On March 16, I wrote about a new Italian restaurant called Raddha, and how much Kimo and I really liked it. I ended that post/restaurant review with the following words:
"I think I've finally found a restaurant Peasant Woman will like! That's right--we're taking her back to see if Radda passes the Peasant Test.
"Which is a tough test, let me tell you. Because our beloved Peasant Woman [The Original Peasant Woman] can be pi-i-cky. And who can blame her? After growing up on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic, she's got some good food ju-ju, which means that she can spot a mean proscuitto with the best of them. And you do not want to be on the receiving end of Peasant Woman's scorn (which is so legendary in itself that it probably deserves another entry.) Listen up, Radda, you might be making the local scene, but will it mean much if you don't get the Peasant Woman stamp of approval?"
Three months later, our moment has finally arrived. Mali Zub and I took The Original Peasant Woman to Radda for lunch the other day, and what do you think happened?
She liked it. I'm not quite sure how to stress the gravity of those three words, especially for those of you who've not yet met My Mother The Original Peasant Woman. Let me just say that this is a good-cook/everything-made-from-scratch kind of woman who prefers her own cooking to most restaurants. Always looking for fresh flavors and the simple yet hardy fare that comprises the Peasant Reality--something that all those fusion restaurants just don't quite get. The shocking news is that The Original Peasant Woman loved Radda. Couldn't get enough. Wants to go back again and again so she can sample the latest, greatest dishes. So put that in your pipe and smoke it next time you're in the area, looking for a good place to stop and rest up over some prosciutto and Slovene wine.