produce heaven

if you guessed that i am referring to california, you would be right! i had always scoffed at the idea that california is a mecca for fresh produce, but it turns out that i was in the wrong. i was also wrong in my assumption that the entire state looks like LA. northern california is really quite beautiful - partly settled, partly wild. and i love the fog. it makes golden gate park seem even wilder - with that edge of the slightly savage. anyway, the produce. well, perhaps it's because i was staying with jessica's family, but the way that people value produce is wonderful. and maybe it's just me, but people just look happier on the street than they do in chicago. the air in san francisco and environs is great. air quality rank: (1) san francisco, (2) boston, (3) chicago.

so the produce actually does taste better in california. i would absolutely love to have fruit trees in my backyard - the lemons from jessica's lemon tree are so pretty! other people have orange trees, too. mmm... we also went to berkeley bowl, a supermarket in berkeley that is like whole foods, but with a lot more things in bulk, and a lot more produce. i've never seen such beautiful strawberries in my life! and there were so many mushrooms you just can't get on the east coast (that i know of).

we went to the ferry building in san francisco as well, which is more of a museum of gourmet food than a "i can afford to buy stuff here" type of place, but it's not touristy yet (though it is very yuppie). the mushroom place had huitlacoche - sorry if the spelling is wrong - which i'd never seen before. i bought some truffle oil (at $34.95/gram, or was it oz?, the summer truffles were far too dear) to take back to the east coast with me. i like beautiful artisan foods, but i also like affordable food - i have no idea who could afford the lifestyle that the ferry building represents. for all that i like minimally processed foods, i'm still a big fan of white flour and sugar.

i think i ate better at jessica's house than i did all summer. we were never huge on produce at home - as chinese people seem to be more concerned with meat, and vegetables to go along with the meat - and so being in a produce-oriented household was a welcome change for me. especially given my horrible diet during the summer. i don't know where people get the idea that fresh produce in chicago is good. i guess i just don't know where to go. at any rate, i think i have a better idea of how i want to eat during the school year, when i have to start cooking for myself. bread and cheese, here i come....oh, i do love cheese.