The first barbeque of the year

Hard to believe now, with a fresh layer of snow covering the tulip buds…but we cranked up the bbq last weekend for a lovely Sunday dinner.

Barbeques to me are the stuff of childhood innocence, participatory democracy, everybody eating what they want, and the primitive pleasures of fire, smoke, and being outside (even in a ski jacket!)

I had two kinds of fish on hand – salmon and basa – so I swathed them both in a simple marinade (one part maple syrup, one part Dijon mustard, chopped tarragon mixed in) that caramelizes into glaze-like deliciousness.

There was much to celebrate, including a friend’s acceptance into graduate school….So we indulged with three kinds of chocolate confection for dessert, including chocolate-chipotle tart from the Queen of Tarts on Roncesvalles Avenue in the west end of Toronto. Supporting actors were dense chocolate-almond brownie, and a decadent bar of Belgian chocolate threaded with orange.