When it includes meat or fish I usually serve the main course of a meal with only one, possibly two vegetables, both for simplicity and to concentrate attention on complementary choices I hope I’d chosen judiciously.
On Saturday night however, I had a larder slightly swollen after a splurge with the bounty of the late fall Union Square Greenmarket. To accompany a small 10 oz. Newport steak from Citarella which would serve both of us, I found I had some Purple Peruvian Potatoes from the stall of Paffenroth Gardens, a bouquet of what we learned was some very sweet red chard from that of Lani’s Farm (formerly known as Yuno’s Farm), and some late-season San Marzano tomatoes from, I think, Bill Maxwell’s farm, which had finally ripened sufficiently on our north windowsill.
They all came together to make one of the most vibrantly-colorful plates I’d ever seen, in a “one-dish meal” that was also totally delicious.
- Italian oil-cured black olives and Roberto Torinese breadsticks, both from Garden of Eden
- Newport steak pan-grilled and finished with oil and a squirt of lemon; accompanied by Purple Peruvian Potatoes baked in the oven with oil, sprigs of rosemary and plenty of sea salt; braised red chard finished with oil and lemon; and grilled seasoned halves of plum tomatoes finished with Balsamic vinegar
- wine: Obra Prima, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 from Mendoza, Argentinia, Familia Cassone, the generous gift of a friend, from Chelsea Wine Vault
sounds amazing. another nice pairing might have been the mendoza bonarda/malbec blend from the producer tikal. love argentinian reds. excellent photos, too. makin’ me hungry.
Thanks for the comment, Steven. I’m the sommelier of the household, and James is the chef, so I’ll check out the wine you mentioned.