July 7, 2009

This was shot by my dear guest, Sr Escalante, who is married to my little friend who was once a girl, Mariaelba. We had gone to the bufala farm and bought mozzarella so fresh we had to wait for it to be formed and bagged, then eventually came home and made duck risotto. We dragged it all very quickly into the garden so we could enjoy one of the great evenings of this year so far.

Mariaelba’s mother was one of my dearest friends in the old days of Washington DC. She returned to Lima many years ago and I visited her there once. I first met Mariaelba when she came to visit her mother when she was just 13 years old. I loved her instantly. She grew up to be a chef. I had not seen her since just before her wedding, but when I saw her again it was as if all those years vanished.

I loved hearing her tales of catering in Key Biscayne. We nattered on about food. Jaime claims my cats eat better than he does because Mariaelba is all cooked out and buys takeout for him. I doubt it. There are few pleasures more intense and more desirable than the visits of beloved friends. They promised to send mom next, but I know that’s a reach.   She likes to stay home nowadays.