Greetings from Evanston, my base of operations for the past two weeks. Since arriving back in the States on Aug. 19, I've been on a whirlwind tour visiting friends and favorite places here in Chicago, and also in Lexington, Kentucky, where I drove earlier this week to visit my grandma, aunt and cousin.
My mind is whirling from the dozens of American experiences I've been cramming in during recent days. There was the sweet friend who met me at O'Hare on a sultry summer's afternoon with sunflowers and Chicago hot dog dinner plans. (The photos show me slightly bleary eyed, blinking in all that strange sunshine, but very happy).
There was the Saturday night I spent wandering contentedly around Millennium Park with two friends, dancing at the Latino Music Festival and oohing and aahing over the lights on the Pritzker Pavilion. I had the drive down to Kentucky with two more friends--stopping along the way for favorites like Wendy's Frosty malts and Dairy Queen butterscotch-dipped ice cream cones--and a panoply of hearty family meals. This morning I headed out to my former editor Carol's Glenview back yard to pick ruby red, bursting-at-the-skins tomatoes that she then whipped into an omelet.
If it seems many of my eagerly enjoyed American experiences thus far revolve around food, well, it may just be true. On Aug. 18, a day before I flew home, I was walking down a London street with another American expat friend, one who'd just returned from her own visit to Chicago.
"What are you looking forward to the most about going home?" she asked. Without even thinking I replied:
"The food."
She burst out laughing and I laughed, too.
"What? Was I supposed to say friends or family or something?" I asked.
"No," she said. "I understand. When I was asked the same question, I said, 'The shopping.'"
I'm not sure if that last comment was meant to be taken seriously, but I'll give a serious answer. The answer is no, because I eat sensibly most of the time (lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains) so that when I eat other food it's a treat, not a lifestyle. The other night I made a delicious dinner of homemade leek and sweet potato soup, served with salad and fresh bread, for example. I picked an apple from the tree outside for dessert. Plus I get lots of exercise--walking, hiking, cycling, tennis, swimming, etc.
I refer readers to Chicago-based nutritionist Dave Grotto's book "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life." I've interviewed Dave for articles several times and really agree with his message that it's better to tell people about all of the good things about all of the good food we can eat than all of the bad things about the food we shouldn't eat. This philosophy sure makes life a lot more fun!
Did you bring back that other "American Experience".....extra pounds?
Wendy's Frosties... haven't had one in years. Every time I go back to CA, I stop at a DQ for the Peanut Buster Parfait (after In-n-Out, of course!)
I do love Indian food here in England! And a nice basket of chips (served with malt vinegar, of course) and a pint doesn't go amiss, either. Oooh, and the cheese. Don't even get me started on the cheese, or I will be waxing poetic for hours. I was recently at a weekend away where the man in charge of food bought about 20 different local cheeses at the farmers' market. It was heaven, especially when served with savoury biscuits, pickle and red wine. I had to laugh because with all the good things Englishman Stephen Fry says about America in the introduction to his new book, "Stephen Fry in America", he finishes with "Bring your own cheese."
I think I'm just going to have to admit that I love good food, in all shapes, forms and presentations. I love cooking it, eating it, shopping for it, learning more about it. After four years working as a food writer, I became a bona fide foodie.
You sound as if you had a wonderful time in Chicago. Living in
Chicago all of my life I've taken so many things for granted. The food is eaten on a regular basis on lunch breaks, afternoon walks, or just when you crave a delicious snack. There are a lot of beautiful things to see in downtown Chicago. I've traveled many places and had lots of opportunities to relocate but none of the other places had the whole package, as Chicago does. Although, I must say that I have never been to London. Come back again soon to visit, the cool refreshing deserts from Wendy's restaurant and Dairy Queen will be waiting for you.
If you like hot dogs and meat Chicago does have better food than England. Vegetarians love London because it's replete with savory meatless and Indian eateries. Paul McCartney agrees.