Green Dirt Farm

I spent last night in the company of friends who we have been close to for over 20 years, but never lived in the same town. It is a tribute to the ties that bind--our children feel like cousins to each other, and I often say that the two husbands are twin sons of different mothers. I have always liked the phrase "the family you choose", but often these are not "forever" ties--that said, this might be one instance where it fits. We have many things in common, but most importantly, we share values. Shifting values is an inevitable part of the aging process, but we have shifted in parallel. I believe this is a key to long-standing kinship.

Despite the areas of overlap--cooking, wine, cheese, great food, we have gone down very different paths. Sarah left medicine many years ago, and started her personal journey toward sustainable living. When she was an internist, there was little in it for us, but the past decade has been nothing but fun, partaking in the fruits of her labor. One of the things that attracts me day after day to cooking is the production of something good and enjoyable. Sarah does this for a living.

So, as we sat down for dinner, we started with a cheese course. Green Dirt Farm's award winning washed rind cheese, Bossa Nova, and a blooming rind cheese covered in Herbes de Provence called Comfort and Joy were two of the starters. We ate them sans bread, and savored the creaminess, the nutty flavors of the Bossa, and the slightly evergreen quality that the rosemary imparted on to the Comfort and Joy. This course was accompanied by a Landmark Pinot Noir. We then moved on to Osso Bucco with Sarah's lamb--tender, flavorful, the stew was redolent with star anise and delicious, as well as complimenting the risotto perfectly. But the company, the conversation, the comraderie, and the catching up were the highlights of the night.