Bananas for breakfast in the sun…after coffee and cherries.
“Summer Cooking” by Elizabeth David is amongst my favourite books, but on a day like today the title is not. I associate the word cooking with heat, so when the temperature outside is topping 32ºC the words “summer” and “cooking” are best enjoyed when not in conjunction. The air was already beginning to ripple with heat as I came down for coffee at an early hour. Perfume from a bowl of ripe nectarines rose up to meet me inducing me to take a handful of ripe cherries, from a neighbouring bowl, to eat as I opened the house. Whilst the coffee gurgled on the stove I ate some more cherries and thought about not cooking dinner. I’d bought a cornichon cucumber from the stall, a few days ago, 
which I had finely sliced, salted and pickled with some sugar and white wine vinegar. This sweet and sour confection would be perfect with some slices of pale pink smoked trout, together with a salad of peppery rocket leaves from the garden. A very good potato salad would only entail boiling some waxy potatoes, which use of heat would be the only gesture made towards cooking. The cooked potatoes will be each cut into four pieces and bathed in a little olive oil and white wine vinegar to absorb whilst they are still warm. The addition of a spoonful of capers, some finely sliced shallot, a sprinkling of sea salt and ground black pepper completes this dish. Not only is this good to eat immediately but it is even better by the next day. 
Strawberries, cherries and nectarines will make a near perfect dessert. I have just remembered that there are some crisp home made meringues that would love some fruity company this evening, and they shall not be denied.
I’m glad you got some cherries, Roger!
I just love them.
This weekend, we went to the cherry festival in Kent then on to Whitstable for lager and oysters by the sea. When we got home it was so hot. I smashed some black cherries and put them in a glass of ice cold Coke. It was summer perfection.
That is the smartest “cherry cola” that I’ve ever heard of….Ray Davies and Lola would be proud of you:)
Funny you should say! This past week, my father was visiting from L.A. When we went to Kent for the cherry festival then on to Whitstable for a seaside lunch, I told him sometimes life in England really does feel like a Kinks song.
Excellent.Good synchronicity:)
Fitting that I read this at lunchtime. I don’t have to whine about your making me hungry. 🙂
Being that lunchtime is whine free, is it also wine free? 🙂
I escaped too, to Covent Garden for lunch in the shade. It was lovely, but murder cycling back to Tufnell Park in 32º 😉
Where did you eat in Covent Garden? I have so many memories of that place having had studios there between 1970 and 1985.
Côte Bistro on Tavistock Street 😉
That’s new to me,,,,but Tavistock st isn’t…I seem to remember a Joe Allen’s in Tavistock St.
That rings a few bells 🙂
I was really impressed with Cote Bistro after reading your post – nice find.
(whines: i’m hungryyyyy!). That cucumber doo-dah sounds lusciously simple to make. Is there a “secret” grandma’s recipe??
The “grandpa” on the roadside stall told me about salting and fridging overnight. I added the wine vinegar and sugar. It’s using the cornichon cucumber which is not as watery as the standard cucumber. It’s just a cornichon that has grown too big:)
Oh, I know the ones! They remind me of one of my faavourite books, “The BFG”, by Roald Dahl. In the story, The Big Friendly Giant eats a disgusting vegetable called the “snozzcumber” because he doesn’t want to eat humans. Right, now I’ve made myself out to be a complete twit, I’m off to work…..
Snozzcumber in a naval uniform is good too.
What’s the attitude about air conditioning over in France? Are they an aire libre society or do they use window units? central air?
I’m not sure about that. I don’t know anyone with air conditioning in their houses, except for the occasional portable units. Most stores have it, and I guess offices. It’s a hot place the further south that you go, so I guess for hotels and businesses it’s pretty standard. There are so many old buildings in France which would be difficult to adapt.
That potato salad sounds like something I’d love. Wish I’d read this before going to the market. 🙂
It’s the simplest and best potato salad, that relies on ingredients rather than mayonnaise.
Roger, you are making me hungry with your “descriptive cooking” 😉
Excellent:)
Sounds utterly divine.
It was a wonderful dinner, eaten outside:)
Darn it: what is wrong with you guys? 30-35 C is warm > pretty warm, when you hit 40 + C you are beginning to be allowed to say hot!!! Even turn on the AC 😦 !! I strongly advise you not to visit Down Under in summertime 🙂 ! Oh, coffee and bananas: wonderful to break the fast – not so sure about cherries – to each their own 😀 !
I just don’t think 40C and humidity is proper living. Each to their own:)
Indeed! Indeed! But there truly ARE benefits . . .
Looks like you’re doing a very fine job without the oven.
Certainly cooler 🙂
Would love to try this cucumber…do you keep in fridge during the process?
Absolutely. I put it in a Kilner jar in the fridge. It never lasts long, but it’s best chilled and fresh:)
Sounds like a perfectly planned meal – we’re eating a lot of beautiful potatoes drenched in olive oil too now. So easy, so good!
So many good simple things to eat at this time of year. I’m going to get some filets de sardines marines( no accents in comments) to have on some grilled spelt bread.
I get it – marinated and not dressed in navy uniforms! Sounds wonderful….
The ones in navy uniforms always sell out early, so I’m left with the dull marinated ones. I make do. The ribbons on the navy hats always get stuck in my teeth anyway:)
🙂
I will be over for dinner thanks!
Always welcome:)
What an amazing meal! Perfect when you don’t want to cook 🙂
It worked for us:)
I’m melting here in the languid heat lakeside myself.. and of like mind regarding any form of baking, cooking or otherwise. All hail the meringue and fruit.. I’d just have that and skip the rest (being completely lazy). But if someone were to serve it to me.. how could I resist.
All hail the meringue and fruit….I’ll remember that. Excellent. Lakeside looks great from your posts.