Hello?
Hello, is anyone out there?
Oh, there you are, tanned shoulders, sun-kissed locks, glaring right back at me through your monitor screen.
I know.
I have been remiss.
But you know how it is dear reader; sometimes life just gets in the way.
But I am back.

Well, after returning from my second wedding in California this summer, I think I can say that wedding season has officially ended. At least for me. Veils have been worn neatly covering tight chignons. Saris have been donned in a stunning array of jewel tones, making me feel like a child gazing hungrily at a giant lollipop. I have eaten my fare share of mediocre satay sticks dribbling peanut sauce on the ground, careful to avoid getting gobs on my summer dress. I have carried pomanders dutifully. I cut a rug, several in fact. Some would even say that I have cut enough rugs to carpet a large apartment.

I couldn’t be happier for the brides and grooms. But all of this trekking back and forth to California, it’s a bit dizzying. And I must say, it’s good to be home. It was even nice to schlep my butt up the four flights of stairs to our tiny apartment, carefully unpack all of my wedding regalia, shove my suitcase under the already crammed-full bed, and tuck myself into bed. And the first meal made back in New York was this lunch.

Nestled under that slick of melted Gruyere cheese is some thinly sliced, grilled zucchini to add some interest to this simple, yet hardly boring, open-faced sandwich. Slices of Portuguese bread, a smattering of Dijon mustard, a few slices of grilled zuke, all happily coexisting under a respectable layer of Gruyere cheese. I topped the sandwich with a duo of sage leaves before popping the whole shebang under the broiler to melt the cheese, and to toast the bread to a golden brown hue.

There is just something so civilized about the open-faced sandwich. Maybe it is having all of the contents of a sandwich laid out in front of you, or maybe it is actually having to sit down and consume your lunch with a fork and a knife. Or maybe it was just that feeling of being home that was so satisfying. Who knows, but eating this sandwich was so enjoyable, that I don’t think I should wait for next year’s wedding season to have it again.