Zita with Asparagus and Bacon

Zita with Asparagus and Bacon

I couldn't put my finger on it. I was distracted by flavor.

"This is singing in my mouth." I said with mouth full.

I really need to chew, I thought.

"This is sooo good." I said with mouth full.

I looked down at my empty bowl. A shallow puddle of bacon fat and extra virgin olive oil.

There's no garlic!

"There's no garlic!" I said.

Roberto looked up. A look of disappointment on his face.

"But it's so good. It doesn't need it." I gushed.

In our rush to make dinner, we had done everything but...chop the garlic.

I was delighting in this happy accident, though. I had just been graced with pure simplicity.

Zita, bacon and asparagus co-mingling in a pool of fat (both pork and olive) and pasta water. A bit of crushed red pepper and parmesan.

We each ate the first bowl greedily. Racing towards the inevitable, a second helping.

"It's good, but it would be better with garlic." Roberto said.