, top flight equestrian and horse trainers as well as being farmers, builders and livestock breeders. Despite advancing maturity, they seem to be constructed of steel and copper wire). For dinner, Lesley (with BSK as sous chef), prepared a lusty Basque influenced casserole. Onions and garlic were softened in olive oil (big Creuset baking dish was used). White wine and stock were added to a few layers of thinly sliced potatoes plus browned fennel sausage and chopped Kalamata olives. When the potatoes were just about cooked, sliced tomatoes were added. Finally, the delicious melange was topped with two pounds of haddock filets. Brief baking to keep the fish cooked but firm and juicy. Then under the broiler for a brief glaze. The result was a culinary masterpiece. A baguette from the Cardigan Farmers Market soaked up the savory juices. Big green salad followed. Copious wine (red and white) was drunk. Finale was Lebanese “Halwa.” HG sipped Portuguese Bagaco (marc) from a local vineyard. The end to a perfect day.
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