Funny how the world sometimes grows a little closer in the best possible way – without anyone really expecting it. Please, dear American readers, allow me to put a smile on your face by telling you that in Austria almost nobody knows what a Philly Cheesesteak is! Whopper® and Big Mac® are both prime examples of how successful the integration of foreign and exotic Things can work even here, but a Philly Cheesesteak…well that’s another Story. An extremely, truly extremely rare sighting!
For me, this discovery is much more than just something tasty and rare to eat. It whispers memories to me. The first meeting with Sarah in Real Life®. Being brought to Mews Tavern by Sarah, sitting and dreaming on the pessenger seat of her car. Flipping through an unbelievably long American menu. Laughing as we chatted about the tradition of deep-frying just about everything. Enjoying the cheesesteak. The fear of spilling on my pullover. And (it may be that my memories are a little blurred on this point): that Sarah, back a longer while ago, also loved to enjoy just that special kind of culinary masterpiece.
Food is not just pleasure. For a sentimental soul, it is so much more.