When I was growing up I remember my grandmother in California feeding us half grapefruits, neatly cut so the sections were easily removed with her sterling silver pointed grapefruit spoons. I loved the precision of the whole experience. She used a grapefruit knife which if you have not seen one makes this art as easy as cutting butter. It is a small knife, serrated on both sides with a rounded end slightly bent to slip in along the sloping inner rind of the grapefruit.
After swiftly outlining each section inside the membrane Nana would gently slice around the outer circumference of the fruit so there was no unruly wrestling to free the fruit and dislodge any of the precious juice. I also recall her occasionally sprinkling the top of the cut grapefruit with powdered sugar. Seems weird to me now and I still remember the odd taste mixture of uber sweet and tart.
Growing up in a seasonal area in which winter sets in like an uninvited house guest with no intent to leave, citrus really was not part of our local repertoire. We occasionally would receive Harry and David boxes bearing grapefruit sent by relatives which as a child I was nonplussed over. This was all before international shipping declared a mono season year round, making anything available anytime. We just accepted if it was winter there was not a lot of produce (and it was usually pretty gross if it was available). We ate any canned foods my mother had put by.
After last year when I went the locavore extreme to test my hypothesis, or really query, about whether it was possible to live over the winter in Colorado on only local spoils, I really appreciated any fresh food. I was religious about not veering from my mission so did not buy anything grown from the ground that had not been birthed in Colorado.
When a relative wintering in the warm embrace of Florida sent us a large box of citrus, I thought I was going to lose my mind with excitement. It was fresh and ‘new food’ (something anyone who eats from a root cellar exclusively for three or more months of the year would understand). It was local to our relation so I felt we were able to share in her locavore’ism (despite knowing she had no idea she was eating as a locavore). Bottom line? I felt I was channeling a sailor who’d endured a half year sailing expedition, at the moment of realizing Scurvy would be dodged with the opening of this precious box of winter citrus. Ecstatic.
The boxes were full of oranges and grapefruit. I dove for the oranges like a baseball player sliding into home plate. They were incredibly sweet, sporting the most luscious, juicy orange color. I ignored the grapefruit. It probably would not be sweet. I was not about to pull out the powdered sugar but could not imagine foregoing the oranges. When I finally cut into one of the grapefruit, I realized the adage of ‘saving the best for last’ was at play. I’ve never tasted a sweeter and more flavorful fruit. I relished every anticipatory cut with my grapefruit knife and every bite taken with what are now MY pointed sterling silver grapefruit spoons. A bright sunny spot in a long cold winter.
Cocktail Party Trivia Tidbits about Grapefruit:
· Got their name based on how they grow in clusters on a tree (like grapes).
· Main winter U.S. production is in Florida and Texas, with spring crops coming mainly from Arizona and California.
· They can be white, yellow, pink or red.
· Grapefruits are 75% juice.
· Half a grapefruit contains 45% of the recommended adult intake of Vitamin C. The pink and red varieties are high in lycopene the anti-oxidant that helps fights cancer.
· The first U.S. grapefruit tree planted was in Florida was by a Frenchman, Count Odette Phillipe, in the 1820’s near Tampa.
· Grapefruit trees can produce for 30-40 years and are all harvested by hand.
· Grapefruit juice can produce a negative interaction with several medications. It is wise to check with your doctor if you drink grapefruit juice regularly and take regular medication (who knew?!)
For more trivia and details check these websites: http://www.foodreference.com/html/fgrapefruit.html, http://www.stumblerz.com/interesting-facts-about-grapefruits/
Pam says
I love grapefruit, but they interact with some of my medication. It’s such a bummer because they’re delicious.
The Mom Chef says
I love eating grapefruit the same way I do oranges. I love the trivia questions here. 🙂
I also really like that current moon ditty on the side. It's very cool.
Kate @ Diethood.com says
Great post! I love grapefruits…so long as they are sweet! I don't like the bitter kind.
Susie Bee on Maui says
I remember the high school student organizations selling citrus in the dead of winter!
Beautiful pictures.
Carolyn Binder says
Love this post! I live in Florida and garden organically. We try to eat only what we grow or can by in our neighborhood. Learning to eat by the seasons is an interesting endeavour. Just when we think we cannot eat another root vegetable or winter green, the snow peas are ready, and it's time to seed for spring. It has really made me appreciate and enjoy my food more.
Angela FRS says
I loved this post–such a great story. We do grow citrus in Boulder (sort of)! We have a mini orange tree that winters over inside and produces golf-ball sized oranges that have sweet peels and sour insides, much like a kumquat. Not more than a snack, but nice.
Katrina says
Oh my! I totally sent some buzz your way. I am in love with your grapefruit pictures!! Stunning! I just had a grapfruit this morning. Mmm. I also appreciate your “grapfruit trivia.” I enjoy having weird food info in the recesses of my brain. – Katrina
kitchenmorph says
looks like you suddenly remembered to buzz them all in foodbuzz!!! will be back to explore…
Caitlin @ Bean and Barley says
The grapefruit is really getting some love this season–I just dedicated an entire post to it a few weeks ago too, haha!! 🙂 They sure are an amazing food–I enjoyed reading the trivia tidbits!
Chef Dennis says
that is a beautiful grapefruit, now I know they don't grow in Colorado, does it count as local if you buy it at the corner grocer?
The picture of the grapefruit has top9 written all over it!
Thanks for sharing your post with us
squirrelbread says
I've never seen a grapefruit that is pastel orange! How lovely. We're currently in southeastern Texas, which (hooray!) is grapefruit Heaven almost year-round. I owe many mornings of perfect breakfast experiences to my double-ended grapefruit knife and grapefruit spoon.
Cheers,
*Heather*
Debbie says
So I bought a set of grapefruit spoons about 3 months ago thinking to myself that I would start eating all this grapefruit and that the spoons would really inspire me. I haven't eaten a single one! Thanks for the beautiful pictures to remind me 🙂
Lisa @ Tarte du Jour says
Hurricane Wilma blew down my grapefruit tree…..I now sneak over to my neighbor's yard for my grapefruit fix. I have to say though when you have a tree they produce sooo much grapefruit all at once. After grapefruit halves, grapefruit juice, grapefruit sorbet, etc. you start to give away your fruit to any willing recipient. Thanks to your post I will now really appreciate my grapefruit this morning!
Fresh Local and Best says
I'm convinced that in order to taste the best you must go to the source. Lucky for you that you have family member who could send you these precious citrus fruits. This is the peak of the the season, and there are so many great citrus varieties! The grapefruit sounds amazing!
C.M. Reinhardt says
Looks like spring on your blog!
What vibrant photos!
Liza ( @aMusingFoodie) says
My grandmother also used to serve us grapefruit sectioned like that, with a special little spoon. She would sprinkle the top lightly with sugar and then (after cutting the middle out) she would put a dollop of her homemade strawberry preserves in the center. It was just enough to get a little bit with every grapefruit wedge as you spooned it out.
YUM! Thanks for the memories!
Liza
Lizzy says
The ruby red grapefruit have been fabulous this year!!! I somehow have misplaced my grapefruit knife, though, and I really miss it! Yes, those on statins for high cholesterol should not eat grapefruit due to the possibility of liver damage…I take a “pediatric” dose, but can't resist having one now and then (shhhhh…don't tell!). Happy Sunday~
adventuresomekitchen says
Have you ever tried to grow miniature citrus inside? I've thought about it intermittently, but the best place for it is where our dining table is, and we don't have enough room..
I too, remember boxes of grapefruit showing up on our door- but ours were from my grandparents in AZ. I confess I caved and bought a box of clementines the other day- just needed a little citrus!
Cheers!
Eugene @ Food & Scent says
I'm glad to have found your blog because I've always wanted to be a locavore and have my own fruit trees, herb garden, vege plots etc but as you know, it's nearly impossible in Singapore.
Last week, my dad brought home a huge jackfruit off a tree at work and I was responsible for dissecting it. It took me over an hour and made me realised the importance and joy of handling your own produce.
I love your photography. They're so vivid and lively!