Eataly

Yes, this is another post about food.  Excited yet?

On Friday I ventured with a few of the roommates to Eataly, the first Slow Food grocery store in the world!  There are several locations here in Italy as well as a few in Japan, and the first one in the states just opened at the end of August in NYC.  The Slow Food Movement began in Italy in the 1980s with a few key members who wanted to create an organization supporting locally-produced food, traditional cooking practices, and eating as communion.  The Slow Food philosophy and Eataly stores have spread far and wide, especially here in Italy.  As a country that defines itself by family and food, it's no wonder the movement has garnered such support.

Now, I admit I've been known to say Italy's approximately 15 years behind us in some ways (see: Scrunchies, Midriff-Bearing Tops, and Playing Hanson in the Bars) but in this case, I'd have to say they're 15 years ahead of us.  The only truly healthy/organic grocery stores in the states are so high-priced it's not economically plausible to complete all your shopping there.  Also, farmer's markets are once a week, if that, and still the prices are generally high.  Here in Italy there's a farmer's market every single day, it's a completely integrated custom and the prices are incredibly affordable.

And now we get to Eataly.  It's about a 5 minute bus ride from my apartment, and it's like Whole Foods on crack.  Italian, organic, locally-produced crack.  The shopping carts are made from recycled plastic bottles, there are interactive areas that teach shoppers about seasonal fruits and veggies, and the bathroom is strategically placed next to the beer/wine tasting areas.  Genius, I say!

All the sauces and preserves were packaged as though someone's grandma had carefully placed them in jars and sealed them with love.  (Thanks for the analogy, Sara!)  I have to say it was a rather enjoyable outing.  The roommates picked up all the fresh ingredients for lasagna and I have to say it was rather delicious.  There's something about truly fresh ingredients that makes food taste oh-so-much better.

I'd like to think we're living the Slow Food lifestyle here in Torino.  Like I told you all before, we're all cooking together and eating all the local fare we can get our hands on.  I'd like to close with a reflection on a quote from a wall inside Eataly:

"Life's too short to eat or drink poorly"

Indeed no truer words have ever been spoken.  Thank you, Eataly, for a gastronomically edifying experience.