summer of the pizza

this summer, it's about the pizza. new crusts, new sauces, new toppings, each and every week. here's what we had last night: grilled pizza with a homemade pesto sauce, portabello mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, and red onion. i selected an italian beer called peroni to enjoy with this meal (and its preparation). peroni is really an excellent beer that deserves your attention even when you're not eating italian food. it is very light and crisp. like many beers, its at its best when served very cold in a chilled glass. a great summer beer. as ferris beuller says: "if you have the means, i highly recommend picking one up!"
so summer is about to begin. i am really looking forward to those quiet evenings at home when i can move at a somewhat slower pace. i know there will still be things to do, but it doesn't all have to happen at once. what will be best is the chance to cook in the evenings, spend time with my beautiful girls, and drink some good wine.

first shipment

yesterday evening we received our very first wine club shipment from the prager port works in st. helena, ca. the shipment came with two kinds of port. the first was the aria port. this is an unusual port in that it is crafted with chardonnay grapes. the result is a very warm, lightly textured port with a notable nutty finish. very very delicious. we have been looking forward to this shipment since our trip out to napa valley in march. the port works was definitely a highlight of the trip.