Posted on February 5, 2009 - by napavalleybath

MORE ON MY FIND

To be honest, I didn’t feel like writing any more today.  I know I promised you in the email and I was wrestling with that but I am beat…I’ve been working hard this week and then have the night shift when everyone comes in back home in the States at MY 5:00pm….so I’ve been out of balance….and I’m going to rectify that….but probably not til Monday!

Anyway…..I closed down my computer…hoping I would work up a second wind….and grabbed my umbrella as it is our first thunder and lightening storm in Florence…..asked Emmy for any special requests (Kaelin is studying at a friend’s house) and off I went to my favorite grocer.  It is a beautiful night…warmed up a bit so it is a pleasant temperature….and it is pouring….as I watched my step down the cobblestone road I couldn’t help but think how cool this was…walking in a thunderstorm in Italy…..and then I pondered why walking in a thunderstorm in St. Helena wasn’t so cool…and I wouldn’t be walking…I’d be driving….before I could answer that burning question…I found myself opening the door of my favorite grocer….as I pushed the door in…out came a burst of loud Italian banter and laughter….there were four people in the store this evening …plus the two owners…..and that packed the place….they were having a great time…..the woman, who I’ve yet to get her name, sees me and shouts, “Ciao!” with a big smile…..she is wonderful….I think if we could communicate we would be good friends….she’s funny…passionate….and nice….and a mother of a daughter Kaelin’s age….there is nothing like motherhood to form an immediate connection…no matter what your culture is….which must say that “motherhood” is a dominate culture among cultures…..but that’s a whole other note!

Anyway….I wait my turn as all of these men talk and laugh and pick out produce and cheeses and wine…..I so wanted to know the language…..to be part of the laughter…they would look at me as if I was part of it…and smile and gester……even after they realized I had no clue as to what was going on…but I still wanted to know more…..

Anyway….it was my turn and she immediately said….Ceci…you want Ceci?  Well, I was brought into the “behind the counter” group last week….this woman  makes Ceci and Fagioli during the week if she has time and offers it to her customers…..it wasn’t offered to me for a few weeks so I think you have to pay some dues….and rightly so because it is amazing….she asked me what they call this is America…..and I laughed and in embarasement said, “garbanzo beans”…she and the men around looked at me very puzzled…..”gabonzo beans?”..they exclaimed…and although it was nice to have them confused for a change….I was laughing at us…yes…garbanzo beans….and they taste nothing like this!  I would have loved to gone on about how ours our usually canned and not really used a lot..and definately not something someone would pull from behind the counter….but I knew they wouldn’t understand…

As she handed me my allotment, she said that it was a classic tuscan dish and I should take it home and put olive oil on it and salt…that is it…and my girls would love it!  Based on the smell alone…I knew we were in for a treat!

I went on with my usual order….. oranges, apples, lettuce, carrots, zucchini..you don’t pick your own produce here…they ask you how ripe you’d like it and then they choose….as we’ve enjoyed so much amazing produce from her store…I had to know more…..where did it all come from?………how is it that the oranges melt in your mouth….and the apples are so sweet that they are dessert…and the zucchini…still with blossoms…can be eaten raw like candy..all of it…so pure and so good….it doesn’t need to even be cooked!  She explained where the different things came from…..a lot local but some from Sicily…I wish I could REALLY speak to her….ask her how is this?  How is everything so GOOD!

I said my new word, “basta” which means, “all done” and she laughed…everyone said…”Ciao” and I said “Arrivederci” as I think I sound better saying that…although I’m not sure if that is too formal or not…gotta look that up…

I left with my bag of groceries and made the usual stop at the bakery that is two doors down from us…for fresh bread and our new staple…dessert.  Do you know that that every time I open the window of our apartment,  I get a burst of fresh baked pastries….almost go strong that you can taste the air?  Have you ever read the book, Chocolat?  I always admired the way she described things but now I know why…she really did experience them…the smells….the tastes……the pallette is on fire here!

Needless to say I came home inspired and rested……with all of my goodies…and some time before preparation….I knew I could sit down and write…just a short note….:)….about my Find!