Leftovers #94

The Alsace wine you need to try; two recipes in ode to California; a Korean rom-com series that will leave you feeling soothed and hopeful for love.

I’m dreaming of California citrus. Meyer lemons, gnarled bergamot, strawberry-pink fleshed cara cara oranges, cute little finger limes, thickly rinded pomelo and those sweet kumquats. I’ve just booked a trip to LA over my birthday, and I’m reading Jonathan Gold’s tome on Los Angeles fare to prep myself. I’m still in that in-between state of wanting to leave and finding reasons to stay. Cooking for and eating with friends have been a huge part of the latter. The incessant cold rain more the former. I think my eyes are deceiving me but even when I look out of the window to see blue skies, my eyes create a shimmer that mimics rain in front of the trees.

Cooking

– A post-pints salad that’s an ode to California. I thinly sliced about three stalks of cavalo nero and 1/4 fennel bulb; sliced up one small cara cara orange and tossed everything in my lime miso vinaigrette. Then goes in: 1/2 avocado, 2 tbsp black beans, a small handful of wild garlic nut topper thing that has a chokehold on me; 1 tbsp homemade anchovy breadcrumbs and two 7 minute boiled eggs. Add a slice of toast – I’m currently having a love affair with Bertinet Bakery’s sourdough seeded – with French salted butter on the side to load everything onto.