European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I or pizza pizza has always had a Day unto i sell. Sort of like a Saint or a National to iday. Meals were raucous of vols with news and insults shot Back and North. Along with a Meatball or two. Bui the quantities my Mother cooked could not keep up with our growing appetites and numbers so we All developed amazing Speed and agility Wilh knives and works and fingers when necessary an unattended plate was Lair game. The Best policy was not to leave the table Lor anything. This kind of background Marks you for Lite and not Only in pounds. So at 16, when boys joined food As the of jacks of my desire draconian measures were required to accommodate Bolh. I had to Cut an entire food group irom my diet. My pasta bread body would Mutiny Iii tried to give up carbohydrates so 1 gave up Moat. Before Long i was a Sylph with a steady Boyfriend and ready Tor my first real dinner Date. This particular Beau was from a family of four where dinner is served promptly Al 6, and everyone dressed to eat. I d heard rumours of meals like this served in separate courses and on separate plates but had never witnessed one it All sounded like a Wasle of valuable eating time and China to me. Until that restaurant Dale our summer Romance had consisted of visits to the miniature Gall course or he movies. Of. This Guy had seen me work a Concession stand from Popcorn through goobers and Rais Nelles but the snacks were consumed in darkness where he never knew exactly How i scarfed. At the very posh restaurant it was just he and i and the candlelight. While other couples stared longingly into each other s eyes i lusted too Tor his food. True to form he cleared his palate with sherbet Between courses and cleaned his hands twice during the meat. My Mother had Long ago taught me which Fork to use when bul with a plate of Spaghetti Marinara the Only meatless dish on the menu under my nose lost All sense of time and place. I be heard that Sophia Loren once shocked even the worldly Gary Grant with her abundant appetite on a dinner Date Wen she and i share the same roots. Hand and Mouth clicked into automatic. Wilh Lawless synchronization i moved irom pasta to Breed and Back. When my Fork wandered toward my Date s plate As it always did toward my brother Shis look of horror stopped me Laler i reminded the waitress for the third time that we wanted dessert he nearly choked on his lobster tails sometime Between dipping my bread Inlo his clarified butter and asking Lor a Lasta of his chocolate mousse. I realized that shifting from a table of 10 to a table Lor 2 involved More than portion control. My Date was t laughing when he told me you la never be picked up in a  alter that disastrous first encounter and several repeal performances. I became painfully aware that few men Are prepared to face at close Range a woman Wilh a gleam in her Eye and a Way Wilh stainless steel. So i set up a few guidelines to save myself and my dates embarrassment. First 1 avoided eating at All for As Long As possible. Far better that my Dale think of me As one of those bizarre plants that exist on Light and air. When eating was unavoidable 1 opted for something Sweet the first time out. Somehow it seems cute almost endearing to Lap at an ice Cream Cone cradled in your hands rather than to belly up to the bar for a Burger and a Bud. I avoided at All costs anything thai i rigged out on As a child knowing that i would to loss As soon As such a favorite dish was set before me. Wha Leverl did order i did l finish. If i could be sure thai my Dale was not averse to sharing i had to watch carefully to determine this was he squeamish about germs or protective about his personal space at other times would even slide tha plate toward him and with Puppy dog eyes and pursed lips insist "1 could t possibly finish ii  my Rule was to be a Nellle eater even if i had a Large scale appetite. I decided that i would Only very gradually work up to dual indulgence tests if Ever. Alter we d bared our souls to each other then maybe i would reveal the hunger pangs after the wedding. A Side Benalil of thigh Benefit of this whole scheme was that i was guaranteed to lose weight every time i started going out with a new Man. Then one Day recognized that my real problem had nothing to do with food these men on the separate course separate plate plan were not my Type. Why was i going through epicurean acrobatics to conform to someone else s menu i decided to abandon the Haule cuisine restaurant scene and seek Oul my culinary roots. I began id frequent family owned italian restaurants where i would first Check kitchens Lor garlic the menu for variety and whatever diners were there Lor portion sizes. If possible. I watched the chefs at work Wilh Large quantities and Subtle seasonings lasting As they went. Settled in the dining room i would linger Over Tiramisu while waiting for the chef and waiters to bring out their own steaming bowls of minestrone and Spaghetti at the end of the night. Surrounded by serious eaters of Hearty food. I could pick up my Pace. Gradually i branched out and into other Small ethnic res Laurants and cafes concentrating on the food of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. I found my gastronomical Homo away from Home and. Recently the perfect Man modern and enlightened with a Hearty laugh and appetite. He happens to be a greek chel who grew up around a table of in and who in t intimidated by a woman whose family code of eating was survival of the quickest he does t flinch. But at a groaning Board can match to bile for bile Kirlic collage cheese and Gorgonzola process until i mixture is completely wended Cut the Tomolo into Large chunks. Add to the garlic Leese mixture and process Unhul the Tomato is diced. Yield 3 Servings. Note. Period Lor potato salad. And onion dressing cup Plain Low fat or no fat Yogurt Teaspoon while wine vinegar i Teaspoon dry Mustard Teaspoon ground cumin i Teaspoon ground coriander seed Billy ground Black Pepper to taste Tablespoon finely minced red onion Tablespoon chopped fresh coriander leaves Combine Yogurt vinegar Mustard cumin coriander i de and Blac k Pepper. Stir in onion and coriander leaves yield 4 Servings note use Over salad of cooked vegetables or it toes. It termite dressing i cup Low fal Buttermilk Teaspoons Dijon style Mustard Tablespoons grated Cucumber Small Scullion thinly sliced liable spoon chopped Parsley r Ashly ground Black Pepper to taste. Mix or shake together All the ingredients and serve or greens. Yield 6 Servings. Note this dressing is particularly tasty when used ill various kinds of salad greens. Oil and vinegar dressings salad bars the greens Are Fine Bat keep an Eye on fat and calories in the dressings. Basic dressing 3 Tablespoons extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar freshly ground Black Pepper to taste herbs and spices to taste. Beat together Oil and vinegar. Season Wilh Pepper herbs and spices of Choice. Yield 4 to 5 sewing. Note a variation can be made by adding i Teaspoon minced garlic or i Teaspoon ground cumin or 1 Teaspoon Dijon style Mustard. Hazelnut Ait and vinegar dressing 1 Tablespoon Dijon style Mustard 1 Tablespoon dry Sherry 2 Teaspoons White wine vinegar 1 Tablespoon Walnut or hazelnut Oil freshly ground Black Pepper to taste Combine ingredients and beat Well. Yield 3 or 4 Servings. Note excellent for cooked vegetables especially if applied while vegetables Are still warm. Sesame dressing 1 Tablespoon Oriental sesame Oil 2 Tablespoons Rice vinegar 2 Smalt Collions thinly sliced freshly ground Black Pepper to taste. Beat together the Oil and vinegar. Sir in scallions. Season Wilh Pepper yield 3 Servings. Note use Wilh diced Lom aloes or cucumbers. Or 14,1968 the stars and stripes Page 15