The Foodie Revolution on Both Sides of the Atlantic
Are you a foodie? Most likely, yes, if you are reading this post. Over the last few years, it seems there has been a growing love among us for food and the dining experience. There’s been a rise in the foodie demographics on both sides of the Atlantic and, no doubt, it has been largely fueled by the popularity of cooking shows, farm-to-table dining, food trucks, and culinary innovators, like José Andrés, who challenge everyone to “think about food on a higher level.”
Whether you live in the D.C. area or London, you and I are very fortunate to be in an area where self-declared foodies can seek adventure and explore unique menus with constantly evolving restaurant options. One of my favorite neighborhood spots in Belgravia is an Italian restaurant called Zafferano where they use the freshest ingredients to serve the most flavorful dishes!
According to Travel & Leisure‘s “Top 30 Cities for Foodies in the U.S.,” New Orleans ranked first with Nashville (where my daughter lives) ranking 16th, followed by D.C. ranking 18th. We foodies share an adventuresome attitude in food and culture and are willing to go out of our way and spend a little extra in search of the next new dining experience. Whether we are foodie cooks or simply foodie diners, we strongly prefer to shop at local stores and farmers’ markets rather than national chains. Did you know foodies are 16 percent more likely to spend $150 or more on groceries per week than the average American?
And I can’t think of a better time of year for foodies than springtime. It’s the perfect time to buy fresh food at great prices, and nothing makes a recipe more satisfying than fresh flavorful produce! So I thought I’d share my recent visit to a fabulous farmer’s market here in London—Borough Market. Some of my favorite finds were morel mushrooms imported from France and Italy, wild garlic, colorful tomatoes in so many shapes and sizes, fresh ripe figs, Rustico extra virgin olive oil from Puglia, Italy, and Sicilian blood oranges. And then I went crazy over the selection of cheeses—especially the soft runny ones like Reblochon De Savoie Au Lait Cru!
Of course, with all my purchases, I couldn’t wait to get home to use some of the recipes I had been collecting. First, a salad was beckoning, and foodie cooks know it’s worth investing in a really nice wooden salad bowl (like my favorite one from Coco). Look for one that is constructed of a single piece of wood or crafted out of wood segments glued together in layers, horizontally or vertically in a slat-like style. Hardwoods that come from trees producing nuts or fruits make the best salad bowls.
And a good wooden bowl can last indefinitely as long as it’s well cared for and maintained regularly. To maintain the wood’s integrity, lightly run the inside and out with a healthy oil such as olive or coconut. And when it comes to cleaning, it should only be wiped out with a damp cloth of warm, soapy water and then promptly dried with a soft tea towel (like the Turkish towels sold at Coco).
One of my favorite dressings to make when serving a simple burrata and tomato salad is the following mango dressing recipe which I found in one of my favorite cookbooks Savour: Salads for All Seasons, by Peter Gordon.
Mango Dressing
Ingredients
1 perfectly ripe mango, peeled and all flesh cut from the pit
15 basil leaves
1/2 garlic clove, sliced
2 tsp finely chopped ginger
1/4 medium-heat green chili, chopped (including seeds)
1/4 tsp finely grated lemon zest
2 T lemon juice
3 T extra virgin olive oil
Method
Place all the ingredients except the oil into a jug and purée until smooth using a stick blender. Slowly add the oil and purée for 20 seconds. Add salt to taste. Savour!
- About the boutique
Using the soothing color palette of a coconut by the sea—whites, neutrals and splashes of turquoise—Coco Blanca has created a trademark look. Her lifestyle boutique offers expert solutions for home design and women’s fashion—blending a clean, fresh, sophisticated, feel-good style.
210 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.8002
