here we go!

A Chinese inventor and writer, Lin Yutang once said, "What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child?' It is a sentimental thought and one I'd never really considered until we began our travels. We landed in Italy first and I'll admit it, the Italians do food well. Life here is so intertwined with eating. It is as though the day moves with the meals. I love it, but it also makes you homesick. Food means family in Italy. I recently tasted the most wonderful lasagna, the kind I'll search the rest of my life for, and my first reaction was to call home. Nothing tastes as good if your Mom isn't there to share it. It is a wonderful thing to share a meal here though, to struggle with language and to taste new things. I am finding though, that few cultures are as willing as Americans to try new food. I ate Cazu Marzu here, a cheese spread made by maggots. But our friends who brought it over, weren't willing to eat a salad we had prepared. It was terribly awkward, but not uncommon. After all, who doesn't think their culture has the best food? It is like your language or your religion, something  basic and practiced lifelong. I miss fried chicken. I lay awake and think of crab-cakes. That's when it is over for me. I see my Mom-Mom frying on the stove, I can imagine my family on the patio and I miss home, I miss America more than I could ever say.

So I take to the kitchen. I try to fry chicken (disaster) or I go out for a hamburger (bigger disaster, can you say horse burger?). I cook and bake, I scour the internet looking for recipes I could pull off here and I talk food with anyone who will listen. I share food because in Italy, the food you share will come back to you- figuratively and literally. I once stepped on a snickerdoodle I made that an unimpressed student tried to hide under a desk. Not the comeback I wanted, but it left my boyfriend and I laughing. I offered to make stuffing for my students this past Thanksgiving and in return they brought me a beautiful basket of fruit. I felt like an actual pilgrim, I was so touched and my belly was full! I do have to say though, when I offered to bring "American food" one of my students exclaimed, "You're bringing McDonalds?!" Don't be offended my dear countrymen, it was a genuine reaction.

Wonderful, beautiful food. It is part of who we are and part of how we can know and appreciate each other. That is the point of "Eats for Peace." I'll share stories of my forays into cooking abroad- complete with recipes! I'll share restaurants and things you have to try. There are few things better than sharing a good meal with someone. Eat, share and come see the world with me.