6-16-2024 4:21am

Philosophizing About Food With Francine: Fresh Strawberries

Lesley Misko Editor

by Francine Black

These amazing strawberries from my son’s garden are his pride and joy! Aren’t we blessed that he has shared the first picking with us! Big smootches to you, Richie!

It seems that strawberries are native to many continents and were even mentioned by the ancient Roman poets, Virgil and Ovid. I don’t think those plants produced the beauties in the photo as the early fruits were quite small and hard. It seems they were only deemed useful for medicine and ornamental planting.

The French decided they were worth domesticating back in the 1300’s and so began the centuries long quest for the perfect strawberry. The British joined the search along with the Virginians, but it wasn’t until a French spy brought home a strawberry plant from Chile in 1714 and it accidentally crossed with the French fraise des bois, that hope was in sight.

Finally it’s thanks to the labors of British horticulturalists who crossed that plant with the Virginian plant, that the ancestor of the beautiful fruit we enjoy today was born . We often quote the adage, “it takes a village” but in the case of the strawberry, “it took many nations."

Strawberry cream tarts, a veritable triumvirate of textures: buttery crisp pastry, unctuous vanilla scented cream and tart juicy berries bathed in sweet strawberry jam.

If you would like to try making a Strawberry Cream Tart, credit for this recipe goes to the Food Network. Click here.

High in the mountains above Bally, where the dense groves of treetops seem to touch the sky, is Francine Black, Boyertown’s own version of chef Julia Child. Her daily activities reflect the things she most values: family and friends, music, and lovingly prepared food.