Hello America

I have now been in America for a little over a week and I gotta tell you…it feels pretty darn good. I enjoy my times living abroad but I have a heart that’s American to the core. The best part of this move is that it’s back to sunny Southern California where I was before going to Italy.  It feels like home here and I am enjoying settling back into this part of the country – not to mention orderly driving, parking spaces, people in straight lines patiently waiting their turn, closets, etc.  Although, I have not been back for very long, there are definitely some things I love about America:

1. I love that there is a brain-crushing amount of choices in everything – especially food and wine.

2. I love that the food portions seem like they are prepared for giants.  It is not that great for the waistline, but it just cracks me up.

3. I love that I can buy fabulous, homemade sushi at the grocery store.

4. I love American pizza –  it’s different from Italian pizza and indeed delicious in it’s own right.

5. I (am trying to) love that much of the everyday American wine is blended, fruit forward and easy to drink.  It’s a harder transition than I thought since many Italian wines are not blended or barely blended and have what I call a more “raw” taste.

6. I love that there are always healthy eating options (and can splurge on my own time frame).

7. I love that there are wine clubs that let you pick up or deliver bottles of wine to your house every month.  It’s a great way to explore wines you would not normally think about.  And yes, I’ve already signed up for one through my local wine shop.

8. I love that it is actually an option to order whole wheat crusted pizza and brown rice at restaurants.

9. I love that there are quite a few nice wines for $10 and under.  I was pleasantly surprised as I envisioned a life of sticker shock in my wine drinking future.

10. I love that I can eat burgers again.  I missed them so much!  My town has a restaurant that serves grass fed burgers and they are incredibly tasty.

11. I love that I pay in US Dollars instead of Euro for my food and wine.

12.  I love the juices.  There are a veritable plethora of combinations and tastes.

13. I love that there are such diverse ethnic food choices and places to eat.

14. I love that “organic” has become more of the norm.

15. I love how good I am eating.  I am staying at a hotel temporarily and “forced” to go out to eat for many meals – it is the highlight of my day.

16. Finally and I’ve said it a million times, I love that America has not disappointed in maintaining it’s place as “The Land Of Plenty.”

Cheers and Dig In!

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