Shrub

There is an art form to good food. I don't think everyone understands this, because of how much processed food there is in the world. It makes it harder to recognize when something is step above. A couple weeks back I was at the local arts festival known as Artsfest. There were lots of different mediums on display for the festival goer to enjoy and view. Beautiful hand crafted baubles that can adorn a persons neck and ears or belly button. Fabrics to cloth oneself in, along with a plethora of leather, glass, and photography to appeal to the senses. The one thing that was in very short supply was artists promoting the art of good food. There were plenty of vendors that had fair food you could purchase for way to much money that had little to no flavor to it. It is the sort of food that you could find at any carnival or street fair. Most of it is fried and very little of it is satisfying. The actual art of good taste was practically missing except for one or two wayward stalls tucked among the visual finery.

Tait Farm Foods had a lot of what could be expected of a artist selling their wares. They had charming eclectic representatives that were knowledgable about the crafts they were presenting and enough quirk to keep a person entertained. They also had the good sense that when food is art it should be able to speak to your taste buds. They had jellies and jams, along with handcrafted mustards and bruschetta, but the jewel in the crown was the Shrub.

If you are like me, you have no idea what a shrub is and all you are thinking about is Monty Python the Knights That Say Nee. Thankfully this was not a Monty Python joke and did not taste anything like SPAM.   Shrub is not a small leafy bush that sometimes acts as a border. Shrub is a vinegar based fruit syrup. It is also known as drinking vinegar. Drinking Vinegar sounds horrid, but I assure if is not.It is not the sort of tricks you could find on Pinterest for weight loss or appetite suppression. Shrub is actually a way of preserving the essence of the fruit in a tasty manner. The Shrub mixed with a little bit of seltzer water and you have a delicious refreshing beverage reminiscent of an Italian soda, and mix that with a little bit of rum or vodka, you have a party in your mouth. It is the perfect accent to alcohol and a great way to add a little bit of spark to a non alcoholic beverage.  Because of the very nature and complexity involved in making a shrub (it takes weeks, I looked it up) it is to me considered  an art form.

Not all food is art and certainly not all art is food, but when you find something that leaves a lasting impression it doesn't matter anymore. In that perfect moment you realize that the craftsmanship of a beverage transcends a mere food category and is the very essence of art and art appreciation.