Photo by Jose Picayo, for Bon Appetit Magazine

Bon Appetit’s upcoming August issue features a Big Sur Dinner Party and story by me–an inspiration piece about growing up around Nepenthe’s storied tables and how it influenced my cooking, along with recipes. This piece has been in the works for months now, and it’s always a thrill to see how it comes out–visually and in print.

Now that it’s here, I think I’m in love, all over again, with my version of Polenta Cake, and the buttermilk ice cream is divine-not too tart, with a hint of vanilla. And what’s not to love about grilled lamb kabobs with cilantro pesto, and summer bean salad with sheep’s milk cheese? As for starters, don’t even think about pooh poohing sardines. Popular throughout the mediterranean, they are delicious, especially grilled and topped with a scattering of lemons and herbs. Plus they are on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch “Best Choice” list, as eating fish goes, and are local and in season now.

The print version of the magazine will include a brief Q & A, more recipes and wine recommendations, so be sure to pick up a copy for the complete spread. If you cook from the menu, please send your thoughts my way, or even better, make a comment at Bon Appetit. As always, you can find me and this article on Facebook, where I post related book news and notes.

My little house on Ridgeway is overrun with  the remainders of a recent photoshoot with Sara Remington–baskets of berries, drying plums, roses, old cloth, notebooks, various plates and props and jars of apricots simmered in wine syrup. All the bits and pieces of creating a book, what we have been playfully referring to as the “detritus” of my life. My ode to memory in an orchard, long ago.

This is what I love-the making, creating, painting with words and pictures and sumptuous flavors. What joy and privilege to have this opportunity, to be thinking about painting, plum trees, the spaces in between, words and stories hidden beneath the surface, and not least, to see it all come to life in one of Sara’s gorgeous images (as above, in Polaroid).

To see more photos from our recent photoshoot and other images from Sara’s travels, check out her lovely blog.