FRIDAY DINNER?

After a long week, the thought of stopping by the market and heading into the kitchen to cook may seem arduous to some. To others a reprieve.

To those not fortunate enough to live in a city where the accepted Friday routine may include dashing off to a bar with co-workers for a few libations then meeting up later with someone special for dinner and a night out (memories of NYC abound here), time in the kitchen may do the trick. I no longer live in a city that relishes the buzz and energy that is Friday. No, in Southern California we re-seal ourselves in our car, sit in traffic, contemplate stopping somewhere to do something, text and plan and meet up with people sometimes. But it's not the same. So....off to the market.

Yes, Sunday lunch is a staple in Italy, France and the south. But Friday dinner can provide the same sort of atmosphere for you, friends and family and not to mention a romantic rendezvous. Turn off the cell phone, put on some Yo-Yo Ma or some Miles Davis, pour your favorite and turn on the stove. Before you know it, conversation will flow, the week will melt away and the weekend has begun.

Yesterday we did just that. A free range chicken roasted with sage and lemon; served with sauteed heirloom fingerling potatoes and simple salad. Paired with an outstanding 2007, Les Pensees de Pallus, Chinon, France: It was a perfect end to a hectic week.