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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Libation

I should have been reading “Lolita.” Actually, I should have been listening to Jeremy Irons read it to me--courtesy of audible.com, and I think the only way I think I’d be able to get through it in time for our next book club meeting. But instead, I read Deidre Heekin’s ”Libation: A Bitter Alchemy,” which was--pardon the low-hanging pun--intoxicatingly good.

A gift from Michael (who actually attended the wine-tasting of which she writes toward the end), the book contains essays about the finer spirits of life (I refer to vodka, campari, absinthe, and the like). It also chronicles her personal story from her early days as a newlywed experiencing Italy for the first time ... to baker ... to restauranteur ... to micro-vintage winemaker.

I’ve been to Deidre and Caleb’s restaurant in Woodstock many times, and I confess that I’ve taken for granted how much knowledge and passion go into their food and wine pairings. Until this point, I only knew that each bite and each sip have been wonderful in the most understated and elegant ways. “Libation” gives me a bit of the backstory, and the narrative is as fine as their meals.

This past week has been a travel blur for me, with trips to Kentucky and New York. Thanks to Deidre, I also feel like I’ve been to Italy, Russia, New Orleans, Paris, and Vermont. I’ll drink to that.