Pedro Garcia, the assistant vineyard manager at Gundlach Bundschu, plants a vegetable garden in a corner of the property each year, supplying the crew with fresh veggies throughout the summer. This year, the Bundschus gave him a larger piece of land to cultivate at the top of the winery drive. I've been watching Pedro's progress for weeks, the long evenings after a full day in the vineyard he has spent setting up irrigation, planting and tending the garden. He's hard to spot now that the corn stalks are so tall, but I had the good fortune to pass him on his way out the other night.
After a brief and pleasant exchange in my poor spanish, Pedro asked if I wanted to take home some 'calabazas.' I knew it was too early for pumpkins, which is what I'd understood to be the meaning of the word, but I figured one should never turn down farm fresh produce. Even if it was some kind of squash.
Pedro returned with an enormous pick bin filled with zucchini. Ah, of course. Never a big fan, I smiled and picked out two smallish zucchini and thanked him. No, he insisted. These are all for you.
A few years back, some friends of mine moved from New York City to the Hudson River Valley. They cracked me up with the story of how no one in their small agricultural community ever locked their car doors, except during zucchini season. Apparently everyone's gardens overflowed with the bountiful squash, and neighbors were known to leave bagfulls in the cars of unsuspecting friends.
I laughed at that memory, thanked Pedro, brought the whole 30lbs or so of zucchini into the winery office, and sent an email to all the staff to please come take some.
I have never truly enjoyed the stuff, perhaps because I don't make it well, and it always seems too spongy, green and even bitter to pair well with wine. So this week, my dear readers, I am asking you for help to provide a tasty morsel. Please share your recommendations for preparing the ubiquitous summer squash, and if at all possible, a wine to go with it. Because I know Pedro will be back with more soon.
