eastowners

I’ve been meaning to write this entry for a few days now, but keep getting side-tracked with the usual drudgery of life.  This week has presented me with continued challenges at work to keep my mind intact.  I’ve been kind of focused on that.

So to the important part (and why you’re here).  Last Friday, we paid a visit to some close friends that live in the town about 45 minutes south of here (Kalamazoo for you locals).  We took a bottle of Balistreri Cab Sav that was absolutely amazing, as all their wines are.

Our friends prepared a “mostly vegan” meal that was one of the best gastro-events of late.  They started with a roasted red pepper spread and crackers.  Like all the food served, this was full of flavor and better than a good majority of the spreads you find in upper-class joints… and no cheese or cream to be found in it.

Dinner was started with a field greens salad (from their yard) with , cherry tomatoes, miso-encrusted pecans and bleu cheese topped with balsamic and olive oil.  This was one of the best salads I think I’ve ever had in my life.

The main dish was ratatouille, which is a dish that I have a love for.  The dish usually has chopped veggies in a stew, but their variation was with thinly sliced veggies layered in a much more flavorful base than I’ve ever had.  It was absolutely wonderful; actually creamy tasting, but vegan.

For dessert, they served a wonderful blueberry pie with a vegan ice cream that you would have no idea was vegan if you weren’t told.  It was creamy, wonderful, and something I would definitely eat again.  Clare loved it.

So why would I write something like this about a meal that is not from a restaurant, but just some local folks that we hang out it?  Well… our friend has written a recipe book with recipes for these dishes and more.  It has yet to be published, but when it is, expect there will be some shameless promotion here for it.  The food she develops is absolutely amazing.

Rest assured… as soon as the book is available, you’ll hear about it here.