Pray for Seagulls

Both Andy and Alder have brought the biblical plague of locusts threatening Italian vineyards to our attention.  I suppose the viticulturati are beseeching the heavens for protection against the ravenous swarm.  Perhaps a miracle is in order?

Coincidentally, yesterday the state of Utah celebrated Pioneer Day.  And one legend in Utah’s history is the seagull miracle.  It goes like this:  Newly arrived pioneers in the Salt Lake valley race to plant crops so as to harvest all sorts of agri-goodies in the fall with which to sustain themselves during food-scarce winter months.  In a potentially disastrous turn of events, clouds of crickets (AKA Mormon crickets) appear and begin devouring the precious crops.  Said pioneers pray and pray and pray.  Out of the blue, thousands of seagulls appear to feast on the ransacking cricket horde.  The miracle birds are so dedicated to cricket eradication that they eat to the point of, umm, uhhh hurling, proceed to hurl partially-digested crickets, and then come back for seconds, thirds, and eighths.  Glory be!  The crops are saved and the pioneers get grain for the winter.

Perhaps an encore of this bird-insect miracle will play out in Italy?  Let us hope.

As an aside, the seagull became Utah’s state bird.  Yet the heroic seagull is actually the California Gull.  Ironic, no? - the state bird named after another state..

Speaking of wine, birds, and California; Oeil de Perdrix (which in French means eye of the partridge) is this summer’s best pink wine.  Find it.  Sip it.  Love it.

Comments

[Richard AB]

Thank you for that tid-bit of history, I don't know why but I actualy knew about the gulls.....

BTW, thanks for the restaurant recommendations you gave me for my recent trip to Salt Lake. I went to Em's 2 times and loved it. I wish they were in NYC!

Here is the review and photos from my blog...

http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartnyc/eat_other_cities/index.html

[beau]

Hi Richard,
I'm glad you like Em's - I should've told you to byob as the wine list leaves something to be desired (which is true for most Ut. restaurants). But the food is quite good.

I'll post the link to your Utah gustatory adventure:
http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartnyc/2005/07/ems_salt_lake_c.html

Cheers!

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