Before we get to your stories of memorable
foods, I have a nice note to share with you:
Hi
Chef/Editor,
I really like
your new "Tips for Greener Living." In the
past two days you've provided two tips that
I've never read in other green living
articles. Thank you very much for producing
this newest ezine. I hope it takes off and
thrives like WWRecipes has done.
Iris in
Ramona, CA
Thanks to Iris
for those kind words. If you haven't
subscribed to Tips for Greener Living yet
(it's free, ya know?), you can still do so
at
TipsForGreenerLiving.com
And now, on to
your food memories:
I have just
returned from a trip to France and England.
This was truly my trip of a lifetime. I met
up with 60 or so people I had previously
only met on the internet, and was filmed for
a BBC program, so saw myself on British TV!
One goal I had was to try eating everything
regional that I possibly could, and I think
I did that very well.
My most
memorable meal was on the last day, headed
back to Heathrow and the long flight back to
Los Angeles. I asked my friend if we could
stop for breakfast at the Little Chef
(England’s most popular fast food place) so
I could say I went there. I had a breakfast
sandwich of sauteed mushrooms, grilled
tomatoes and a big patty of black sausage.
Being an American, I added hash browns of
course. I have certainly never had blood
sausage before, but could not possibly go
home without the experience. When I blogged
about it, my friend from Yorkshire
immediately complimented me for my culinary
bravery, and for surviving England’s version
of “heart attack on a plate”. What a meal
and what a memory! - Sharona from Los
Angeles
My grandmother
used to make blinis. None of her three
daughters got the recipe, for which I never
forgave them. They were made with yeast,
buckwheat flour, eggs, and I don't know what
else. They had to rise overnight, then she
fried them very thinly. You would take about
4 (at least) and spread each layer with
butter, honey and sour cream. They were
incredible - sometimes I can still smell
them. Of course you could feel your arteries
harden, but oh boy - who thought of that. -
Leila Speisman
I was born
into a family of food. Italian on one side,
German- American on the other. Food and the
life that revolves around it have been a
staple of my upbringing. But two of my most
memorable food experiences were during our
“ultimate” trip to Italy, November 2004. The
whole trip was a dream come true, but there
were two meals that have stayed with my
husband and me to this day. The first was in
Rome, our first night in the country. We
stopped at a small restaurant, Taverna
Barberini, near Piazza Barberini (featuring
Bernini’s wonderful “Fontane dei Quattro
Fiumi”). For our first night in Rome we were
lucky enough to be served by one of the
owners who lavished us with attention and a
few quick Italian culture lessons. We dined
in typical Italian style enjoying numerous
small courses and an abundance of wine. For
our Primi we chose a Saffron Ravioli. The
flavor was amazing - the pasta is made in
house daily and filled with a sumptuous
blend of cheeses. The sweet saffron sauce
perfectly complemented the savory ravioli.
Upon our return to the states we decided it
was the best pasta we had sampled over our
two week journey. Luckily we had traded
business cards with the owners, and one
quick email request later, I had the recipe
in hand. It’s been well loved, and although
it never tastes quite as splendid served at
home as it did in Rome, it’s quick to bring
all sorts of wonderful memories of that trip
back to us.
The second
food experience came roughly a week into our
trip in the small town of Cogne in the Alps.
My husband wanted to see a castle and the
Alps. I wanted to visit an Italian National
Park. So we chose to start at Aosta. We
journeyed to Lizzat Falls and enjoyed a
spectacular ice encrusted waterfall, a short
hike, and a memorable day of losing, then
finding my husband’s wedding ring in the
snow around the falls. By the time we were
ready to trek back to Aosta, we were
starving. On our way through Cogne we
noticed a small restaurant with an
interesting sign featuring a little red
devil. Inside Lou Bequet we found friendly
welcoming staff that spoke Italian and
French, but little English and only one menu
featuring an English translation of the
offerings. After our chilly hike around the
falls we were ready for something to warm
our feet and souls. We both chose the zuppa
del pomodoro - standard tomato soup, right?
Not so! While it’s true it looked like the
stuff with which we were accustomed the
taste was not. You could almost taste the
sun in those tomatoes. The flavor seemed to
explode on your tongue. After a bit of
consultation with my English to Italian
dictionary I managed to confirm with the
staff that the soup was homemade from
produce the owners grow, including tomato,
carrot, onion, and pepper. I regret I didn’t
ask for the recipe since never again have I
tasted a tomato soup that comes close to Lou
Bequet’s.
My life has
been filled with wonderful food experiences,
but these two always seem to rise to the
top. - Britt Daiss, Keystone, SD
Do you have a
memorable food experience you would like to
share? Send it to me at
TheChef@wwrecipes.com and please put
"Food Memory" in the subject line.
