“Green spaghetti? A-a-rgh!!”. That was the reaction of young SJ’s friend when confronted with a bowl of BSK’ s pesto with tagliatelle. This was when HG/BSK were living in Montclair, N.J. The children, SJ and Lesley were in school and BSK was a pesto pioneer. One of HG/BSK’s friends was the food editor at a major magazine. After a summer swim in HG/BSK’s pool, HG/BSK and the gracious female editor lunched outdoors beneath a wisteria shaded pergola. The menu was a starter of sliced, ripe New Jersey tomatoes (best in the universe) from BSK’s garden with fresh mozzarella churned that morning at Belgiovine’s Italian grocery on nearby Bloomfield Avenue. This was followed by pasta with pesto. The basil in the dish and the leaves decorating the mozzarella were also from the BSK garden. The drink was a rose’. Ice in the glass as is the custom in Provence. After a final sip of wine, the editor declared: “This is the best lunch I’ve ever had.” Would have loved to replicate this meal while in Prince Edward Island, but,alas, PEI tomatoes and mozzarella are not world class (the sweet corn is). Nonetheless, HG was treated to a bowl of BSK’s pesto with tiny potatoes from Ocean Mist Farm, local cherry tomatoes and yellow beans. The vegetables got a splash of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of Maldon salt flakes. No it wasn’t Joisey or Genoa (where pesto was born) but mineral rich potatoes are extraordinary and so are yellow beans. A big plus. HG/BSK’s Prince Edward Island oceanfront home has magnificent sea views. Not too shabby.
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