by Bridget Miller (University of Arizona)HOMEMADE IS ALWAYS BETTER than store-bought. Fresh is always better than frozen. And authentic is always better than a faulty replica. My taste buds are hopelessly spoiled by the local Italian foods I have been eating over the last week. Fresh bread, cheese, and tomatoes are only some of the delicious foods that keep me constantly craving more. Foccacia, pasta, and espressos are more delicious than any I have tasted before, and I do not know how I will go back to eating the deceptive like-named foods that are served in my American hometown.
Though chicken and hamburgers are rare in the beautiful wine country, they hardly make up for America’s lack of the delicious Italian menu items such as fresh vegetables and homemade pasta sauce. How will I leave Starbucks with a smile on my face when the cappuccino I order is diluted by milk and sugar? What will my mother think when I pick at a full plate of spaghetti that she has made for me?
While I miss a quick Egg McMuffin for breakfast and a freshly grilled hamburger made to my taste, these things will certainly not satisfy my pampered cravings when I return home.
