I was recently blessed with an opportunity to travel to Italy. It was a destination high on my 'must visit' list, particularly with my passion for Renaissance art.
Rome is of course Rome. Grand, old, hot, and busy. The ancient architecture, ruins and art were simply stunning. But it was Florence and Tuscany that captured my heart. It was also visually and culturally amazing, but the people were also very welcoming.
It was in the little villages of Tuscany that I began to see the Italian passion for food and life. The produce was incredibly fresh and flavoursome, so much so that I thought it had to be organic. It not only tasted wonderful, it looked stunning too. Siesta is a reality - shops close for several hours and streets become quieter as locals gather with family and friends. The Italian's passion for food is so richly embedded into their culture that they grow their food with love, prepare their food with love and eat their food with love. It is just simply all about love.
Living in big industrialised cities and working in time pressured environments leaves us little opportunity to create our own haven of freshly grown produce. Perhaps a few herbs or a tomato plant in a box to get us started can help restore the connection to earth. In the very least I feel inspired to create my food with love, to really enjoy the preparation and be grateful for what I am about to receive to nourish my body. I may not have grown it myself and it may not be organic, but at least I can enjoy my food with love.
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