Garden of Giardiniera

Most Americans know that is was the Italian immigrates who taught us how to eat;) 

This post is brought to you by my daily love of fermented foods as Original Medicine, which is  found in GIARDINIERA. And no, it’s not just the Chicago thing for this Chicago girl. Italian, Giardiniera is also called sottaceti. Sottaceti translates to ‘under vinegar,’ which is the commonly used term for pickling foods.

 A little personal Reveal here when I say, it’s true you can take the girl out of the city but you can’t take Chicago out of the girl. Though I made my way at the tender age of 18 to Key West for two years, and then to San Francisco to cut my teeth. Ending up in Florida to raise a family. I have not returned to my hometown but for visits. And still, I am recognized by my anecdotal Chicago classic accent and easy laugh. Six decades later, many adult traditions stems from being born on the Southside of Chicago to a Greek butcher.

As a shout out to my childhood stomping grounds, please humor me with a little indulgence here. It was the early 1920s that giardiniera started to make a name for itself in the communities of Italian immigrants in Chicago. Giardiniera grew in popularity throughout the city. This vegetable relish is chopped fine, producing the crisp, tang found on Chicago's beloved Italian beef. 

Chicago’s condiment is as boisterous as the city itself. This relished relish is mostly pickled carrots, cauliflower, celery and peppers. It is submerged in oil, with fiery bites of Sorento chili peppers, also known as sport peppers. Think Chicago dog once again with a salad on top, featuring sport peppers. Legend has it this pepper was named sport because of the hotdogs sold in the baseball stadiums. I grew up with this Chicago ‘condiment’ version that ended up on our famous Italian beef or Sausage sandwiches. Whether you buy your Italian beef on a street cart or in your kitchen it is topped with Chicago’s Giardiniera.

This condiment relish is a go to in my hOMe. We raised a family of four, on a musicians budget. Needless to say, I have been known not to waste a single drop in my kitchen. That includes the vast vats of pickles bought for my children Ross and Rose and their sport teams. We didn’t just eat the pickles. Some of us drink the juice while mama cooked with pickled juice in such things like potato salad. But in a pinch, I’ve been known to throw my blanched summer vegetables in the leftover pickling juices for quick pickled veggies and even eggs. 

Giardiniera is not just a Chicago ‘thang!’ Though come to think about it; the other destination to this culinary delight is in New Orleans. History shows many a Chicagoan musician looking for their rising star, southbound on a train to relocate 

to N’Awlins.

Well... this food connection … 

Found its’ way through the Blues and Jazz music scene. New Orleans found trainloads of hungry musicians establishing the Chicago connection in the heart of the French quarters. I can well imagine these hungry musicians finding a days worth of food in the portable Muffuletta with the back home Windy City flavor profile of giardiniera as the ultimate comfort food to feed the soul,

 I know I do ❤️

In my kitchen, there’s not a big difference between these two relished relishes. Often the growing season dictates what goes into my garden in a jar. Although I do appreciate the difference between the two taking a little from both and blending them. I appreciate, Muffuletta’s reliance on olives and addition of capers in their Olive spread.

 But I also like the garden in jar approach of Giardinera. I rely on my garden as well as my palate as I marry my two favorite condiments together. I put my garden in a jar dictated by the natural ways of season by season. Always making it my own with the pucker power of a 

heavy bite of a blend of vinegars. And of course Chicago’s feisty bites of sport peppers, 

Serranos or pepperoni. 

WHY IS GIARDINIERA part of 

my ‘Garden-Of-Eaten’ 

Giardiniera means “from the garden” in Italian. 

This concept credited here has a long history in Italy. Though in my writing the point is often 

made that all of humanity depended upon fermented foods across the lands, 

cultures, and has withstood the test of time. 

It was the way of all societies, before we     ‘plugged’ into refrigerators and lost 

this valuable daily nutrient based 

Biome, Friendly Flora or Probiotics! 

Rich in antioxidants, such as beta carotene and vitamin C. And by now we are all well, aware of dietary fiber’s ability to possibly improve blood pressure, colon health  and kidney function. In this day and age, it is a well-known fact of the many benefits of capsicum as found in our pepper family. But that’s another Book. lol.

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination, garden and pantry! Fresh vegetables and herbs and spices are brined and pickled in marinades as a way of preserving it for the winter blues! You may want to double your batch for this is diversity in a jar. Use as a relish, condiment, sandwich, salad or pizza topper. My home favorite is a picnic style antipasto platter!

If it all begins in the shopping cart Central Groceries in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is a must stop! Each and every time I visit this Diverse eclectic culture! It never disappoints, in nearly a dozen visits in 4 decades and 

2 Mardi Gras! The Muffuletta is my go to sandwich piled high with Italian deli meats, on round Sicilian sesame bread  to capture the crunchy, vinegar tang of their famous Olive Relish. Stepping into Central grocery is stepping back in time, unchanged and unwavering in its preservation. 

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For a deeper dive into my writing and/or ways consider my book reflecting 44 years of dedicated service in the healing arts. Written to be used as a personal journal of your journey! Categorized as a Reference Book. Now Available in Hard Cover on Amazon or any Brick and Mortar Bookstore. This little gem went global all the way to India, on its’ own merit global all on its’ 

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We must Find + Stay Calm to Carry on

🙏 “God Bless Us, Everyone” 🙏

That being said here goes the dreaded and wretched  Disclaimer! and I quote “Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and I’m not intended to diagnose, treat, cure,  or prevent any disease or health condition.” 

How do y’all like my ‘cya’ small print?