Last month we spent a week on Capri and fell in love with Rocket. I had it in place of basil on the classic Pizza Margarita and with tomato and Bufalo Mozz.

Once I got home I searched the markets to no avail. So I switched to the seed companies. I found some here:
www.gardentrails.com
They list it under Arugula and have 3 separate varieties. I purchased the Rocket Salad variety and they are starting to sprout. In another few weeks I'll get my first taste.

I remember Arugula being a hot item about 15 years ago. It gained notoriety as a Yuppie affectation. I'm sure I had my share back then. I'm also almost positive that I've had it recently, though I wouldn't bet the farm on it. If I have, I certainly don't remember the incredibly strong nut and pepper taste. So, when I start to pick my Rocket, I'll do a taste test with the market variety Arugula. I'll let you know the results.

to Loveitaly
Yes, Arugula grows just fine in pots--that's the only way I can grow it because my patio is the only place I get sun in my yard. It does best in spring and fall temps--goes to seed and turns hot and bitter in the hot summer.

During our stay in Rome this past Jan/Feb we came to love paninis (grilled sandwiches) and rucola is an essential ingredient - with warm cheese and grilled bread and porchetta........mmmmm...... we bought a panini maker the day after we arrived home!

robinpb,

Yes the farmer's market in Davis is great, although I'm not sure you'd find arugula there this time of year. It's held every Saturday morning and Wednesday evening. It's a fun place to go for a picnic dinner on Wed, since a few of the restaurants in Davis have booths selling really good sandwiches and salads that you can pick up cheaply and eat on the grass in the big park there. In California they don't seem to care if you bring a bottle of wine, which is often frowned upon in Massachusetts parks.

Also, there are fun things for kids to do. Our grandchildren loved the water slide they had set up when we were recently there. (I guess this post has wandered to the point where it really belongs on the US board, but there are some very nice Italian-type foods for sale at the farmers market, so maybe that brings it back somewhat on topic.)

Caparccio, oh Carolline I agree with you, it is divine!!!

OK, I went to Nuggests here in Vacaville today (had to go anyway as I buy their canned tuna from Italy which is so good). No arugula (or by any other name). If I remember, and have time, will go to the Farmer's Market downtown this Saturday morning.

Ms Pozzum, my deck gets the morning sun until about 12:30pm then it is in the shade, would that work?

Hi Robinpb, I don't know where you live in CCC but we use to have a boat up in the Delta. And oh did we get great fruit and veggies etc. on the way to our boat or on the way home. Know the whole eastern area now is becoming housing tracts from what I understand.

Trader's Joe, we have one in Fairfield, will check that out.

Also found out today there is a nursery somewhere in NW Vacaville that has all kind of plants and seeds that one would not normally be able to buy. Sounds interesting.

Good grief, are we foodies or what? LOL. Cin,Cin!!!

loveitaly, I live in Antioch where houses have replaced fruit trees - there are still a few stands, but you have to go much further to find them.

Nonnafelice, thanks for the info on the Davis market - I have to get there before my daughter graduates! I don't know the season of rugula - thought it might be year round.

LoveItaly,

I think you're going to love Trader Joes, the stores near us have a 'vibe' to them, the staff really seem to enjoy their work - check out their New York Cheesecake if they stock it in CA - It's very nice.

They don't have huge selection of foods but what they have is really good.

Post back and let us know what you think - bye bye Safeways!

hi alya, yes indeed "bye, bye, Safeways". Guess you read my post about the checkout clerk and the sneezing incident. Safeway does have good produce but as Patrick said "they seem to be a bit snotty", LOL. And Nuggets has beautiful produce also.
Trader's Joe is about 20 plus minutes from me (by our closest shopping mall which is in Fairfield - I will check it out).

Robinpb, ah yes, Antioch, our boat was berthed for ages in Bethel Island. Since I more or less grew up in CCC (I remember when going to Walnut Creek was considered taking a drive to the country) you can imagine how I remember eastern CCC. When boating we use to stop and pick the blackberries and take them to a cafe where they would make us blackberry icecream sundeas. Beautiful memories.

I feel sad as the Bordoni Ranch on Columbus Parkway between Benicia and Vallejo which also for several years had the Bordoni Winery is being sold....and yes another subdivision will be built. I use to go there and get the tomatoes, etc. to make my pasta sauce after I lost my dear grandmother in Hayward who grew tomatoes, garlic, onions etc. A weekend making sauce and freezing it for winter dinner was such a joy. Mangia!!

I watched a show last night on SLOW COOKING thats to say how cultures like the italians, they used orvieto as an example are now savouring their food diversity and banning fast food altogether. Its amazing how foods re-connect us to travel, childhood etc.

Arugalu to Italy.
Hamon to Spain

My wife is a size 0 , so you can imagine food is not her top priority, when we travel we almost always get into at least 1 fight over food. I would have evry meal last two hours, no skipping a piatti for me, and wine why not I'll be paying 2x the price when I get back so let me enjoy my brunello, yes honey even at lunch.

Am I alone in this, for me this socialization that europeans attach to food is NA's missing component!!!

oneillchris, I agreed with you 100%. I love long leisurely meals with lots of conversation. One thing that irritates me in San Francisco is that most restaurants are so loud is almost impossible to hold a conversation anymore.

As far as those that want to "eat and run" I really try to avoid going to a restaurant with them as I feel like you do. It is such a pleasure to dine with others that enjoy eating, taking their time and making the meal a beautiful occassion. Mangia!!

Here is a web site with good information on growing arugula:
http://www.floridata.com/ref/E/eruc_sat.cfm

It says that the plant definitely does best in cooler weather. I also liked this tidbit:

"According to ancient traditions, eating arugula will bring you good luck. The oil extracted from the seeds was considered to be an aphrodisiac."

Hi LoveItaly
I'm late logging on today! Yes, I think the morning sun would be perfect--give it a try and see! I also saw at Whole Foods today arugula sprouts for sale--even if your plants don't make it past the sprout stage, you could eat the spouts on salads, sandwiches, etc.