Think On It

Pssst! Here’s the latest.

March 17th, 2008

Here it is Monday and no ready to wear clothes! Why? How can that be? Are there no more things to wear in 2008? The answer is there is more to come, but this is my 400th post and so I am announcing something new and sharing a tiny gift with you.

I know I have complained before about the way American food is dismissed as terrible, accused of being unhealthy and generally viewed by many Italians as poisonous. They are told this on the government supported TV cookery and food shows, programs which I am forced to pay for with my annual TV tax. You know it burns me up!

Most recently the termagant who is just the worst American hater said that we do make good sweets because that’s about all we eat.

Basta! Enough! I’m not taking it any more.

Some friends and I are going to begin publishing weekly recipes for old fashioned American food, food like grandma used to cook and perhaps like you still cook, if you happen to be American. So what’s new about that? There are innumerable food bloggers in the USA pouring out magnificent food of every description as made in the USA. Yes, that is so, but they don’t do it from Italy and in Italian!

Every dish we make and publish will be made with ingredients you can actually buy in Italy and the recipe will be written twice– once in English with US measurements and again in Italian with metric measurements.

No excuses, no lies, no obfuscations. If you know some Italians who cook, send them to us and they’ll know what we eat besides brownies and McDonald’s plus they’ll be able to make it and try it. They won’t love everything we do, because they didn’t grow up with it, but it’s a beginning, yes? Downhome cooking is a thing no one can sneer at. When expatriates are asked “What do you miss?” it almost always starts with food, the familiar food of home. If you know the awful Beppe Bigazzi, Bigazzi send him over too, the ignorant jingoist! (Folks, I think Italian products and Italian food are wonderful, but you don’t have to speak disparagingly of all other cuisines to make that so.)

We are starting out with Barb of Barb and Art Live In Italy, Michele of Bleeding Espresso, Mary of Abruzzo Flavors, Sara of MsAdventures in Italy and me. There may very well be more padella packing expatriates as we go along, but these are the Fabulous Five for takeoff. Tune in for time and place “tra pochissimo” as we say over here.

And now the little gift. Have a look at Wanhart blog and look at the incredible work of British photographer, Carl Warner. You will be glad you visited.

Entry Filed under: Food, Favorite Blogs, Food Blogs, cucina, expat, cookery

18 Comments Add your own

1. barbara | March 18th, 2008 at 12:17 am

A great idea. I look forward to seeing more. Do you know of Vinegar Pie? I’d love a really authentic recipe for it.
2. admin | March 18th, 2008 at 12:35 am

Boy, that’s sure not from New England! I thought it might be PA Dutch, and therefore for Michele, but now I hear southern, which might mean Barb.
The recipes I see look like they are trying to be lemon meringue without lemons. I originally thought it was the Ritz cracker pie that tastes like apple pie. I am already confused.
3. Dharm | March 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am

Wow! 400 posts. Congrats. Nice blog and thanks for dropping by.. sorry about the lack of a satay recipe….(feeling guilty) but I DID say i didnt make it !!! :)
4. Mary | March 18th, 2008 at 11:44 am

Love the picture! I’ve never heard of vinegar pie either though.
5. bleeding espresso | March 18th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Woohoo! Love that photo! I’m getting all homesick now….

I’ve never heard of vinegar pie either, although the PA Dutch certainly do love vinegar, so I can see your line of thought.

Also, ahem, my name has a double L–don’t make me an Italian male please. Or as I say here, “Come Michele ma con due L.” ;)
6. admin | March 18th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Whoops! I have two girlfriends named Michele with one L, and I altered you into one.
That photo is property of the US Gov! Free of copyright, eheh.

Guess no one here is southern enough, but I found a hilarious photo by photo recipe for vinegar pie last night, which didn’t look as good as the fancy ones (one from foodtv actually had limoncello in it) but sure looked like the guy was having fun.
7. dermott | March 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

You never hear people slagging off Australian cuisine because there really isn’t one. Unless you call Californian-Asian-Italian-Greek-Any-Other-Country-You-Care-To-Name Fusion food a cuisine.
8. Marinara Sauces | March 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

lol… I have been a resturant like that with the fusion food. Lets just say it was interesting.
9. bleeding espresso | March 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am

No worries Fearless Leader. I\’m sure I\’m in good company with your Micheles.

And I\’m all for fun in the kitchen–we all know that some of the ugliest food is the tastiest ;)
10. cheeky | March 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Oh Judith, I love this post.
This did strike a nerve with me. I have never lived in Italy but I did live in Europe and I\\\’ve heard many a \\
11. rowena | March 21st, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Buahahahhaa! I just read the post at Michelle’s site on this great idea and remarked something about Beppe Bi-what’s-his-face because HE is thee #1 jerk when it comes to spouting off about anyone’s cuisine other than Italy’s. I just wanna stick him in the middle of a cornfield so he can be of some use. I actually appreciate the info that he shares on each episode but really…what’s so horrendous about amerian grub that he warrants such superior attitude? GAG!
12. admin | March 21st, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Yeah, well he thinks Chinese and French stink, too. I haven’t watched consistently enough to hear whether he likes any other food but Italian.
13. Gil | March 24th, 2008 at 9:00 pm

Too bad there isn’t a Chevrolet to complete the picture!
14. admin | March 25th, 2008 at 9:01 am

How about a Nash Rambler?
15. Kataroma | March 25th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Great idea, Judith! When I used to teach English I mentioned Thanksgiving to one of my students and said how it\’s all about cooking and eating yummy food (thinking that Italians of all people would understand that!) Anyway, she said \
16. Kataroma | March 25th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

oooppss - got cut off there -

the English student said “what do you eat McDonalds?” How ignorant!

Anyway, how could anyone accuse the country which invented clam chowder, jambalaya, Texas BBQ, pumpkin pie and the cocktail of having bad food? Have these anti-American chefs actually been to the US?
17. admin | March 25th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Well, Ramona and all you other helpful stranieri, please recommend our circle to all Italians, so that even if they don’t cook anything, they know we do cook and quite a variety, too.

Bigazzi did go to the US, but I am convinced someone decided to really screw him up and they dragged him from Denny’s to Gray’s Papaya to Howard Johnson.

Most Italians have never heard of those things you list and no credit is given hear for super-acoolici!
18. Drew Kime | April 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 am

Boy do I wish I spoke Italian. My blog is entirely about cooking like your grandmother — not surprising when you look at the title. I\’d love to help show that we know a little bit more than the Grand Slam Breakfast and Big Macs.

If anyone wants to chip in some translation help, I\’d be happy to include it with any of my posts.

Drew
http://blog.CookLikeYourGrandmother.com