On the Island - Day #2

The other pastime in Fair Harbor is laughter…whether induced by cocktails, trashy gossip magazines, or Cards Against Humanity, laughter abounds….last night we found amusement in Benedict Cumberbatch….

GetagripThundersnatch…PicketfenceKlumberthatch. .and one that I cannot repeat. This ridiculous conversation was the finale to a magical dinner….I tend to make “favorites” on the first weekend, this time it was a marvelous Mexican Mac and Cheese, a recipe taken from Padma Lakshmi…it is sublime and what makes it Mexican is the touch of pickled jalpeno and oregano, it is unlike any mac and cheese you will ever have the pleasure of tasting. Another group favorite is Berber Spiced Chicken which is brined chicken slathered with a red hued paste of olive oil, paprika, ginger, garlic, onion, lemon, coriander, cumin, and cardamom..and grilled to perfection…..but what turned out to be the favorite was a new dish..one never before tried. I love fennel and my friends love fennel, which is why they are my friends. I decided to make Fennel Salad with Anchovy Dressing, Toasted Walnuts and Breadcrumbs. If the acidic, crunchy tang of the fennel with anchovy and garlic wasnt enough, tossing it with toasted walnuts, toasted panko, mint and lemon zest and vinegar pushed the flavors to sides of your tongue and made them explode…I wish you could taste it…sadly,you can’t I can only show you.