Highlands Neighborhood

St. Kilian's Cheese Shop

Spuntino Cafe

We had a nice lunch a couple of weekends ago at Spuntino Cafe in the Highlands neighborhood. We shared the Porchetta sandwich with shaved porchetta and spicy aioli, which was delicious. My husband also had a scoop of their perfect homemade gelato. Afterwards we visited the nearby bookstore and stationery shop, and then walked to St. Kilian's where we picked up a fresh baguette and a crock of truffle mousse chicken liver pate.

BAKED OATMEAL WITH ROASTED PEARS

The weather here is perfect this time of year. It's so perfect that you find yourself gushing over it almost without end. The deep blue beauty of the sky against snow-capped mountains, the hues of dried grasses across the landscape as it passes over hills and into valleys, the brightness of a tree as it holds onto its fragile golden coined leaves. At times, I feel like I'm keeping a great secret. To see this beauty for myself, knowing someone somewhere is missing it.

Earlier, on a trip to buy groceries, I happened upon these beautiful Bosc pears, a seasonal favorite. As they sat there, looking quite elegant, I was immediately inspired to take them home and use them well. Tonight after supper, I made baked oatmeal with roasted pears, using this recipe. After taking the oatmeal from the oven, I brushed the pears with the smokey and sweet Tamarisk honey, which gave it a special touch. It will make a warm breakfast for a chilly morning tomorrow.

HONEY TASTING, MARKET VISIT, COCOA BITS

On Saturday afternoon, we visited Cured market in Boulder. They were having a honey and honeycomb tasting of local Grampa's Gourmet Honey. Our favorite variety was the Tamarisk honey, a rare honey named after the tree from which it comes, the Tamarisk, also called the Salt Cedar. With its dark amber and chestnut brown coloring and hints of hickory, pine, soy sauce, molasses, and dark beer it is a most unusual and perfect honey.

The market shares a space with Boxcar Coffee Roasters, and so we ordered coffees and sat at the marble counter and read for a while. The cool rain was nearly ending and the golden sun was peeking beyond the clouds as we left. We walked a block to the used bookstore and perused the dim and dusty shelves and stacks. Home again, we set to work on supper - chopped apples, a crock of pâté, fresh baguette, ham off the bone, and Tamarisk honey. Simple and satisfying.

Yesterday, I made Sprouted Kitchen's Cocoa Coconut Bits which are terribly good, especially warm from the oven. For supper, we had whole roasted Colorado trout stuffed with spinach and roasted veg. It was a lovely, restful weekend with a good balance of school and leisure time, and delicious food in between.

SMALL SCENES

SUNDAY SUPPER

  

"Out of all the days of the week, Sunday is the golden day." Mimi Thorisson, Manger

Sunday truly is the golden day. A welcome respite after a full week. In the morning we attend Church, often enjoy lunch with family or friends, and then rest until supper preparations begin. The table linens are pressed and laid out. Flowers bought and candles lit. The point is not to make it an event, but rather to make special the ordinary. It's a time to slow down and savor life.

Recently, my dad returned from a successful fishing trip with a friend. He brought home dozens of trout and salmon fillets. He has graciously shared his catch with us, and last night we prepared the first of the trout. We wrapped the trout tightly with prosciutto and then pan fried it until perfectly crispy, using this recipe. There is something utterly satisfying about tucking into a whole fish. A most ordinary meal, and yet it feels quite special.

TIME TO SLOW DOWN

It's that time of year again. Summer has ended and the semester has begun, and my husband is once again working and attending school full-time, which means we are having to put forth extra effort to steal away and make time for ourselves.

Last weekend we visited one of our favorite local eateries, Pizzeria Locale in Boulder. We sat outside while the sun was strong and golden and there was the slightest, most perfect breeze. It felt so nice to stop and sit for a long while, and to enjoy his good company and conversation. Afterwards we popped over to one of our favorite used bookstores across the street. An attempt to slow down time before life begins again.

If you visit Pizzeria Locale, I recommend sharing the Bianca; a delicious pizza crafted with pecorino, rapini, sausage, and garlic. Or perhaps their newest seasonal offering (one I can't wait to try myself), the Fichi Pizza with black mission figs, local Tender Belly bacon, medjool dates, Verde Capra cheese, shallots, and balsamic. For dessert, you simply must try the butterscotch budino. Order your own, you won't want to share. To taste a bit of everything, try their Aperitivo menu every day from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.

Pizzeria Locale 1730 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

l 26

l 19

l 18

l 16

l 15

l 13