"No," she agrees with a soft laugh. "But American imperialism extends to the culinary horizons as much as the political." She watches his reaction to the fruit carefully, hoping he'll like it and pleased when he does.

Electric mixers are for people with bigger kitchens and a willingness to have whipped cream turn into butter when they're not looking. Let's just not go there.

She doesn't take too much cream, preferring it as an accent to the fruit, and then sits beside him on the couch. "They are," she agrees. A few more good associations with the place might make him feel better about wanting to spend time there.

"So, should I explore the new foods there further?" She's going to either way, but she doesn't have to involve him.