A Taste of Terroir. Reading Food & Wine's "100 Tastes to Try in '07 ", it occurred that unless you were a heavy and well-heeled traveler, it would be difficult to achieve a taste of the entire list. Fellow blogger, Kristen at Dine and Dish , notes this in her blog as well, and asks for help to experience what she cannot. What this list brought up for me is that there is a world-wide community of food bloggers who have an eye for taste and aesthetics who might put together a much more unique list, grounded in their own bit of terroir. Wikipedia says this about terroir:

"Terroir (/tεʀwaʀ/ in French) was originally a French term in wine and coffee appreciation used to denote the special characteristics of geography that bestowed individuality upon the food product. It can be very loosely translated as "a sense of place" which is embodied in certain qualities, and the sum of the effects that the local environment has had on the manufacture of the product. ...Some writers include history, tradition, vineyard ownership and other factors. The contemporary meaning of the term clearly goes beyond mere geography, but at that point disagreement begins. Some assert that terroir is distinct from the characteristics imparted by the plant variety, the vintage and production methods (vinification, etc.), and is the product of a range of local influences that are transmitted into the character of the product."

I think that terroir can go far beyond the traditional use in the areas of wine and coffee, and be applied to those foods and drinks which truly give a sense of place, or the taste of the place can be observed in them. Would you join me in documenting an edible piece of your locale that you have a special connection with and would like to share with the world?

To join me in this food blog event, here are the rules:

1. Between now and January 21, 2007, create and post an entry on your blog which highlights a food or drink, or food/drink product, or recipe which highlights terroir in your location which you can write about with a personal perspective including a photo. Describe how it relates to your locale. Thought joggers:

• A special food only served at an annual event - like a fair.
• Foods produced from ingredients from a particular farm.
• A restaurant with an unique local dish.
• An antique recipe from your area.
• Etc.
  

2. The blog post should be unique to this event, not previously entered into any other event.

3. Entries should contain the words "A Taste of Terroir" with a link to this post at Anna's Cool Finds in the body. Use of a Technorati tag for "A Taste of Terroir" would be nice, but optional.

4. E-mail me (anna AT annalou DOT com) the your name, location, name of your blog (for posting on the summary) and a link to the post you are entering no later than 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on January 21st. I will recap entries compliant with the rules and make a summary posting on the 21st or 22nd. Please put "A Taste of Terroir" in the subject line so I don't lose any!

5. If you don't have a blog and would like to participate, e-mail me about alternatives.