I buy "rocket" when in Switzerland and "arugala" at a regular QFC grocery store here in Seattle. They have it bulk next to the wild greens salad mix. But maybe it's seasonal as I hadn't noticed it before.

I requested at my local market and they now carry it all the time. If a store carries Paul Newman organic produce they will definitely be able to order it. Try arugala in a sandwich, yum.

Middle of Canada - our local grocery store sells with the prepared salad and coleslaw mixes. Sometimes it is only available in a mix called European mix.

We ate in Italy with a salad dressing of Olive oil, Balsamic Vinegar, small squeeze of lemon, salt and pepper, with generous gratings of fresh Parmesan.

I tried to grow it but it bolts quickly.

Brahmama - mache is also called lamb's lettuce. Little clusters of soft sweet leaves, sold loose in markets in France or packed as salad in bags in the UK, usually with shredded raw beetroot (much nicer than it sounds!).

A packet of rocket (roquette) seeds tossed onto prepared ground, some compost sprinkled over, kept slightly moist until sprouted then watered regularly thereafter, and it grows like a weed. I have also sown and grown it in a growbag.

LoveItaly - do you have room on a balcony for a growbag? I expect you could grow it in a pot; I grow long thin carrots in a tall bucket on my terrace....

Patrick, I often eat it the way you describe, but sometimes I forgo the parmesan and have the steak dressed Cambodian hot-and-sour style, with a dressing of rice vinegar, soy sauce, lime juice, fish sauce, red chillies and a pinch of sugar. Also works on a bed of spinach. If you add a splash of sake instead of the lime juice, you have Japanese steak! And if you are not into 'temple food' as in 'my body is a temple', a little olive or sesame oil makes a very pleasant addition!
Hey Patrick - have you tried walnut oil instead of olive? Adds a whole new dimension..

Funny you should ask about walnut oil. I love walnuts but dislike walnut oil. I had a bottle and when I used it I thought it had gone rancid and threw it out. I bought a new bottle of a "better" brand and discovered that no, it just tastes like that -- maybe an "acquired" taste.
But meanwhile a friend gave me some truffle oil in a gourmet gift basket. Now that was great on my tagliata! I also sometimes give up the steak and use sauteed or grilled large slices of mushrooms instead --mmmmm, good. But I go light on the flavors over arugula --too much of anything defeats the wonderful subtle flavor of the arula itself. In fact it is one "green" I can happily eat a salad of with no dressing at all!

There are two types of arugula/rocket. One has a leaf that looks like a radish leaf and the other is indented like a dandelion. Both have the peppery bite that increases with warmer weather. It grows easily in cool weather and reseeds itself.

Not trying to resurect a goofy post, but today I found Rustic Organic Arugala at my local specialty store and as an added bonus I found Serano Ham (Jamon Iberico)at the same shop. I'll apreciate it a bit more it was 66$ per kilo

LoveItaly,

We have family in Davis, CA (near Sacramento), and I think I saw arugula in the Nugget Market there, although I can't swear to it. Have you tried that store? Also, our Trader Joe's in Massachusetts has arugula, but perhaps not in your area. I love it -- have a big bag in my fridge right now.

Hello nonnafelice, just saw your post and am quite interested because we have a Nugget's Market here in Vacaville and I am planning on going there tomorrow. Thank you so much for advising me about Nugget's and the possiblility that they may have arugula. I go to Nugget's for items that I cannot get at the other supermarkets such as canned tuna from Italy, tomato sauce from Italy (Pomi, ingredients: tomatoes) and other good food. Mangia!

Just don't ever say "a-roo-gewe-la"

I worked with someone who pronounced it that way, EVERY DAY, and it...just...drove...me...crazy!

diddl_maus

I grow lots of arugula and it only seems to bolt in dry, hot weather. I've been growing it for years and like others have said, it is best in the spring and fall. Give it another try this fall.

I had pasta with grilled shrimp and arugula at Piatti in Sonoma, California at least 10 or more years ago. I have always loved peppery greens and this treatment was memorable.

I've grown it here in FL but you have to have a LOT of plants to get more at one time than a garnish! I planted a 6 ft row and never had enough for 2 nice sized plates at one time!

Fresh Market almost always has it in bunches..if my Publix doesn't have it in the earthbound organic farm packages, which are washed and clean ..as opposed to FM's dirty shoots!

Patrick..try walnut vinegar instead of the oil! I always bring several bottles back fron France, The oil that we get here is too heavy!

LoveItaly

If you're interested in trying to grow vegetables on a balcony try www.squarefootgardening.com - you can probably get the book from your local library.

Basically he shows you how many plants to grow in a square foot for example 1 tomato plant or 9 argula plants.

I have 4 beds that are 4'x4', one has all of my herbs and 3 cucumber plants growing up through trellis. In the other 3 beds I'm growing tomatoes (they also love to grow up trellis), green beans, melons, zucchini, nasturtium, hot peppers and swiss chard.

Earlier this year I had spinach, peas and lettuce.

I don't think I have a natural 'green thumb', it's just an easy way to get organic food and fresh herbs.

BTW, I checked earlier and I have some cantaloupes that are about 8" long :-)

Hello Alya, thank you for the information. I will see if my library has the book. Will check out the website also. And futhermore, we do have a Farmer's Market in my city on Saturday morning which I always forget about...need to go to that. My former town had one every Thursday, late afternoon and for some reason I always remembered it and consequently went to it. Need to get more organized I guess. Best wishes.

I live not far from you in Contra Costa. I'll keep my eyes open here and let you know what stores I find it in. Davis also has a pretty good farmers' market I hear. You might try that if you can.

LoveItaly, you're welcome.

nonnafelice,

aren't we lucky in MA with Trader Joes? There are 3 that I can get to quite easily but I tend to use the one in Framingham most, probably because they sell wine :-)

I love that store!

Carpaccio (the real original carpaccio of raw beef, not any of the weird new uses of the name like carpaccio of vegetables :-) ) is usually served in a similar way to Patrick's steak - topped with rocket and shaved Parmesan, and drizzled with olive oil.

My favourite dish at the place we recently stayed on the Amalfo Coast was ravioli of ricotta (which actually tasted like cheese) topped with olive oil, prawns (in shell), chopped tomato and rocket. The rocket semi-wilted in the hot juices - mmm !

Another kudo for Trader Joe's. There are two within my shopping radius here in the South Bay area of SF. Just wanted to chime in that TJ has mache. It's in the bagged greens section. So good.

Arugula grows like a weed here. At the end of the season, we harvest the seeds and plant the next generation.

My absolute favourite is a bed of rocket, with scoops of melon, draped with parma ham (or prosciutto), with shavings of parmesan cheese on the top – divine!!

Angela