Culinary Delights

Summer means two things.  Monsoons and fruit.  I like both.  This is durian season, and I have already bought one.  Since durians are so large, many vendors cut them up and store some packaged pods in their refrigerator, but it is not the same at all.  I tried that once, and they were not edible.  I have to have fresh durian, or not at all.  Durian contains large white pods inside that are sweet, custardy, and extremely rich.  I can only eat two pods at a time.  Besides looking like some prehistoric monster, the most peculiar thing about durian (pronounced turian in Khmer) is their smell.  It is strong, pungent, and unique.  Eating durian is prohibited in public places like buses and hotels, but sometimes that doesn't matter.  When I was staying at the Royal Hotel in Battambang, I walked out of my room on the 3nd floor and immediately smelled durian.  A woman was eating some outside of the hotel, and that is am example of their strong aroma (which many people find unpleasant).

Mangosteeen are hard, purple fruit that must be cut in half to eat.  The inside contains about six sweet white pods that are delicious and savory.

I love jackfruit.  They are giant basketball sized fruit that contain white pods inside.  Generally, people cut them in half and start picking away the pods. 

Rambutan are weird looking red, hairy fruits that you can either cut open with a knife or just peel.  The inside contains the edible part which is slightly sweet, white, and has the texture of jello or snot.  It is not one of my favorites.  But they sure are pretty.