Page 65 of The ABCs of You & Me

“Hmmm, that’s probably true,” she says, preoccupied by the third jar she has picked up. “Excuse me,” she says to the vendor. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what the difference is between these three honeys. Do they actually taste different, or are they only named after the seasons?”

“Honey that’s produced from the pollen of different seasonal flowers actually have really unique flavors. Would you like to try them?” the woman asks, producing tiny spoons from a container behind the display.

Sophie beams. “That would be amazing.”

We’re both handed a spoon with spring honey. It’s light in color and sweet on the pallet with a hint of floral.

The next is summer, which is slightly darker than spring and gets a reaction out of Sophie immediately. “Oh, this is delicious.”

“You like it more than the spring?” I ask.

“You don’t?”

“I like them both pretty equally.”

Fall comes next, and there is absolutely no doubt that this one is not going to dethrone summer on Sophie’s list.

The vendor laughs. “Fall honey definitely isn’t for everyone.”

“I’m surprised it’s for anyone,” Sophie says before looking horrified. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

The woman leans toward us conspiratorially. “Full disclosure? I feel the same way.”

Sophie buys a summer honey and we make our way to the next table, which is various goat cheeses.

Maybe I can do something with goat cheese for dinner. That would take care of the G component of the evening.

“Care to sample our pepper goat?” the man says, gesturing to the glass cloche.

“Oh. that’s okay.” Sophie backs away. “I’ve never liked goat cheese.”

“What don’t you like about it?” I ask, taking the spoon from the man and sliding it into my mouth. The pepper hits first followed by the rich creaminess of the cheese. It’s the perfect combination as the pepper stands up to the mustiness that goat cheese usually carries.

Sophie leans into me. “It’s how I imagine a goat would taste.”

“Have you had goat before?” I have and can’t figure out how someone could think the meat and cheese taste alike.

“Not the meat,” she says, leaning closer still. “The fur, like if you walked into a barn and licked a goat. That’s how goat cheese tastes to me.”

The visual makes me laugh instantly. “I promise you this may change your mind about that. It’s not as strong as some. And the pepper helps. Try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll never make you try anything again.”

She looks at me for a minute before turning to the man and asking for a sample. I watch as she slowly raises the spoon to her lips and slips it through. Then I revel in the way her expression reveals pleasure and not the disgust I think she had expected to feel. Her eyes close, and a tiny smile appears on her lips.

When her eyes open again, she rolls them immediately. “Okay, that is delicious.”

“You know what it would be good with?” I challenge.

“Crackers?”

“The honey you bought.”

She looks at me skeptically. “You think?”

“I know,” I assure her. “But also I think I’m going to use it for dinner tonight.”

“Goat cheese over gonorrhea. I support that.”

The goat vendor clears his throat, looking uncomfortable. I guess out of context that is a bizarre sentence, but also? Not an incorrect one.

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