I love food shopping. I find it to be comforting and part of the fabric of living. In Paris, I visit the boulangerie and have a crispy loaf sticking under my arm and Barthélémy, the famous cheese shop on Rue de Bac, for a little mimolette. The sales people bustling about in the pungent store filling the orders. Instantly, I’m French when there. In the heart of Mexico, San Miguel de Allende, I visit the food stalls which smell of roasting chicken and peppers, buying fresh tortillas from the old woman as she rolls out each pancake. At the Cooking School at Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Resorts Bali, the chef took us to the local fish market where the catch was fresh and cooked before you. At home, it’s about the farmers market.
Today, was a light load of Cara Cara oranges, sweet onions, first of the season basil (only because mine isn’t ready for picking), cilantro, cauliflower, mint, zucchini, lemons, and Windrose Farms Bloomfield spinach. (This farm is a favorite of Los Angeles area chefs and Barbara, the owner, is there to help with your selection of lettuces, radishes, et al.)
Tomorrow, I will be using the mint, cilantro and basil for a Meatless Monday tofu concotion.
Incidentally, this is the first post of my existing blog, i8tonite. We will see what happens but for now, if I can post three per week, I will be happy. I’ve had a lot of encouragement to do this. Truly, I hope that if I continue to do this blog, it evolves into conversations about eating, cooking, my friends and traveling…these are a few of my favorite things.
I felt like I was shopping with you while reading this. You’re writing took me on a journey. Keep it up B!! xx