I have to admit, sometimes it’s hard to get inspired in the kitchen – even when you’re a chef. Eating the same old meals or foods night after night gets a little boring.

After picking up some supplies at our wholesaler Provvista, we decided to drop in on Steve at Steve’s Cheese. He’s a lovely man with a passion for dairy products with mold on them. His case is always filled with unique cheeses from all over the world, each one begging to be sampled. Instead of taking ones we knew, we opted for cheeses we’d never heard of with names too tricky to pronounce. One hailed from Italy with three different milks. It’s soft and creamy exterior hides a semi-firm center. Tasting it is like rubbing silk against your tongue. The blue from England we tried was much creamier and smoother than any I’ve tasted.

We left the store with five cheeses in hand as well as a bottle of hard cider from Normandy. Our next stop was Ken’s Artisan Bakery. He produces arguably the best bread in the city – chewy crunchy crusts with light and flavorful interiors. We chose a baguette, a brown bread, four macarons, and a croissant. As we walked down the street arm and arm with an umbrella over our heads, the shared the flakey, buttery croissant. Again, I’m willing to bet it’s the best in Portland.

And because it was in the area, we stopped at the fish counter at Zupan’s. After a brief conversation with my friend who manages the section, we chose a lovely piece of fresh Chinook salmon – some of the first of the season. It’s deep orange pink color and silvery skin let us know it was ultra fresh and ready to be eaten that night.

Despite the constant drizzle, I lit the charcoal for the barbeque and soaked some wood chips. An hour later, we feasted on maple soy glazed salmon, grilled leeks, parsnips, and zucchini, Normandy cider, fresh bread, and a sampling of cheeses.

As we pushed back from our plates, we both had satisfied smiles on our faces. There’s nothing more wonderful than a few simple ingredients prepared simply. Ah, life is good!

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