Rhymes With Orange

My orange rhododendrum is opening up to the world. Absolutely glorious. The rhoddy has eleven blooms and is three years old. Today I planted the last of the annuals and got the garden ready to grow. Sweaty and tired but happy.

Dinner last night at Al Forno in Providence was one for the books. The appetizer pizza defined pizza. They cook it on the grill and the crust is thin thin thin. It had cheese, a spicy sauce and those little Maine shrimp. I ordered scallops for an entree, and they came with something called "Black Rice," which tasted good and I couldn't quite figure it out. Plenty of little lardons of bacon and lots of good green Fava beans, perfectly cooked. A scattering of sectioned orange atop the plate. Everything somehow glorious. We shared a pear and walnut tarte for dessert. Crust flakey as crust can be. To die for. A crisp rose wine, admirably dry went with everything. The tab was appropriately high, because perfection comes at a price. Almost everyone ordered the appetizer pizzas. The Clams Al Forno are another appetizer sent down from the gods.

I have the Al Forno cookbook, but it's better to trek down to Providence and let the kitchen cook for you.

Grapeshot, who is still in foody paradise