I am a self-confessed foodie. My favorite reading is not John Grisham, but instead the newest best seller cookbook. My shelves and cupboards are full of collected culinary works and old food magazines. The latter, give an informative look at our eating habits over the years. One thing becomes clear, there has been a growing and ongoing trend towards fresher, seasonal offerings. In the '70s, a quiet revolution started on the west coast where top chefs introduced us to " California cuisine". Suddenly our taste buds were awakened to a way of cooking that took advantage of fresh, regional produce and gave it the respect it deserved. In Europe, for centuries, nature's calendar has been the basis of the unique cuisine's of countries like France, Italy and Spain. In this country, popular cookbook authors and food writers, such as Perla Meyers, Julia Child and M. F. K. Fisher, have shown us the way to cook well and imaginatively without frozen, canned or packaged food, by using fresh, seasonal produce. One of my favorite cookbooks from that time is Meyer's The Seasonal Kitchen. I still turn to it for inspiration as each season unfolds. I realize that not everyone considers the kitchen the best room in the house, but for me it is the arena for creativity. I often get inspiration from a dish I have enjoyed in a restaurant or a food magazines new approach to the preparation of a certain type of fish or simply a pile of glistening purple eggplant in the market. The emergence of fresh food markets in many communities across the country, attests to the fact that the American palate is becoming increasingly more aware and sophisticated. Supermarket chains have now created bountiful produce sections arranged like colorful mosaics. Local produce, fish and meat is often displayed alongside imported items from global markets. It pays to become familiar with each season's offerings, shopping spontaneously as the items appear at their peak. Farmer's markets are always a great source for just picked and artisan products. In Belgium, where we lived in the late '80s, the Saturday market in a square near our apartment, was eagerly awaited each week. We'd take our baskets and before long they were laden with vegetables from the Flemish farms,fruits, artisan cheeses and crusty loaves of country bread still warm from the oven. The festive air of the market, no doubt contributed to the experience, but we learned to have great respect for the vendors whose products reflected their love of the land and its bounty. For me eating is a never-ending adventure. Food sustains us, but it should also become a journey of exploration, awakening our senses and leading us down untried paths along the way. For the next 4 months, my columns will be submitted from Virginia. With nature's most bountiful season almost upon us, I will be exploring the many ways we can enjoy what she has to offer. | 