First of all, Pierino loves strawberries. In high school we had a summer job picking them. But now I have to add that the supermarket variety is just about the most toxic fruit you can buy. Forget about "certified organic" lables, which is a term designed to benefit big agribusiness. Why toxic? Typically large farms use systemic poisons in the soil, which of course get into your berries. If you can, then buy berries at a farmers market from a small outfit where they may just raise other plants between the rows which attract beneficial insects. But ask. Now for the rant on balsamics. Most are crap. The most misused condiment of the nineties unless you count sundried tomatoes. An aged Spanish sherry vinegar is usually way better. For this very simple dessert use an authentic aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena. That might set you back more than $100 but it might just have taken 75 to 100 years in the aging process. —pierino
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