Avocados

It is so true when they say you only realise how much you like something until you don't have (or in this case:  can't buy) it anymore. Now, I'm not a big fruit&vegetable person. On the occasion I eat a fruit or two but they are not a significant or frequent part of my 5 a day. However, the other day I suddenly realised I was craving avocado. It seems Italians don't much care for avocados. I couldn't remember seeing avocados in either of my local supermarkets so I asked my flatmate where to buy them but he didn't even know what an avocado is! Unbelievable. Naturally I felt the need to educate him on the matter immediately, but I doubt he really understood my raving.

Avocados are great! First of all they are good for you; they have a lot of the "healthy" fat, potassium, fiber and vitamin B but most of all they taste delicious. You can make guacamole, a nice chicken and avocado panino, or add some in a salad or eat one on its own. In my opinion the best way to eat an avocado is by putting big chunks on some honest 100% rye bread with a little bit of salt on top. I can't count the times my mum has called me to the kitchen to share an avocado on some rye bread: "let's eat the avocado before the boys notice".    

The point is that avocados are yummy, but they are very hard to come by in Italy. A colleague suggested this would be because Italians don't import all their fruit as we do in the north and avocados are probably currently out of season. I googled where to find avocados in Italy, and I found a post by a guy - an American I think: "[...] for instance avocados. These are scarce at times, but I have asked and they reach around behind some boxes and come up with an avocado." It sounds as if avocados were contraband sold under the counter! I really do think Italians should explore the culinary possibilities of the avocado more.

You can imagine how pleased I was when two days after the avocado-episode I walked into a Lidl near where I go to work a couple of times a week and there right in front of my face were avocados! On 30% sale!! "Yes please, I'll take two!" So this weekend I had two huge avocados to munch on, and a renewed hope that I might yet at some point be able to arrange a Mexican food night complete with guacamole.