Plate and Pitchfork

Okay, Ben wants to know about Plate and Pitchfork and as you all know I take requests.

Plate and Pitchfork was amazing. So wonderful. We were at Smith Berry Barn. The event started with a mixer at the front of the farm. We had deviled eggs topped with lamb bacon and some watermelon gazpacho. I didn’t love the watermelon thing. It was way too salty, but I enjoyed the deviled eggs. Sokol Blosser was pouring wine, a white and a rose.

Fancyhats ran into some old acquaintances so we caught up with them and enjoyed some wine and the beautiful afternoon.

Then the organizers called us together to meet the lamb farmer who was providing all the meat for the evening. This is the same dude who provides meat for Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. I don’t love lamb. I don’t hate it, I’m just sort of meh about it. But this was the first time I’d tried to eat in more than a week, so I was going to man up and enjoy the shit out of this lamb.

The farmers of Smith Berry Farm then took us on a tour of their farm. We saw berries and chickens and goats and more berries and we learned about the farm. It was really wonderful wandering around, picking berries off the vines and hearing about what it’s like to own a farm.

We made our way to the apple orchard and Fancyhats and I were at table seven. We also passed the outdoor grill where the lamb was being prepared by the chefs from Simpatico and Laurelhurst Market. Laurelhurst has a meat counter that Fancyhats and I have enjoyed once before. We were pretty stoked.

The menu was a green salad with greens and pickled blueberries from the farm. A lambs tongue salad, a lamb mixed grill with tenderloin, sausage and ribs, and berry brown betty with berries from the farm.

My favorite was the lambs’ tongue salad and the tenderloin and lamb ribs. And by favorite, I mean when I put each each in my mouth I thought I would surely die from pleasure. It was all so good. Sokol Blosser paired wine with each course and the servers promised us we’d never have an empty glass. And that was true.

I now love lamb.

AND we sat next to a couple who had a sense of humor as inappropriate as mine is. We were laughing. A lot. And as the wine flowed we laughed some more. They are our new couple friends. WE HAVE COUPLE FRIENDS. Also, I hope our new couple friends don’t think it’s too forward that I’ve deemed them that. We must be careful about these things. But we are having more drinks with them next week. COUPLE FRIENDS. [Private message to Kiala and Dane: when you get up here, you will be couple friends too. So, you know...do that thing or whatever.]

We sat in the orchard and ate and drank and ate and drank until 10pm. This whole thing started at 5:30. Fancyhats drove us home, and I passed out in the car on the way. I think I was probably drooling and snoring, but Fancyhats managed to get me home in one piece. He’s good that way.

As for the pictures, I brought my Holga, which is a toy camera that takes actual film. So those are being developed. As for the specific wines, Ben, I have no idea. I was drunk by about glass 1.5. Because, you know, I hadn’t eaten in a fortnight.

Pictures coming in a week or so.

On Thursday, I’ll be in Chicago speaking at BlogHer. I’m shacking up with Recovering Straight Girl. I’m also going to the big lezzie party that Deb on the Rocks is throwing. I also plan on swimming in the pool at the hotel. And smiling and nodding. OH! And launching my newest website. I haven’t told you about my website, have I? Well, you’ll find out all in good time, friends.