Paella Dreams
Every so often a dish is cooked that is unlike any other.· It synthesizes cultures as readily as the people relishing it.· It brims with flavor that boasts of the attention paid it.· It smells like something you must shove your nose into.· And it looks freakin' beautiful!·Just look. Don't you want to devour that right now?
When preparing food, I love knowing that it is going to nourish bellies thoroughly. But, beyond that, it must nourish the heart and soul also. While it may sound cliché, I wouldn't want to eat food prepared by anyone that didn't feel that way!
And this dish was way beyond cliché.
Rich chunks of Stillman Farm sausage and hearty wheat berries simmered half the day in a bath of fresh clam juice and homemade chicken stock. Succulent count neck clams added just before serving steamed to perfection. A touch of cilantro hinted at the Spanish influence. A locavore's paella dream, if you will.
Oh, and the lamb was nothing to sniff at.
