After visiting with some friends, I realized I needed to make a stop at the Elephant Pharmacy to pick up some essentials for the fam. Of course that put us at lunch and nap time. Weighing all the options, I decided I would let the little lunch counter across the street from the pharmacy, called Gregoire's Takeout, make our lunch for us, then do my shopping and nap would happen "organically"! The lunch counter seemed small, quaint and simple...perfect for the moment! I thought I would grab a quick sandwich and be on my way! I grabbed a menu at the door and proceeded into a tiny little kitchen. The smells were wonderful and the staff was joyful. The menu was seasonal and very French. It was tailored to the month (October) and my choices were limited, but really choice. I opted for the quiche (even though of late I have been having really bad luck with quiche, another story), the soup d'jour (pureed mixed vegetable) and the scalloped potatoes with truffles. These were the simplest items on the menu and a guarantee for the little lady's enjoyment. I figured we would have some for lunch and save the rest for sides at dinner (always trying to stretch the meals these days, less prep for me!!!). The food was outstanding...I mean it! Not very pricey, great quality, simple but flavorful, perfect textures! We only dove into the quiche (home run) and the soup and saved the potatoes! We were satisfied and fueled up for our big Elephant outing!
After continuing on our shopping, and cart jumping extravaganza and buckling into the car for a car nap, which is never ideal but has to be in this crazy day and age of constantly being on the go...we ended up back at home! After the usual household melee, we settled in for some dinner. Out came the scalloped potatoes with truffles....hmmmmm and mmmmmm!
I don't think I have ever seen the bird (thats what I call my daughter) eat like that before, wolfing them down. It got me thinking, what will she have to look forward to if her first scalloped potatoes experience involves several fine specifically chosen cheeses aaannddd truffles.... I mean really think about that! Most of the world has not even heard of a truffle (in case you are one of them I have enclosed a link to check it out) much less eaten one, they are rare and special and have a woodsy, earthy, unique flavor and they are supposed to be used very sparingly in any recipe. It seems, however, that I am seeing truffles everywhere, suddenly they are all the rage! Have they suddenly become less rare? Have the truffles managed to go the way of everything else and become "normal"? I remember what scalloped potatoes were to me, yummy, really yummy. Made by my mom from whatever old block of cheese with dried edges was in the fridge, on the fly, with could-possibly-be-sprouting potatoes, all while she was doing 100 other things.....and they were spectacular!
I just wonder...what does this all mean? Am i doing a disservice to my child giving her these special tastes and experiences before she even knows how to manage her own potty breaks? Will her little palette be so broad that she will not have an appreciation for the incredible food that she is able to eat each day? Will she never know how special and privileged she is to be eating truffles instead of Happy Meals (or porridge or nothing at all) for lunch on a random Tuesday afternoon? How can i as a parent and someone who cares about her and all of us, knowing how privileged we are, put it into perspective and teach appreciation and humility in the face of this extravagance, while still feeding her truffles for lunch!
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3 comments:
No disservice...you may be raising the next Julia Child. Or a tremendously successful food critic. By the way, they grow truffles in North Carolina now. I think that's partially why we're seeing more. Interested in starting a truffle farm? :)
By the way, JButts is Jess.
"Oregon truffles (black, white, and the rare brown) are the most sought-after wild, uncultivated ones. In spite of their name, they grow from northern California to Washington on the roots of Douglas fir trees. " (Stett Holbrook) ....There are over 1000 wild varieties of truffles in the United States. I think one reason truffles haven't been as popular in the U.S. is because generally speaking Anglo- Americans are notoriously mycophobic. This seems to be changing, I just spotted truffle butter at Costco in Sacramento. I think Stella is fortunate to be introduced to a wide variety of tastes. This will give her an appreciation of good food!
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