The London Times has a neat story about a baker in the Southern Italy town of Altamura, who is renowned for his panini sandwiches with fillings that include “mortadella, mozzarella and eggs or scamorza cheese, eggs, basil and tomato, as well as fèdda, a local version of bruschetta — toasted bread drizzled with olive oil and salt and covered in chopped tomatoes.”
This baker, Luigi Digesù, was recognized by the paper because he represents what it called “a victory for European cuisine against globalised fast food.” You see, McDonald’s opened a store in Altamura in 2001, infuriating some local residents because of what they viewed as the forced homogenization of their regional cuisine.
Five years later, the McDonald’s has closed. And the stuffed panini sandwiches live on.
This baker, Luigi Digesù, was recognized by the paper because he represents what it called “a victory for European cuisine against globalised fast food.” You see, McDonald’s opened a store in Altamura in 2001, infuriating some local residents because of what they viewed as the forced homogenization of their regional cuisine.
Five years later, the McDonald’s has closed. And the stuffed panini sandwiches live on.
- KC's View:
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Anyone who can read the following words…
“mortadella, mozzarella and eggs or scamorza cheese, eggs, basil and tomato, as well as fèdda, a local version of bruschetta — toasted bread drizzled with olive oil and salt and covered in chopped tomatoes”
…and not get immediately hungry better go see a doctor. Because they’re probably dead.
And if they read those words and still have a hankering for a Big Mac, they ought to se a shrink. Because they’re insane.
As for us, we’re making a resolve right now.
Someday, somehow, we’re going to find ourselves on the road to Altamura. (Which sounds like a pretty good title for a Hope & Crosby movie…)
