Lunch Heaven

It started with a fig. Not just any old fig, but one from the regrowth from the giant mystery stump at the top of our garden. Last year we got a single fig (which I stupidly picked well before it was ripe, and we couldn't eat it.)

This year there are seventeen figs, and this beauty was the first to ripen. I noticed it was developing a bit of a brown patch on one side, so I climbed up on the chair and gave it a gentle squeeze, and sure enough it was soft and yielding in that ripe figgish kind of way. It was also a bit heavy in the hand, which apparently is the real way it tells you it's ready for picking. The unripe ones are practically weightless.

The ripe fig discovery happened on a rather busy day, so I decided to leave it on the tree and pick it when I had time to lavish some attention on the occasion. The first ripe fig is, after all, a pretty special harvest.

A couple of days later, I nipped up to the top terrace to pluck my fig, and the damned thing wasn't there. After a bit of swearing and a scrummage around in the parsley and pennyroyal (and yes, the weeds) under the tree, I had my fig back. It was falling-off-the-tree ripe, it had a soft landing, and it hadn't been discovered by bugs or birds. Now, on to lunch.

First order of business... protect the fig. Just until the cheese has lost its chill.

The insides are very sea anemone. In spite of being green outside and pretty white inside, it was perfectly ripe, subtly scented, and totally gorgeous.

TO SERVE

• A few thin slices of Kapiti Kikorangi Blue.
• I don't presume to improve on Kapiti's "king of cheeses" but try it with a drizzle of wild thyme honey from Provisions in Cromwell and tell me that's not one of the best things you've ever eaten.
• On the side a few soft chunks of Puhoi Valley farm fresh goats' cheese and a handful of Lavosh crackers from 180 Degrees (they don't have a website, but they do have amazing baking).
• A tiny bit of pinot gris if you have some lurking in the fridge.

Sit quietly under the fig tree and eat, slowly with fingers. Heaven.