As a small child, I believed in two things; Santa Claus and the virtues of a simple grilled Loup de mer, or branzino as it is more commonly called in the US. Loup de mer is a Mediterranean sea bass with a delicate flesh and addictively delicious crunchy skin when grilled. Get your coals white hot, put dried fennel branches on top then the fish and let the licorice smoky flavors pleasantly permeate your fish, lending a feeling of being in Provence. There is no greater act of love than sharing a wonderful meal you cook with the people dear to you. Remember, good food can happen anywhere, this one is especially good cooked over an outdoor fire, preferably deep in woods, with loved ones and a few bottles of great wine. [gallery size="large" ids="7026,7029,7030,7028,7031,7033"]My mother came to visit last year, and we had a great picnic in the woods surrounding Oregon’s Mount Hood. I found a small campsite along a river to provide the perfect backdrop to our picnic. Good food can happen anywhere and under any circumstance. If you are lucky to live in parts of the country like Northern California, where wild fennel grows rampant, simply cut it down and let dry fully in the sun. Get your coals white hot and put dried fennel branches on top. Licorice smoky flavors will pleasantly permeate your fish and lend a feeling of being in Provence. This dish might very well be the best thing I cook.