Sunday, 17 June 2012

Blackberry Wine - Sixteenth Bottle (C5), 10th June 2012

Today is the Feast Day of St Ithamar, and we have celebrated him with a feast. Our main course was lamb chops marinaded in olive oil, garden grown mint and tarragon, with broad beans, spinach, potatoes and that aubergine-tomato-breadcrumb dish. The most exciting course, however, was the starter. This, including the pigeon, was entirely foraged from the garden. We had our first summer salad - lettuces of various kinds, chive flowers and radishes, as well as plump pigeon breast lightly fried.

About a month ago Claire heard a 'thunk' against our back bedroom window. It was an adolescent pigeon with suicidal tendencies. Checking it was already dead, Claire plucked and removed the breast and put it in the freezer. This meat was delicious - tender and flavoursome. The blackberry wine went well, and we raised our glasses to Ithamar, first Anglo-Saxon bishop of Rochester (and, indeed, England).

The Salad of St Ithamar

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