On the memory of American Food #2

I've spoken before about family holidays to Florida, and pancakes especially making an impact, but the really formative memory in my mind is the little things related to 2 successive family holidays to Clearwater beach. 


They are, in no particular order:

• The gravy on a meat dish, possibly meat loaf, at a diner in Scientology laden Clearwater
• Shopping in publix, where they had calculators attached to the shopping trolleys
• Having jalapeños on a burger at an Irish-American bar on Island estates
• drinking unsweetened ice tea from dimpled red plastic beakers
• Eating front loops and the colour the milk went
• Eating pop tarts in exciting flavours
• Running across hot sands with Cubans sandwiches and black coffee for my mother's lunch
• The marinara sauce on angel hair pasta at a restaurant across the road from the Tropicana Motel where we stayed.
• Saltwater taffy, blue smurf & superman flavoured ice cream.
• Key Lime Pie...

My birthday card from my mother this year - I remember picking up this  postcard in Florida

I should point out, these memories are so ingrained in my mind that I'm pretty sure heading back to Clearwater beach would cause flood of tears because I know it wouldn't be the same, things would have moved on and it may not be as good......

In fact just think about Clearwater Beach makes me cry....


(Part 1 is here)