Foods I missed while away from home

This past semester I lived in the Italian canton of Switzerland known as Ticino for six months. Ticino has a unique gastronomic culture that blends Swiss-German foods like spaetzel with Tuscan dishes like risotto and veal. Amidst this montage of food traditions, I still found myself craving some of my favorite hometown dishes.

Mexican food plays a large role in my hometown’s food scene. While abroad, I missed nothing more than a tamale, rice and beans from Tacqueria Luz Tacos in Union City, Indiana. But, my cravings didn’t stop with tamales…

As soon as I arrived in Indianapolis, I made a special trip to Bourbon Street Distillery for one of their enormous, perfectly-breaded tenderloins. This local joint has become a Circle City favorite for friends visiting from home.

Many Americans, including myself, take for granted how affordable our meat is in comparison to the rest of the world. While in Switzerland, it was a rare treat to have meat included in our meals. A care package sent by my mother included canned beef and chicken from Winner’s Meats of Osgood, Ohio. It was like Christmas the day I received this box.

Aside from physical food, I missed the harvest season and being home to ride in the combine with my dad. This was the first year that I haven’t been a part of this chaotic, but exciting season with my family. There is something special about being thousands of miles away from home, yet still salivating for your favorite Hoosier meals and traditions.

This post was written by Brittany Smith, an intern with the Indiana Humanities Council. Brittany is a senior Communications major at Butler University. A strong passion for food and agriculture brought her to the Council’s Food for Thought campaign.