Even though I grew up in a state known for its apples, I’d never really loved an apple until I moved 2,000 miles away—to a place known more for its cheese, beer, and brats, than its delectable fruit. And yet, even though images of apples were plastered all over any mention
of Washington state, the apples of my childhood were tasteless, boring, almost cottony in my mouth. Red Delicious, the virtual symbol of the state, was never delicious. It was the apple
you got in the school lunch line while desperately wishing you had brought something from home. So I never ate them unless forced to by mother who was too busy to notice that they were really terrible. These Washington apples weren’t the fruit of kings but were more the fruit of mediocrity.
The apples I discovered in Wisconsin, however, were altogether different. They weren’t uniformly dark red or light green or buttery yellow but were mixes of all of those shades and more. They snapped when you bit into them rather than sagging and finally giving way under the pressure of your teeth.
My first transcendent apple experience occurred in the fall of 2002. I remember it like other people remember their first kiss. It was called Pink Pearl, though there was nothing pink or pearly about its skin which was a homely yellow-brown. Its flesh was like nothing I had ever experienced before, marbled pink and white like those Pilsbury birthday cake mixes I’d always begged for as a kid. And the taste? The taste literally brought tears to my eyes it was so incredible and unknown to me.
It was also slightly embarrassing, as I was standing in front of the farmers’ booth, surrounded by other shoppers at the farmers market. I had no idea apples could taste like this—that really any
fruit could be that perfumed, sweet-tart, and delicious. And that that fruit could grow in Wisconsin rather than the Apple State.
of Washington state, the apples of my childhood were tasteless, boring, almost cottony in my mouth. Red Delicious, the virtual symbol of the state, was never delicious. It was the apple
you got in the school lunch line while desperately wishing you had brought something from home. So I never ate them unless forced to by mother who was too busy to notice that they were really terrible. These Washington apples weren’t the fruit of kings but were more the fruit of mediocrity.
The apples I discovered in Wisconsin, however, were altogether different. They weren’t uniformly dark red or light green or buttery yellow but were mixes of all of those shades and more. They snapped when you bit into them rather than sagging and finally giving way under the pressure of your teeth.
My first transcendent apple experience occurred in the fall of 2002. I remember it like other people remember their first kiss. It was called Pink Pearl, though there was nothing pink or pearly about its skin which was a homely yellow-brown. Its flesh was like nothing I had ever experienced before, marbled pink and white like those Pilsbury birthday cake mixes I’d always begged for as a kid. And the taste? The taste literally brought tears to my eyes it was so incredible and unknown to me.
It was also slightly embarrassing, as I was standing in front of the farmers’ booth, surrounded by other shoppers at the farmers market. I had no idea apples could taste like this—that really any
fruit could be that perfumed, sweet-tart, and delicious. And that that fruit could grow in Wisconsin rather than the Apple State.
1 comment:
Erika--It's a wonder your mom (full disclosure here: my sister) found red delicious apples for your lunches. They are so underrepresented in Washington grocery stores seeing as though the newer varieties are not only better tasting, but wildly more popular. Maybe I've hit upon the perfect Christmas present??--a sampler of WA apples that will bring tears to your eyes...crunchy good eats like Pink Lady, Cameo, Gala, Fuji and Braeburn. Wow, I forgot Honeycrisp. So many, so good! (See more at http://www.bestapples.com/varieties/index.shtml. Now that you like apples, you should take another look at what Washington (the left coast one) has to offer. (Another full disclosure: I once wrote for the Washington Apple Commission).
Love your blogs.
XXOO
Lisa
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