Anniversary road trip! The husband and I celebrated six years of marital bliss with a jaunt up the coast. We were married on a beach, so an oceanfront picnic sounded just right. We found a quiet Ventura beach, where it is legal to pop open a bottle of champagne. It was fun to pick out cheeses the day before at the Cheese Store of Silverlake. They were, from left to right: Tetilla, aged Mahon, Midnight Moon, and Etorki. I made a quick salad of blanched green beans, toasted almonds and orange segments. In a stroke of luck, we spotted a roadside fruit stand and purchased a ripe and juicy cantaloupe to pair with our jamon serrano. There was also a homemade chorizo (recipe coming soon!) and a lovely liverwurst (hooray for spreadable meat!). It was a brilliant day. The beach was nearly deserted, the weather was mild and sunny, the mood was joyful gratitude.
