Learning Local

It's a little embarrassing when you learn about your town from an out-of-towner. Imagine how I felt as a self-described foodie when I found out that the best hand-made sausages were made in Oakland at Taylor's. My current, temporary, consultant Palo-Alto residing boss let me know that he would be in a little late due to a client meeting and a meat-stop.

"I have to pick up sausages for Elliott"
"Sausages?"
"Anytime I'm in Oakland I have to go to Taylor's. You don't know about Taylor's? My kids tell me 'it just doesn't taste right' if I don't use Taylor's mild Italian sausage when I make spaghetti."

heavy sigh. humiliation. and then I was informed of the history and the fubulosity of the former Italian family run, now Chinese family run sausage place, just minutes from my house.

"I'll take a Cajun chicken sausage please."

At home tonight, in a valium induced daze due to the prior evening's activities (a real case of whiplash from head-banging at Heart and Dagger), I fried up my Cajun chicken sausage and delighted in the delicate flavor.

then I "Yelped" and found that I must seriously be living in a cave - is there a word for a foodie Luddite? A fuddite?

Thank goodness for a little "different".