Strawberries are a very versatile fruit and can be used for many different dishes but personally I think that if you pick and eat a strawberry at the perfect stage of ripeness then that is just perfect. Try them with Roquefort or with cracked black pepper - incredible but true

The typical modern strawberry, of the genus Fragaria, comes from the Americas, and is a hybrid of both North and South American varieties. Ironically, the crossbreeding was done in Europe to correct a mistake; the European horticulturists had only brought female South American plants, and were forced to cross them with the North American variety in order to get fruit and seeds.

Fragaria comes from "fragans", meaning odorous, referring to the perfumed flesh of the fruit.

Madam Tallien, a great figure of the French Revolution, who was nicknamed Our Lady of Thermidor, used to take baths full of strawberries to keep the full radiance of her skin.

Fontenelle, centenarian writer and gourmet of the 18th century, considered his long life was due to the strawberries he used to eat.

Strawberries were considered poisonous in Argentina until the mid-nineteenth century.

California Strawberries and Fresh Mozzarella with Mint Drizzle
Yield: 8 servings

Mint Drizzle:
1 cups extra virgin olive oil
6 oz. mint leaves

1 lb stemmed and sliced English strawberries
2oz sugar

2 fresh mozzarella cheese slices, 1/2 inch thick
1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
as needed - mint sprigs

Blend, olive oil and mint. until smooth. Cover and refrigerate.

In a bowl, combine strawberries and sugar, cover and set aside.

For each serving:
Plate two ounces mozzarella, overlapping slices. Spoon 1/2 cup sugared strawberries around cheese. Drizzle two tablespoons Mint Drizzle and 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar over cheese and strawberries. Garnish with mint sprigs, as desired.