A Date For International Understanding

Although most of the comments and messages I get are friendly and kind, a few do slip through that are less-than-complimentary. A majority of them illuminate the errors of my ways by pointing out the faults in my cross-cultural observations. So I was delighted when I found Socio-Site Scan v1.01, some brand-new software which allows me to simply input all my blog entries, and tells me what percentage of my posts are which are complimentary to one culture, and what percentage isn’t.

So what did I find?

Roughly 67.8% are complimentary to the French, while only 65.3% of what I write was pro-American.
But a whopping 47% were anti-French, followed closely by 45.2% of swipes at my compatriots in the states.

Since this is the beginning of the holiday season, one full of global good cheer (real or imagined), I decided that since our politicians have been messing it up a bit too long, at least 6 years too long (oops…gonna have to give the site a second run-through), I decided that today I’m calling a holiday truce.

Since there’s no time like the present, I’m happy to start right now promoting international understanding by sharing these divinely delicious dates from Iran, which are perhaps the best dates I’ve ever had. (Insert your own joke here.) They certainly rival the Medjool dates from California, which are excellent as well, although they’re far pricier. Hmm, perhaps I might suggest America trade dates for oil? It certainly would be a tasty trade-off that might make everyone a little less combative.

These Iranian beauties are silky-smooth, sweet, soft and buttery. And at 500 gr (½ pound) box costs roughly 3€, a fraction of their American counterparts. Although there’s a trade embargo between the two countries, in the spirit of delicious diplomacy, I’m happy to raise a white flag of sublime surrender.

Iranian dates are available early in the winter, and aside from eating them plain, these dates (or any kind) can be stuffed with a nugget of bleu cheese, wrapped in bacon and griddled, or simply split them open, pluck out the pit and fill with a lozenge of almond paste. They makes a simple after-dinner treat with a pot of fresh mint tea. But mostly I enjoy them au naturelleas a winter snack with a big platter of bright-tasting, vibrant tangerines.

So in the spirit of the holidays, I’m suggesting a bit of sweet détente, starting today.

Available in Middle-Eastern shops in Paris, including:

Sabah
140, Rue Faubourg St-Antoine
and
Marche d’Aligre
(12th arrondisement)