Extremadura state of mind
Saturday, February 28th, 2009
The most recent issue of Gourmet magazine (March 2009) boasts a multi-page feature on the southwest Spanish region of Extremadura–its rugged terrain, faraway treasures, its multitudinous edible delights. The article, which as you can see is available online, was written by the talented Lisa Abend, whose mind must be very focused, because in her shoes, I can imagine spending hours in a substance-free intoxicated reverie merely contemplating that I even have such a job.
Point being, I was transported by her article to a time in my life, about a decade ago, when I too, was discovering that undiscovered gem of a region, when, supported by a generous grant from the kindly folks at London’s Geoffrey Roberts Trust, I traversed the region (and crossed into Andalusia) for a month in order to study the production of jamón ibérico de bellota. It’s a trip I’ve written about before, but never comprehensively. I have hours of recorded interviews I haven’t heard in years, tons of notes, and, thanks to Ms. Abend’s article, a keen desire to pull everything out of my archives and revisit that lovely time once again.
Stay tuned.
