American Tourists

As you may know, Dario receives many visitors from other lands. Some close, some far - mostly, in my opinion from the United States.

These Americans are a curious bunch. My favourite kind of American tourist is the type who gasp with a huge sigh of relief when after offering them wine in Italian I switch over to my perfect English. *Oh, wow!* they say, *you speak such good english!* I usually thank them and inform them that I am not Italian, (even though I totally look the part right?) and I happen to be from Canada. This comment about Canada brings up many different paths of conversation. Yesterday I was greatly amused by the comment made by some tourists from Seattle. It went something like this.

Couple from Seattle: *Did you grow up in the United States?*
Me: *No, actually I am Canadian*
Couple from Seattle: *Close enough*

Now as much as this comment doesn't mean much to most Americans, to us Canadians this is the epicentre of the American mentality. What exactly do they mean by, 'close enough', so I am almost as good as an American? Or does Canada just merge into the U.S. and not matter at all?

Being the token Canadian at Macelleria Cecchini has been fantastically amusing to me so far. I think I should start a feed of funny tourist quotes - because they never seem to end...

November

Today is a holiday in Italy. The Italian people go to visit their dead relatives graves and lay flowers to remember them. Last night we saw a few trick-or-treaters, but the procession of masks and costumes was quite thin. Today is a rainy and yucky day all around and the pasticceria across the street is closing for a while so there will be no bamboloni's for breakfast in the morning. (Giant sugar covered donuts that have an amazing cream sauce inside.)

Considering this holiday, in good taste, Dario decided that we should only host an Officina della Bistecca instead of the usual Mac Dario. (O.D.B. is basically a set menu for 50 euros a person including practically unlimited steak - Costato, Panzanese, and Fiorentina, wine, grappa, bread, white beans, baked potatoes, baked onions, coffee, and cake) We had two guests from America come and work for their aprons, for at least four hours. Its very interesting to me to see people in the kitchen who don't really know how to peel carrots.

Most Americans who come ask to buy the aprons that we wear and are astounded to hear that they are not for sale. (Doesn't everything have a pricetag?) These two boys however were very dedicated. They came for lunch a year ago and were given an apron. By who, I am not sure, considering its basically against Dario law to do that - but these boys returned a year later to earn the aprons they were given a year earlier. A few weeks ago a couple men from Michigan came into the shop and worked for their aprons. One of the men had a son who works in Denver as a chef, and wanted to give his boy a gift.

Everyone has a story who comes to visit the shop. When I work in the machelleria pouring wine and greeting guests I get to hear many different perspectives. Some are girls trips of three or four mid 40's women having a blast, foodie travellers and writers, families from Holland on vacation, many people from Switzerland, and a few Brazilians - all arriving in the tiny town of Panzano to experience the personality of Dario and taste the cuts of meat he has to offer.