Friends In High Places

Our Norwalk friend Jeanne has a wonderful yard full of fruit trees. In front, she has lemons and limes. In back, oranges. Southern California is loaded with citrus trees and I can now attest to how much better those taste when freshly picked.

Jeanne's parents, however, are the true friends in high places - or at least they have fruit in high places - a wonderful avocado tree that produces the creamiest, butteriest, most unctuous alligator pears it has ever been my pleasure to devour.

Usually, we are partial to the Haas avocados that are easier to find in our markets. Rough skinned and black when ripe, they have a wonderful taste and texture. Jeanne's parents' tree, however, produces the smooth green variety, which I approached with caution, having found this type to be stringy and watery in the past.

Well, let me tell you, when they are picked just ripe and eaten as soon as they soften with just a little vinaigrette made with a lemon from Jeanne's bushes drizzled over them, they are food for the gods and eating them makes me feel godlike. What a heavenly taste and texture! They aren't kidding when they say it's good to have friends in high places.