a taste of a life

Everyone says Vermont is beautiful, but the scenery still exceeded my expectations. My parents drove around the state on a summer vacation many years ago, and when they returned my Dad said they saw "every shade of green you could imagine." I thought about that as we passed by dense forests and greenish-blue mountains, walked across an overgrown field with patches of aromatic wild thyme underfoot, tromped past ferns and verdant moss on a hiking trail. Those bright, clear days and the company of friends relaxed me more than I even thought was possible.

And there was food, of course.

In a very amusing review of a restaurant in our area, the New York Times' food critic Sam Sifton wrote, "The best restaurants give us a taste of the life we aspire to have." I've been turning that phrase over and over in my mind, and think it applies to good meals in general, not just restaurants. 

On our second night in Vermont, we grilled tilapia tacos on the deck and ate them with sliced avocado and a creamy, cumin-spiked crema. Soul music played softly from an upstairs window, wine was passed around, the air smelled like fresh grass clippings. The fish was perfectly tender, smoky from the grill. Everyone was relaxed, not thinking about work or anything other than the food and people in front of them.

At that moment, I wanted the patio, the grill, the leafy backyard, the house, the absence of traffic, and even the cute puppy underfoot. City living seemed insane. What was I doing with my life? Who needs the hassle? Why couldn't we live--and eat--like this all the time?

As I settled back into real life, I realized I was being irrational. (An eight-hour train ride will do that to you.) Brooklyn is appealing in its own way. For now, I can look at trees from the window of our third-floor apartment and cook fish indoors on a grill pan. My friends may have an adorable house in an idyllic setting full of farmers markets and breweries, but I have 24-hour bodegas, a giant park around the corner, and a calendar booked with dinners, concerts, plans with friends. 

Vacations are are special because they are fleeting, a taste of a different life. But that dinner was the type of meal I want to have all the time, surrounded by people I love, eaten in the quiet, sweet-smelling dusk.

Vermont dinner
Tortilla chips and salsa
Grilled corn on the cob
Tilapia tacos with avocado, tomatoes, red cabbage, and cumin crema

Tilapia tacos
(Serves 4 to 6 people)
2 lbs. tilapia filets
2 limes, juiced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno minced
About 4 Tbsp. olive oilSalt and pepper
Flour or corn tortillas
Cumin crema*

To make a marinade for the fish, put the lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, and olive oil in a large bowl and mix until combined. Place the fish in the bowl and rub the marinade all over. Add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Heat your grill and cook the fish on both sides until flaky and tender. Serve immediately with tortillas, chopped tomatoes, shredded red cabbage, and sliced avocado.

*To make the crema, combine 1 cup sour cream with the juice of 1 lime, 1 tsp. ground cumin, salt and pepper to taste.