Tuesday, November 6, 2012

I Didn't Know Jack

Vienna.  Every time I visit Vienna's incredible Naschmarkt, I'm temporarily inspired to become a serious cook.  Often I buy a food we've never tried before just to learn and experience something new.  Attracted and tempted by the enormous size of a tropical Jackfruit, we carried a hefty slice home.  However, as we didn't know anything about it and didn't want to accidentally poison ourselves or eat the wrong parts or eat it raw when it should be cooked, I did what any cautious person would do and researched this mysterious fruit on the Internet.  Cautioned that the Jackfruit is so extremely sticky it is used to make glue and that it could ruin a knife or cutting board, we selected our least-favorite knife and covered the cutting board with foil.

The Verdict
Taste: OK—not bad, not especially great.  Time spent cleaning the knife: about 20 minutes.  Conclusion: Glad we tried it but not inclined to use our knives on it again.


14 comments:

  1. ha! I love it!

    We used to have jackfruit in Uganda all the time. The sticky stuff was so bad we used paper to try and wipe it off the fruit, and then kerosene to get it off our hands after eating.

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    1. Kerosene! That's some serious hand cleaner! Sounds like you enjoyed eating it more than we did. It may make a difference to eat it ripe right off the tree.

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  2. Jackfruit?! That's a new one on me. There are a few fruits that I know about, but am not eager to try like durian fruit. It smells so bad that it is banned on public transportation in the Philippines where it is grown, but some of the locals love the stuff. Welcome back. Your review is insightful.

    Thank you for your comment on my blog. Can't agree with you and Lowell more. We are nervous about today's election too, but I make an effort to make my blog posts and comments on other blogs as non-political as possible. Photography needs to stand on its own without reference to political philosophy.

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    1. I love most fruits but know that just the smell of a banana makes some people uncomfortable. Some cheeses smell pretty bad but taste great. Then there is andouillette that tastes like a barnyard smells. Will have to see if there is any durian fruit at the Naschmarkt. Sounds like a good birthday present for my try-anything-once husband. ;-)

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    2. There might be durian at the market, but if there is, buy a small piece (the fruit is large), give it to him outside your home and let him cut it outside. If he can get past the smell to taste it, he might like it. In the Philippines they also make durian candy. Understand it smells bad also, but have no experience with it.

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    3. Sounds like a memorable birthday experience. Maybe I can locate some Limberger cheese to go with it. ;-)

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    4. My comment about trying not to make political comments was not in any way a criticism of you or your comment. You did not need to delete anything.

      I'm happy with the our national election results, but disappointed about our local candidates. Many of them are close friends and I hate to see these fine, intelligent people lose their attempt to represent our state.

      Limburger's smell is not as bad as durian fruit, so be careful with this stuff. You might also have a wonderful backup present for him.

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    5. No problem. There are some who believe all art is political. With that possibility in mind, I've also tried to keep this blog somewhat neutral and save my rants for FB. I appreciate your comments and your work and want to respect your desire for peace.

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  3. I didn´t know this fruit... and after reading this post I think I don´t miss anything...

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    1. Don't let my comments keep you from trying it. You might love it. Just buy a small slice that doesn't need to be cut.

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  4. Thanks for the post. I've been wanting to try it, as well, and now that I have done so vicariously through you, I shall move along to contemplating some of the other curiosities at the Naschmarkt!

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    1. Ha! Maybe the next meeting of Vienna Bloggers should be at the Naschmarkt so we can all try a piece.

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  5. Hi Martha,
    Regarding durian, once smelled, never forgotten!
    The taste is quite nice though, if you can get it into your mouth without gagging!
    Durian candy mentioned above doesn't smell bad and is OK, there's no doubting it's origins though!
    On a more fragrant note, the Rathaus Christmas market is looking good, all 3 cameras are up. http://webcam.anw.at/

    Steve

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    1. Always glad to learn something new from my worldly readers. Must try this durian, either fresh or in candy form. Sounds like it would be quite an experience. Thanks for the tip (I think).

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