My Dearest Readers,
Welcome back to the fortnight review here in these United States of both food and culture.
We start with a merging of both - the culture and food, at least at this location in Tennessee. I am extrapolating that the same is relatively true in other portions of the USA. I will explore two of those areas in the next three weeks and will provide an update if needed. But for this moment, let me say that grocery stores are huge. Massive, like the heat scale for this burg, it exceeds the planned markings on the scale. Let me start at the start. The lass offered to take me with her to the grocery store, unexplainably, the lad showed up as well. The lass had a list, which is a bright thing to do. But when we arrived at this hulking city block of a building, the list became a necessity if one was to extricate oneself by the end of the day. The rows were as long as a football field, real football as played in the UK. And often just a few types of food on an aisle. One aisle was devoted entirely to crackers and "cookies" (ridiculous American word for what is properly a "biscuit." But in the U.S. a biscuit is a soft, chewy mass of muffin, slathered with butter or gravy, served hot, mind you. The lass loves them. The lad turns up his nose. But I digress...) Another aisle was set aside for sodas. The variety within the categories boggles the mind. One hundred varieties of "cookies." Another hundred of sodas. How can one ever choose? I see why the lass carries a list. I saw aisles numbering in the 30’s and beyond. The meat counter stretched so far we had to stop and snack to be able to complete the journey. I thought, well, this is a fairly large town, most people must shop here. NO. There are a score or more of these food palaces within a mile or three of this one. What excess. The greengrocery itself was larger than the store I purchased from in Scotland. There was even a wine bar with people sitting on stools in the middle of the store sipping wine. Jinks! And the walking. I must say that by the time we were heading back to the car, how we remembered where we parked I will never know, I was fair puckled! Now the lad had a different approach, that is not news, I expect, for my loyal readers. He wandered to and fro, appearing from who knows where with occasional offerings, such as a jar of mustard when we have six in the pantry already and always ice cream, to put in the basket. Which by the way, would hold sufficient food for a small nation. But I did see his value; he did carry many of the bags. Good to see some usefulness. Speaking of bags, the store provided new ones and even popped the groceries into the bag for you. Jinks again.
Well though the idea of this store has worn me to a frazzle, I will provide a glimpse into the food of the past 14 days. We ate at home mostly and avoided the dreaded vulture stands along the highways. The lass is a fine cook and we enjoyed several nice meals, well presented too. It is true that the breakfast is a bit repetitious and no “full Scottish fare” to be found but I find it acceptable. Lunch is simply not satisfying. A bit of cracker, a scrap of apple and a dollop of peanut butter or a minuscule cheese bit from the ice box is a “good” lunch here. Not sure if this is just this household or if it is a national trend. Yet the evening meal is unfailingly excellent. We ate pasta, chicken prepared in delightful manners, pork with apricot sauce and so much more. Mmmmm.
The lass and lad chose one day to ride in the countryside on bicycles with another couple. I chose to soar high above and must confess that I enjoyed the consternation my appearance caused the local twitter crews. We then ate at a place nearby called Peaceful Side Social Brewery http:peacefulsidesocial.com A very nice al fresco luncheon with fine pizza (the lad ate a sandwich - I am justly worried about him) but it turned out that it was also the main meal. So even when there is a proper lunch, then tea is sacrificed. Absurd! But life goes on and I shall report here again in a mere 14 days. I remain,
Your humble servant,
Respectfully submitted,
Miss Rowena Brambleglen
Deconstructed Potato Salad
Pizza from the Social
Chicken Thighs with Corn and Califlower
Blueberry Coffee Cake
Pork with apricot sauce
The riders (and Moby the official bear scarer)