tomato and mozzarella sandwich

There is nothing that wakes up the taste buds like a juicy tomato and fresh mozzarella sandwich with balsamic vinegar. Nothing.

My favorite place to go for that is my local Italian deli, La Villa, in Willow Glen. The experience alone is worth it! With meat hanging from the ceiling and celebrity signatures on the wall, I feel like I'm back in Brooklyn to my brother's favorite Italian deli. La Villa is known for their raviolis but there is nothing sweeter on a smokey June day then bitting into my favorite sandwich.

Strawberry Tomatoes

(June 20th, 2008)

So this is as close as I got to strawberries this week, hee hee.

It was spare-the-air day in the Bay Area today so I thought I would walk to grab lunch instead of driving (I'd like to think I'm "eco-friendly") so that left me with Safeway within walking distance.

Don't get me wrong, I love the club card and what not, but they don't have the exciting selection I crave. BUT they do have strawberry tomatoes, the cutest and tastiest of the small tomato variety. As you can see they are the same shape and size as a strawberry, but better! I have never had a bad strawberry tomato, and I've had a good amount of these babies. Now I know with the tomato scare people are backing off tomatoes in general, but if they are small or on the vine they are safe. TOMATOES FOR EVERYONE!

when I sat down for lunch I was not disappointed, they were perfect! The best part is you don't need to eat a whole half pound (cough) to feel satisfied. In the packs I get about 20 or so good sized tomatoes, and can eat about half for lunch and half later. Mmmm... tomatoes all day...

Lesson learned: Chain grociery stores aren't all that evil, and don't be afraid of delicious food: get your facts straight

Cherries

(this is my first post so be kind)

I love summer, and my favorite thing about summer is the selection of fresh fruits, veggies, and ice cream.

I didn't set off to Zanotto's with cherries in mind, I was thinking strawberries... mmmm. Right in the entrance to the store they have them piled up high and smelling so sweet... but the produce dude caught me standing near the cherries, "try one".

What could I do? So I tried one and it was delicious! The skin was shiny and dark (allowed to ripen before it was picked), the meat was super juicy and full of flavor. It was what every baby cherry wants to be when it grows up. Before I could swallow I was shoving handfuls into a little plastic bag with gusto!

Back at work I set my lunch up, pulled out the newspaper and got lost in cherry bliss. I didn't even notice that my lunch was up until I had eaten the entire bag...

Lessons learned: Don't go to the grocery store hungry, let your stomach pick lunch, and don't eat a half pound of cherries in 20 minutes.

I eat out loud!

I love food, LOVE IT!

Everyday at noon I go to my local family owned Zanotto's grocery store and cruise the isles for the one tasty treat (usually fruit, but sometimes I'm more daring) that makes my mouth water, buy it by the dozen, and slowly eat every bite!

This blog is dedicated to the one flavorsome food that I cannot get enough of that day. Mmmm... my mouth is watering already!

Which food will it be? Who knows, thats whats so fun!