The Market Report

It's Friday, so let's talk about the market. Don't worry, not the stock market! Let's talk instead about the Stresa Outdoor Market, which happens every Friday morning in Piazza Capucci . One of my favorite routines. I usually have a mission in mind when I go to the market and today was no different. With the weather forecast still looking nice for tomorrow, and therefore hiking plans still on, I was shopping for some picnic lunch supplies. The market is not huge, but it's certainly big enough and maze-like enough for one to get a little lost in, both figuratively and literally. You can find all sorts of fresh foods here, as well as clothes, shoes, jewelry, housewares, and flowers. The quality of most of the merchandise is good; no used items here, and many of the vendors know at least a bit of English. Since I tend to focus on whatever particular item I'm shopping for each week, it's always like a new market to me. So what picnic goodies did I choose today? Some mortadella and prosciutto, some toma cheese, a piece of polpettone, a few apples, and some dried fruits. After finding my picnic supplies, my nose lead me, like it always does, to the roast chicken vendor. "Un pollo, ben cotto!" One chicken, well cooked!, I asked for. That wasn't for the picnic. That's a Friday lunch routine that is always quite delicious. And it was...