Let’s go backwards with today’s post. Why can’t we get arugula like this in California? If you know, please tell me. Bursting with flavor and a sharp bitterness that, instead of turning you off, keeps you coming back for more. So refreshing you can eat it all day, every day. And we do at home, most nights, but it doesn’t taste the same. Not even close.
Rocco, you may already know this, but most produce in the U.S. is grown by Big Ag. Fixed on the potential profit, they harvest the crop before it's ready in order to make room for more. Then it sits in a warehouse for months before being shipped to the point of sale. Additionally, during the growing season most crops are sprayed with pesticides. Even the organic varieties are subject to drifting overspray from nearby fields. So, it shouldn't be surprising that it tastes like crap compared to what you've just experienced. Many expats report feeling better and also losing weight after a few months on their new diet of non-U.S. food. The only way around it for those of us living here is to shop farm-to-table places as much as possible.
Thanks for all the great foodie pics. The artichokes are beautiful! I like your treatment of a “primary place”. It can satisfy one’s needs for human contact ( and with the same people it invites friendship), a vibe of the neighborhood and a feeling of belonging. These never go out of style. We have a need to belong. We all seek it; the grab and go culture just happen to find it elsewhere . Like the song says, “ you wanna go where everybody knows your name”. Finding a treasure of a place like that is part of what makes us let down our guard, become a bit more vulnerable and relax. It’s what invites us to stay.
Rocco, you may already know this, but most produce in the U.S. is grown by Big Ag. Fixed on the potential profit, they harvest the crop before it's ready in order to make room for more. Then it sits in a warehouse for months before being shipped to the point of sale. Additionally, during the growing season most crops are sprayed with pesticides. Even the organic varieties are subject to drifting overspray from nearby fields. So, it shouldn't be surprising that it tastes like crap compared to what you've just experienced. Many expats report feeling better and also losing weight after a few months on their new diet of non-U.S. food. The only way around it for those of us living here is to shop farm-to-table places as much as possible.
Well stated and correct. Even our farmer's markets, while better, aren't close to the quality we see in Spain and Italy. Oh well.
Bar San Callisto is a national treasure!
I'm looking forward to diving into your series. My husband just retired from the United Nations & we are moving after 16 years in Rome to Venice!
Thanks for all the great foodie pics. The artichokes are beautiful! I like your treatment of a “primary place”. It can satisfy one’s needs for human contact ( and with the same people it invites friendship), a vibe of the neighborhood and a feeling of belonging. These never go out of style. We have a need to belong. We all seek it; the grab and go culture just happen to find it elsewhere . Like the song says, “ you wanna go where everybody knows your name”. Finding a treasure of a place like that is part of what makes us let down our guard, become a bit more vulnerable and relax. It’s what invites us to stay.
very nice article! food looks great!