Ratatouille

Looking east: the crop on its way from the farm to the table. Millions of heirloom cherry tomatoes, the aubergine, the longest courgette, more bloody cucumbers.

The funny thing was I really didn't have any vegetables at home. Not that these are vegetables, of course. Aubergine, courgette, tomatoes, cucumber - fruit, all. I was such a dunce, though, and forgot to pick the reddening pepper. But it will be there for another day, waiting for some garlic and anchovies and fresh baguette.

And I found some little garden helpers. A real lady bug this time. Hopefully targeting the little brown marmorated stinkbuggers. And a very agile spider that behaved exactly like Thing in the Addams Family (and made me miss Raul Julia...).

Looking west. It really felt good to stand up there with the little basket of edible things that have been growing above our heads, on the satellite-dished tar top, with their view of the water and the boats, and the racing pigeons wheeling in their early evening flight like a school of silvery fish in the pool of vast summer sky, from their roof down the block.

Then I left the sunset over New York Harbour and disappeared back down the ladder with my precariously balanced harvest.

The arsenal.

From the terrace I fetched summer savoury and thyme.

Used the last of my little terrace garlics, and added a shallot.

Ratatouille and lamb chop. What a happy meal. And I fancy it was the most melting courgette, ever...

We drank a startling Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine - Le Tenute's Solo Reggiano. I can't declare myself to be a fan. It seemed to cut off mid-palate. But perhaps it was just the wrong wine for what we were eating.

By the way, the website I linked to above, Grape Aid, is worth a visit if you are interested in wine under $30 (hell, I'm interested in wine under $15...sigh). Or if you have a passing interest in wine at all. I stumbled across it looking for the Solo Reggiano, to link to an image, and have read though several reviews. Short, spare, neat and informative. Quite a rare combination.