Me!
That’s who.
I am on a
plane headed to the Pacific Northwest, going to a professional conference. I
packed all the mundane needs for such a trip: flash drive with my PowerPoint, notes
for my presentation, clothes, Dopp kit, and eyeglasses. At the last minute, I
added my unopened June issue of Food & Wine.
An aside:
My rule of thumb regarding the value of any single issue of a magazine is this:
if there is even one recipe that has me salivating, counting the hours till I
can make it, the issue is worth having. It’s even better if that dish comes out
well, and is something I will make again and again.
After
opening my magazine on the plane, I knew immediately what I will be making for
my August 1st post… and it’s only May 17!
My mind
is racing ahead to a hot July afternoon. The temperature will probably be
somewhere around 100°F. Maybe even 110°F. We will want a break from the relentless summer heat,
even though we don’t mind it terribly.
I will
pack a picnic. We’ll invite some friends to join us. We may drive up 8000 feet
to the forested mountain north of Tucson, or south to the cool upland prairie.
I can envision a crisp, chilled rosé. And I will make these sandwiches. Pan bagnat, a
Provençal
specialty.
I will
make changes in the magazine’s version of the recipe to suit our tastes. I will wrap them
in parchment and tie them with twine. And, by the time we arrive at our cooler
destination, under the shade of a coniferous mountain forest or Arizona live-oak
tree among shimmering prairies, the ingredients will have spent the perfect
amount of time marinating.
The
flavors will come together and become one, yet each bite will have something
special that will shine through. A burst of capers, fennel, tuna, or anchovy.
But all as one.
 |
| Barbara, Mark, and Dianne – my perfect picnic companions! |
This is
the perfect meal for a rosé, and I invite you to see which one I paired with this sandwich on this week’s issue of the Provence WineZine.
Even
though I have not yet made this, I know it will be perfect. Perfect like a
summer’s
day…
On July 25th, two months and a week after writing the post above, I made the pan bagnat and they were everything I had hoped for. Mark, Barbara, Dianne, and I went up Mount Lemmon, and picnicked in the cool mountain air under a canopy of tall pine trees. We had one special visitor while eating; he was sad that we refused to share. But he was brazen enough to check the box from Café Français, where I got the cookies and bread.
Keep
cool, my friends!
Pan
Bagnat
Serves 4.
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Design by Themeshift.
Sippity Sup
August 2, 2015 at 12:41 amI do like a good Pan Bagnat. Like you it reminds me of summer picnics. Mine were spent at the Hollywood Bowl, but I can see the allure of pine trees too. GREG
PS I head up to the Pacific Northwest for 3 weeks starting Aug 3! I hope you left me some good food.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 2, 2015 at 11:27 pmOh, Greg – I can only imagine the mess I would make of myself at the Hollywood Bowl if I tried to eat a Pan Bagnat there! You must be a much tidier picnicker than I!
Have fun in the PNW!
Chef Mimi
August 2, 2015 at 2:16 pmWhat a fabulous post! Love your pictures, and the way you wrapped the sandwiches! Wish I lived near you…
Cocoa & Lavender
August 2, 2015 at 11:35 pmI wish I did, too, Mimi! Maybe we will get to visit one day! Thanks for your kind comments!
Cheri Savory Spoon
August 2, 2015 at 7:26 pmHi David, you know I have been to Tucson numerous times but never to Mount Lemon, on the to do list. Looks like a wonderful picnic and your Pan Bagnat looks mouthwatering.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 2, 2015 at 11:36 pmThanks, Cheri! Yu really must come down when you return from the PNW and we will take a picnic up – the views are breathtaking!
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
August 2, 2015 at 7:58 pmI love this!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 2, 2015 at 11:37 pmThanks, Liz! Hope you are settling back in, and that the jet lag isn't horrible!
Valentina
August 2, 2015 at 10:56 pmI love food magazines, and there does always seem to be that one inspirational recipe to try. This looks soooo delicious! I love it!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 2, 2015 at 11:38 pmI find I am getting fewer magazines these days, opting to get only my favorites so I can try more from them. F&W and Saveur are my two mainstays!
Nicole - RieglPalate.com
August 3, 2015 at 12:52 amDavid – What a fabulous post! I love all the elements (yummy food, fabulous Rosé wine, good friends, beautiful scenery) but especially how it all came together. Your unexpected guest is quite cute, too. Thank you for sharing!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2015 at 1:19 pmThanks, Nicole! It was nice to get a chance to do some photos outdoors – and nature provided a great setting and several little furry friends!
Marcelle
August 3, 2015 at 4:55 pmOh I love the story you told in the post! And it's so true about valuing magazines based on the recipes published in them. I do it too. I have storage boxes filled with old magazines, and I know exactly what recipe I like to use is in each issue! Enjoyed this post!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2015 at 9:59 pmYou are much more organized than I am, Marcelle! I usually know which magazine a recipe came from, but where I put it is anyone's guess!
Colette (Coco)
August 3, 2015 at 8:02 pmAnything that inspires you to drop the mag, run off to start something new is well worth a pretty penny.
This is one hell of a tuna sandwhich. So hearty and full of flavour. I can't wait to taste it.
You set a very elegant picnic table, David. Fine dining under the pines. Lovely. xo
Cocoa & Lavender
August 3, 2015 at 10:00 pmThanks, Colette! I can't wait for our next picnic!
John | heneedsfood
August 4, 2015 at 10:14 pmThat's one serious sandwich, and loaded with some of my favourite things! Especially anchovies. Mount Lemon looks like such a beautiful area to visit. I think I need to add that to my list of places to see when we head through your area on our next big trip!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 8, 2015 at 1:01 pmJohn – the mountain is an hour from our house – it will be easy to visit when you are staying with us!
cali @ cali's cuisine
August 7, 2015 at 1:00 pmSounds like you had an absolutely perfect picnic! And the food looks fabulous, a far cry from the tuna sandwiches (canned tuna with egg and mayo) I grew up eating. My girls have never had a tuna sandwich because I am not keen on shelf stable meat products, but you certainly have done an excellent job in promoting jarred tuna. I just may have to give this a try. Nicely done!
I like taking my food magazines on business trips and rip out the pages with recipes I want to try and recycle the rest of the magazine. I'm impressed that you actually made one of those recipes – mine tend to just sit on a top shelf of a kitchen cabinet.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 8, 2015 at 1:03 pmI use very few canned or jarred products, but this tuna is one of them. It really is so good. I am going to work onajing my own preserved tuna and freezing it!
Unknown
August 11, 2015 at 3:12 amYou really could be in Provence! I've been learning to love Provence Roses. I don't envy your heat, but I do envy your picnic!
And, I love your uninvited guest!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 11, 2015 at 1:53 pmOur little guest was definitely cute – and quite bold!
madelief
August 11, 2015 at 8:48 amHaha, you are a legend. I love how you planned this months in advance. You are a true food-nut – and I say this with the utmost respect! 😉
Cocoa & Lavender
August 11, 2015 at 1:55 pmAnd that is exactly the way I took it! I am a food-nut, and proud of it! Thanks! 🙂
Provence WineZine
August 14, 2015 at 11:33 pmI am finally responding to this gorgeous post. It read like a real page turner! (I wonder what the equivalent phrase will be for digital media.) it looks delicious and the wine you had with it sounds wonderful!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 16, 2015 at 12:51 amI suppose it would be a real Mouse Clicker? I hope you and Towny get to try the Cloud Chaser some day. xo
I Wilkerson
August 17, 2015 at 3:32 pmGreat shots–this made me so hungry David! There is nothing like a gourmet picnic! Can hardly blame your little friend for wanting a taste…
Cocoa & Lavender
August 17, 2015 at 10:17 pmThanks, Inger – yes, he was a cute (and brazen) little guy!
laurasmess
August 19, 2015 at 3:54 amHaha… I've done the 'write before you make' thing also, leaving the publishing until I've tested the recipe properly. It's an efficient way to work, methinks, as you write your recipe notes directly into the blog format! Glad that your pan bagnat worked out just as you'd hoped. It looks delicious! And your dining companions look quite dapper in their hats 😉
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2015 at 2:16 pmThanks, Laura – you are the only one who has admitted to the "write before you make" issue! But, sometimes, you just know it is going to work, right?