When I saw that this week Frizztext’s A-Z Photo Challenge is “i“, I just had to join in because:
“i” = India my Mother’s birth place
Sikh pilgrim at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India. [This photo by Paul Rudd in the Public Domain won Wikimedia Commons First place Picture of the Year 2009]
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Photo by Yaakov Shoham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
I’ve threatened to write their stories for half a century (good grief!), perhaps this will nudge me to start.
About a year before my father died I interviewed him at my kitchen table.
“Where were you born?” I said
“That’s not important. I was born in bed,” was his answer.
[oh man, I’ve already got tears running down my cheeks]
“i” also = Italy our favorite European country, and “i” = Italian ice cream
Gelato store in a Tuscan hill town
When in Rome do as the Romans do 😀 When we’re in Italy of course we eat ice cream every day. 😆
It was a happy day when we discover the Italian gelati chain GROM, in Turin.
GROM’s mission is to make gelato the slow, old-fashioned way, with top quality, mainly Italian, seasonal ingredients, and no artificial colorings and preservatives.
As you know if you’ve been following my blog for a while, GROM followed us home to Southern California. Their Malibu store opened two years ago.
GROM in Malibu
In Italy I learned to combine limone, a fruit sherbert, with something made with milk like Nocciola (Hazelnut), or coffee…
Earlier this month on our way home from walking on the beach in Malibu we stopped at GROM. I had mandarin orange sherbert, with mint chocolate. OMG 😛
If I’m at an American ice cream store, I’ll usually order vanilla, because I think it has the least additives and colorings.
Do you have an “i” story to share with us? What is your favorite ice cream?
One day last summer I had apricot and chocolate.
Wondering Rose 
What a fascinating heritage Rose 🙂
It made for a very interesting childhood. Thanks for commenting Anne.
hey rose…you have an indian mom..how fascinating and what an interesting read…
Really lovely to see you here Sandy. Thank you for your comment.
Ever since I was old enough to think about it I’ve wanted to go to India to see my Mother’s birth country. I look forward to meeting you one of these days… Are you still in Bombay?
Your post has whisked me off to better places than where I am. And oh, what I would give for a cup of chocolate and apricot ice cream… Thank you!
That chocolate and apricot ice cream was one of the best combos! Ever.
If you want apricot you must come visit in the summer – they only use fruits that are in season.
Loved the musings of your childhood. You are truly a global being and I wish to acknowledge you for that. What could you do to leverage that for better understanding?
Shakti
Hi Shakti,
Thank you for your really thoughtful comment. I like to think my global background has given me a better understanding of the world and the “people” who live in it. When I stand at my cash register [in the Museum where I work] I meet people from all over the world and it doesn’t matter where they come from or whether they can even speak English, or are young or old, I can find something to chat about, because I don’t judge them. A little human kindness goes a long way.
dear Rosie, that has been a very wise and proud answer by your father:
you wrote:
About a year before my father died I interviewed him at my kitchen table.
“Where were you born?” I said
“That’s not important. I was born in bed,” was his answer.
+
Frizz: India, Israel, Italy or Iceland – no matter where you were thrown in by birth: it is important, what YOU are doing with yourself!
My father was a very wise and very funny man. When I wrote the little conversation I realized how much I miss him. Thank you FrizzT!
I can see why you jumped on the letter “i”. And for both your parents to have been born in countries beginning with the letter “I”, you have a very interesting heritage (another “i”). If you ever go to India, I wonder what revelations you would write about: the things you would recognize about your mother. Indian culture has certainly worked its way recently in American film: Outsourced, Marigold Hotel, Slumdog Millionaire and the novel Jasmine. Have you ever read The Far Pavilions? I loved that novel.
We know you love GROM’s. From what I can google and search, there is no GROM in Houston. That will be saved for when daughter can take me to Malibu when I return to the west coast some day.
To write my mother’s story I feel I need to go to India to smell the place, and once I know what it smells like I’ll be able to understand the country and write about her life there. I read the Far Pavilions many years ago and also loved it.
I know I’ve mentioned GROM many times already [and I apologize for being boring] but I had to include it under “i”! So far it only has a couple of branches in NYC and the one in Malibu.
Interesting you mention the “smells.” That’s exactly what I was thinking. When I arrive to DF’s airport and soon as I get out on the street to hail a taxi…I smell the “tortillas” everywhere!
I have a special affinity for the letter “i” as well. I was born in Italy and lived there until I was 9, but my parents are Israeli. And their heritage goes back mostly to Eastern Europe, but other places as well. We moved to Los Angeles more than 20 years ago, and now I’m married to a Filipino. You could say that “I” have a bit of an identify crisis, but I prefer to think that those of us with a rich cultural heritage are citizens of the world. I like Shakti’s question on how we can leverage that for deeper understanding. It’s something I often think about.
As for ice cream, you brought me to GROM for the first time (I don’t think it was in existence yet when I lived in Italy)! Like you, I have a weakness for gelato, which I prefer over sorbetto. My favorite flavors are nocciola, pistachio and cioccolato, but I particularly like to ask for an “affogato al caffè” which is a scoop of vanilla with a shot of espresso over it. Yum!
oh gosh E what a rich cultural heritage! You come by your membership in the “i” society very honorably. Do you mind if I change your name and call you “i.e” fullstop 😀 ?
I’m delighted that I could introduce someone born in Italy to GROM, and so glad that it didn’t disappoint you.
I still haven’t tried an “affogato al caffè”. Next time…
Of course you can call me that. And we’ll make sure to have an affogato next time we’re having gelato together.
That’s why I love you i.e – you’re always ready to enjoy a joke.
OK next time we’re in the Malibu area you’re not allowed to rush off somewhere because we have a date – we’re going to sit on the lawn outside GROM and enjoy our affogato al caffè together!
You do wonderful combinations! …. you choose 2 very different gelatos combined in one cup and have 2 wonderful heritages combined to create the one and only “you”… 😀 …delightful!
oh gosh Pocket perspectives what a great comment. I am apricot and chocolate. Thank you 😀
I love Grom. There is one in Florence and I go there regularly. Venchi (the chocolate people) have opened a gelateria in Florence and now I am torn between the 2.
Oh lord you go to the store in Florence “regularly”. Sigh… Lucky you.
I don’t know Venchi but I’m sure it must be marvellous.
Do you have a favorite GROM flavor??
This was a wonderful sharing, Rosie! I loved just the snippet of story from your family, and look forward to more when you can put them to paper! Grom is a new one for me…but I’ll be ready to check it out just as soon as I can. And sadly, I’m unimaginative today, I guess. The only “I” for the moment is that I’ve recently been on an iced tea kick! Adding flavors like vanilla or other spices has been very pleasurable. LOL! That’s not much to add to an exciting list like you’ve shared, I’m afraid! Lovely post!
When you go to the beach I don’t think you usually go as far north as Malibu. I’d be delighted to take you to GROM Debra.
Have you always enjoyed iced tea? I don’t particularly care for it. I drink hot tea – strong – with milk.
We don’t go to Malibu for our beach time, that’s true, Rosie. But we like to explore the area from time to time just driving up the coast. You’ll have to take me to GROM sometime, though. That would be fun! 🙂 Yes, I have always liked iced tea. And it’s funny but I can’t drink coffee without milk, but I don’t need it in tea! oxo
Would love to read your parents’ stories . . . .
Thank you for encouraging me Jane. Stay tuned…
Time to start saving for that visit to India …
I’m saving… Where do I go first? India or Israel?
Dear Rose, my favorite brand is Breyers because it has no additives. I like their peach. I also like Ben and Jerry’s cherry garcia fat-free yogurt. My favorite ice cream of all time though was at a speciality shop and it was hazelnut. Peace.
I didn’t know that Breyers is free of additives. Thank you for letting me know. I also like Ben and Jerry’s – though I don’t know their “cherry garcia fat-free yogurt”. I’ll buy some next time I buy store bought ice cream and let you know what I think.
Dee if you like hazelnut I hope you can try GROM’s Nocciola. Its delicious!
fascinating response to alphabet ‘I’
Thank you travtrails 🙂
Rosie, now you’ve got me wondering when and how your parents’ paths crossed, how they met and fell in love…
My favorite ice cream is chocolate and we usually get Breyers or Ben & Jerry’s. Was really hooked on Phish Food (B&J’s) for a couple of years. I’ve had store-bought gelato several times, but I bet it tastes amazing straight from a gelato stand!
Hi Barbara,
Stay tuned. Tagged “j” will tell more of the story 😀
We’ve tried quite a few B&J’s flavors but I’ve never tasted “Phish Food.”
Nothing pleases me as much as a good chocolate ice cream. There are several varieties in the stores that are surprisingly good. (I’ve never bought Breyers ice cream).
What an interesting heritage, and lovely photos, Rosie. I also love Italian icecream, and when we were in San Gimignano, I had Chocolate Grand Marnier, Raspberry & Rosemary, and Creme do Patzi Chocolate Orange. Yummy indeed. You can see my pics here if you like. 🙂
Love your post on San Gimignano Sylvia! Thanks for sharing the link.
OMG those three flavors of gelato sounds delicious and decadent 🙂
Creme do Patzi is what?
Great post … enjoyed it.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Isadora
Thank you Isadora 🙂
I’ve been to Sicily and Naples a few times, and I usually get pistachio-and-coconut, or one of those two with lemon. There’s nothing like gelato on a sunny day, especially when you have nowhere to be.
I love that picture of the Tuscan street.
Muchas gracias Charles.
You’ve mentioned your fondness for pistachio before, but I didn’t know you also like coconut so much! I’ve never seen coconut at GROM – perhaps because its not an Italian fruit…
I wonder whether a gelato on a sunny day in Sicily or Naples would taste different from a gelato on a sunny day in Malibu?
Wonderful heritage, Rose! Great post!
Thanks Amy. I appreciate that you took the time to leave a comment 😀
i got all the way through and couldn’t find anyone who’d noted the wonderful irony here – the most used word on the page about “i” is “I”!
As for gelato – Georgette is right. No GROM’s here. But we do have Talenti, made in Dallas, and it’s wonderful. My favorite is mint chocolate chip, and it’s especially pretty and tasty because they use fresh mint. And the sea-salt caramel is good, too.
I have to laugh – I wonder if the drones from the new base they’ve proposed building near Malibu will hover over the sidewalk cafés and check out the new flavors?
hah hah you’re so observant. I used it a lot didn’t I?
A gelato made with fresh mint? mmmm that sounds like my kind of ice cream.
Oh god Linda I hadn’t heard of the proposed building near Malibu. Thank you for including the link. The Navy has some big bases near San Diego so I guess they feel they need a presence further north.
Sounds like you’ve got a few projects mapped out:
Trip to India
Trip to Israel
Writing your parents’ biographies
Eating more gelato . . . for research purposes, of course! 😉
Gelato for research purposes of course! 😆
what beautiful lineage! you are a very special woman!!!! z
Gracias amiga. 🙂
Ah, delighted to meet an ice cream lover! Gelato is a huge part of any travel plan with me 🙂
Wish there were more people like your father!
Always happy to meet another gelato fan. One of the biggest delights of traveling is eating the local food – I have no patience with people who “are on diet” when they go on vacation.
I must start writing my father’s story. He deserves it.
You have such an interesting heritage. Mine seems rather plain (vanilla) in comparison. India is on my list of places to visit, which is all I can think of as an “i” story right now, although I did live in Illinois at one time and have visited Indiana on a number of occasions. 🙂
Hey Robin perhaps we could charter a plane and all us blogging buddies could go to places like India together…
To some people Illinois and Indiana most probably sound exotic and marvelously exciting places to visit 😀
I for impressive. You’re heritage is so rich and beautiful. Love ice cream too although I have to slow down on my sweets for health reasons. Have a great day!
Thankfully GROM’s in Malibu so I don’t get to eat ice cream every day.
I hope you also have a great day IT 😀