The Calm Before The Storm

It's just around 3:30 in the afternoon, a humid, end of May... a Thursday. I love Thursdays. Saturday a group of my friends, who are hopefully/maybe reading this, are going down to Asbury Park to celebrate my birthday. 2 days later, I'm being shipped out to Italy like a Ford Fiesta at Port Elizabeth.

My roots are from where I'm heading, into Southern Italy. Specifically, a bit deeper, but instead of going to old farm towns, I'll be heading just a bit more North, on the Amalfi Coast, and to where it all starts, Naples. Let's see how far my bad Italian accent can get me. After that, up to Florence to see my boys for a little bit... the 3 hour train ride is worth the Secret Bakery, and Gert.

My ideas for this stem partly from my Great Uncle Ted, and partly from Anthony Bourdain's episode on Naples. The episode can be seen here Anthony in Naples
He talks about the difference between Italian culture and Italian American culture, something people (even Italian-Americans) often overlook or don't think about. Different words, different language, some different traditions, but the same core: The Food. So what the hell is a sfogliatelle? No man, I want a Svinyadel. And if that mozzadell ain't wet and fresh, it's your balls Pauly! But I want to see the other side, what they're doin back in the old country... I'm here to pick up on some tips, and hopefully see some freakin huge lemons.

This is the beginning of my Red Sauce Trail.

If you don't see a post twice a day from May 20th-May 30th, that mean's I've been kidnapped, and please call the Navy.