Burns Best Farm

Pesto Shortage in Italy: Emergency!

I just read this article posted on Yahoo! news and I was floored by the lengths to which the Italians go for perfect food.  Who knew there was one specific region in northern Italy that has the perfect microclimate for one particular small-leaf variety of basil that the locals then craft into the most perfect pesto on the planet? 

I grew five varieties of basil this summer:  Sweet, Napalitano, Italian, Cinnamon, and Mrs. Burns (no kidding, that's the name).  I could smell a distinct difference in each one when I cut it, but I had no idea that there could be such a BIG difference.

Note in the article how they pick the basil leaves for the pesto.  It made me think of that scene in Mission: Impossible where Tom Cruise is breaking into the computer room like a spider hanging from a web.

Note also that the local officials who are seeking government funds to repair the greenhouses make a point of saying that the hailstorm won't affect "industrial pesto production" (ie, what you and I eat that's premade in a tube or plastic tub); the only shortage will be in the locally made gourmet pesto.

Let's leave this post with me admitting that today, as usual, I have learned something new about the world!