Last year, when Eliza and I picked strawberries at Pallman’s Poultry Farm, was my first time picking strawberries. So, obviously – this year was my second. This time we had company. Our friends Paul and Sherin joined us and not only did we have a good time – we picked a lot of berries.

At the end of my post from last year I said that this year we’d be determined to pick enough berries to make wine. And we did just that. Based on a recipe that I got from a friend that makes excellent wine (which I will share in a forthcoming post) – it takes 16 pounds of crushed strawberries to make 5-gallons of wine. So I spent two nights cutting and crushing the berries. I’m very optimistic about how it will turn out.

In our garden this year we only have two small strawberry bushes that we planted. Next year I’d like to extend it enough to harvest enough strawberries to make wine and for our general strawberry use. Now that is a goal.

I may just have to become a fruit hunter. Sometimes I find it difficult to push the limits of my fruit purchases. If I’m ever going to enjoy some of the world’s most exotic fruits I’m going to need to put in some serious effort. Although a short interview, there is a good bit of information packed into it about the global fruit economy and why some fruits are hard to find in our local grocer. I may just have to take a gander at the book.

Random 60: How many different kinds of fruit have you ever had? | Favorite on Viddler.

Did you catch that? Right in the middle of today’s Random 60 I decided to switch this episode from “favorite fruit” to something much more interesting – how many different kinds of fruit have you had?.

My favorite fruit is grapes, because wine is made from them. So feel free to answer both questions in the comments if the mood strikes you.

I’d have a very tough time putting together a complete list of the different kinds of fruit I’ve ever had in my lifetime. But I certainly know that I’ve never had every type of fruit on this awesome planet. So, today’s to do is to try a new type of fruit you’ve never had and report back here! I’ll report in when I’ve tried a new fruit too.

What is your favorite fruit and how many different types of fruit have you had?

Venice, Italy.

Considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world it is also one of the more geographically unique. Made up of over 100 islands at the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea, the city of Venice is connected to the mainland by a single, four lane bridge called Ponte della Libertà (The Freedom Bridge).

Anyone that has ever visited the Outer Banks in North Carolina will have a good idea of what this area is like. Except that, instead of randomly placed and colored vacation homes being the main architecture, centuries-old half-submerged buildings that are built on top of now-petrified wood piles that were cut from forests in Slovenia are the main stay.

You have two options for transportation in the city of Venice. By foot or by water. Venice is almost entirely “car-less”. The most famous form of transportation in Venice is the romantic gondola. Although it is said that now most Venetians travel by water-bus.

I have never been to Venice. I see news of their yearly flooding come up from time-to-time and there are fantastic photos from this past year’s Adriatic tide. And I’ve done a little bit of research through the power of Wikipedia for when I do travel there.

Figs.

In some lands figs are considered objects of worship. In others, no more than bat food. The oldest living plant, with a known planting date, is a Ficus tree (fig tree). It was planted in Sri Lanka by King Tissa in 288 BC. Side note: An upcoming fifth season episode of No Reservations will be in Sri Lanka, though I doubt this fig tree will be mentioned. Bummer.

According to The Worlds Healthiest Foods a fig’s unique taste are “lusciously sweet with a texture that combines the chewiness of their flesh, the smoothness of their skin, and the crunchiness of their seeds”. Oh, and they are also a very healthy food.

I have never had a fig. I’ve always wanted to but for the life of me I can not remember ever having one. Jotting it down on my to do list now.

So that is why I’m excited for tonight’s episode of No Reservations from Venice, Italy. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the unique geographic traits of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as well as learning more about the unique tastes of figs.

One of my berries, overlooking the patch.

Eliza harvesting berries.

I picked strawberries for the first time on Saturday.  Eliza had always been the one to go out picking berries.  Last year we attempted to pick some blueberries but that never panned out (the place was picked clean before we ever got there).  This year though she was sure to get out into the fields before the berries were all gone.

Picking strawberries is actually a fun, relaxing outing.  The weather was nice, the scenery was equally great, and we ended up getting several pounds of strawberries for a lot less than we would if we bought them at the market or grocery store.

My bucket.

Now the biggest choice we have ahead of us is how we’re going to use the strawberries we picked.  Strawberry shortcake, fruit smoothies, jelly or jam, and a slew of other possibilities are all possible.  It is strange how my taste for strawberries has grown this year over any other year.  As I’ve gotten older my taste for things has certainly changed, and my palate enjoys a much wider range of foods than it ever has, but I’m pretty surprised that strawberries might make the list this year.

Here is a theory of mine. When you have direct contact with where something comes from, you’re more apt to appreciate it.  I never thought I’d like wine before I turned 21.  And even after I had it took a little while before Eliza and I went wine tasting and really began to have a love for wine.  This seems to be happening again with strawberries.  Going out into the fields and picking some berries myself, eating them directly out of the patch, really makes the experience much better and now I’m finding myself liking strawberries much more.

Rows and rows of berries.

I’m looking forward to going again next year and, perhaps, mustering up the energy to pick enough berries to make strawberry wine.