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Che fico!
While living in Rome, Italy, “che fico!” was one of my favorite phrases. Literally meaning “what a fig,” che fico means “How cool!” It’s like a fruity cousin of “Cool beans!”
My fig tree exploded this year, leaving me picking and slicing and roasting and eating and…researching.
Let’s go!
My fig tree in action.
Gettin’ Figgy With It
My overflowing cutting board.
Associated with expressions of joy, desire, and more, this juicy little plant’s long history has intersected with medicine, mythology, and Medieval times, and continues to be valued among countless cultures across the globe.
Hear the phrase “fig leaves” and a marble statue with some foliage covering its nether regions is what usually pops into mind. But in addition to obscuring naughtiness, the fruit is also associated with fertility and a woman’s downstairs. This sometimes forbidden fruit is linked to the satyr Priapus and other mythical folk associated with sexual desire and general Bacchanalian pursuits. (So no surprise figs are associated with Bacchus/Dionysus, as well.)
The fruit is found throughout religion and art. The Sacred Fig—ficus religiosa—or Bo (bodhi) Tree is revered as the tree the Guatama Buddha sat under when receiving enlightenment. The fig tree has been depicted in art for centuries and on occasion as THE tree in the Old Testament, the one with the devilish fruits hanging from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eat a fig, and you become omniscient—and exiled.
Roman Pliny—The Elder? The Younger? One of the Plinys—kept a list of the many species of figs known to exist. More recent writings about the history and prevailing importance of figs can be found in Mike Shanahan’s book, Gods, Wasps and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees.
Wait. Wasps?
Figs are kind of inside-out fruits that “bloom” on the inside. Many varieties self-pollinate. Others come from trees with either male or female flowers which require wasps to do their bidding. It’s a beautiful story of sacrifice, death, and the yummy treats that result. A female wasp enters a male fig (interesting turn of events, this) and…will never leave again! Male wasp babies mate with their sisters! An escape route is dug! Not everyone escapes!
I took a bite.
But Wait! There’s More!
It’s an anti-toxin! It’s a kidney cleanser! Pesky boils got you down? Plaster some fig on those suckers. Have a cavity? Figs got you covered. These fruits are truly the Ginsu Knives of the botanical world. In fact, many people still use figs as a laxative to this day…whether they intend to, or not.
Use the fabulous fig as a Medieval mordant to dye your favorite fabric. Use it in the kitchen as a binder. Visit this delightful blog post from one of my favorite spots on the planet, the Cloisters Museum in upper Manhattan (which coincidentally makes an appearance in my forthcoming book Obstinate Daughters.)
#CaptionThis
Speaking of Obstinate Daughters and things revolutionary….
Founding Figs
Figs make an appearance in the archival matter of many a colonial American. Here is a small sampling from Founders Online:
Gouverneur Morris—a very colorful character—wrote John Jay in 1776 questioning the eligibility of a brigadier general as a member of Congress, quipping, “…I would not give a Fig for your Resolution…”
In November 1776, George Washington wrote wistfully to his younger brother, John, about how things might look after the war: “God grant you all health & happiness—nothing in this world would contribute so much to mine as to be once more fixed among you in the peaceable enjoymt of my own vine, & fig Tree.”
More than a few writings of the time quote or paraphrase the following bible verse when wishing one happiness and better times: “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid.” Micah 4:4.
On July 5, 1779, at an Independence Day banquet, guests dined on “… vast amounts of gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, pears, apricots, lemons, melons, figs, artichokes, carrots, turnips, onions, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, peas, mushrooms, cucumbers, green beans, grape leaves, and ‘fines herbes’.”
The account of this gathering also noted that, “guests dined under the inspiring gaze of a full-body portrait of George Washington, shown holding the Declaration of Independence and the Franco-American Treaties of Alliance and Commerce, and trampling the British conciliatory bills.”
Good times!
The Recipe Box
Upside Down and Delicious
And now to the best use for figs…eating them.
Fig recipes abound, and I have more than 20 jars of homemade fig marmalade in my pantry as I type this (and much more to make). In addition to being the stars of everything from salads to pizzas, figs make a great binder and natural sweetener. Most recently I made this tasty treat: Fig Tarte Tatin.
Tarte Tatin in process…
Tarte Tatin before the flip…
Tarte tatin post-flip, pre-devour.
I am not including the full recipe here myself, because I didn’t come up with it. I did however tweak this recipe courtesy of Francoise’s Kitchen by subbing out the dairy for Miyokos plant-based butter and adding a dash more balsamic vinegar, because I love the decadent tang it brings to the party.
Bruno has a lot to hide…
Until next time…
More new and (I think) exciting things are coming in the newsletter going forward.
I am, as always, digging into the past and into my garden. Hope you’ll join me in either or both of those rewarding ventures.
With Gratitude,
