India : Day 5 : Post 1

The fruit markets in Chandni Chowk at dawn.

Possibly the only "unknowns" are the guavas (first picture in the foreground) which might be "exotic".

Sharper viewers will note the Japanese in the background (hawking engine oil, if you read carefully.) There can't be too many Indians with a demand for engine oil who also happen to know Japanese. Which tells you that "exoticism" always sells.

On a related note, in his wasted youth, the CC once hung out with a buncha drunken Italians in a square in Florence. The CC found Florence exotic. The residents of fair Firenze found the CC (who lived in Chicago at the time) endlessly exotic. (Chicago!!!)

The movie being shown in the square was Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Grosstadt. (German!!! Silent!!!)

The drink of choice on that lovely summer night was Long Island Iced Tea (not making this up.)

You takes your exoticism where you can find it.

Decadence Florentine Style

The CC has already talked before about the Tuscan love of beans but today he encountered a Florentine recipe from the decadent 1920's that calls for Beluga caviar served on top of white bean paste (fagioli con caviale.) The author tartly observes that "surely this must be the most expensive way of salting your beans!"

The Mercado in Florence : Part 3 : Poultry

The tiny birds which are unmarked are quails.

Why "hot dogs" are sold with "poultry" is best left to the imagination.

The Mercado in Florence : Part 2 : Animals

Poultry and rabbits and lambs - oh my!

The Mercado in Florence : Part 1 : Tripe

Courtesy of the same friend, some pictures from Florence.

All the parts of a calf, pig or cow are for sale. Most considered Florentine delicacies. A bit like being at an anatomy lesson said my friend. Special note to be made of the beef nerves and pig lungs.

Shocked animal-eaters and vegetarians should note that this is both eco-friendly and rooted in a culture of respect of the animal by not wasting any of its parts.