Whenever
I visit a foreign country, I go to the supermarket. I’ve found myself
pushing carts through supermarkets in countries, from Mexico and Lebanon,
to Italy and Portugal. Not only does it help with my vocabulary, and
provide a little glimpse of how the locals actually eat, but I invariably
find a number of things to stash in my suitcase which are better
souvenirs than t-shirts and refrigerator magnets. (Although someone once
gave me a set of wooden refrigerator magnets depicting French foods, like
tubes of Dijon mustard and canisters of grey salt, that I kinda love.)
Even
though America isn’t really a foreign country to me, it’s interesting to
see what’s available in the grocery stores when I visit. Sure, there’s no
shortage of cookies, snacks, and soft drinks, but it’s also nice to see
things like goat milk from nearby farms, tomatillos and plantains, raw
honey, live seafood in tanks, bundles of stewing greens, and locally
roasted coffee. On my current trip, I found it interesting to also scan
the meat aisle because every once in a while, when I’m writing up a
recipe for something – like cassoulet or beef bourguignon, I need to know
what’s available elsewhere so that readers outside of France can actually
make it.
Although
there still are butchers in some places in America, they’re not as common
as they are in France. (There are three within a 2-block radius of my
apartment in Paris, not including the ones that are at my outdoor
market.) If you don’t know what you want, or don’t speak French, it can
be intimidating to have to stand there and make a decision when people
are lined up behind you.
No
matter. I’ve learned to ask a lot of questions and engage with butchers,
since it’s the only way to learn. And most people who are good at what
they do are proud to help customers make the best selection, so I take my
time and don’t worry about it. And I often compare waiting in line in
France to the lines for the restrooms on airplanes: You wait and wait and
wait. But your turn comes around, suddenly you have all the time in the
world. And I take it.
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