Posts filed under 'food'
Andrew had remarked the other day that he liked the oranges in Crete, and wondered if we could could buy some. Since the kinds of oranges he wanted could not be bought in a supermarket, I had to find a street side stall or a farmer’s market. Fortunately on the way to Lasithi there was an older man selling all kinds of Cretan produce.
His oranges looked quite miserable. They were beaten up and dirty and small. Our reaction was to be disdainful of the whole affair and turn to leave. The Cretan noticed our disdain, noticed how we were gingerly picking through his produce, and in a fit of pique, reached for a bag, and began to fill the bag himself.
Convinced that we had offended his Cretan pride, we bought the oranges and headed out, convinced that we had been had. These dirty, small, beaten oranges could not be that tasty, now could they?
Boy were we wrong! These must have been the tastiest oranges we have ever eaten without a hit of the acidity. They were pure breathtaking sweetness. Just look at the orange…
Andrew heard me moan in pleasure as I ate my orange, and could not be bothered to completely peel his, removing enough skin to begin to eat.
And he attacked the orange with passion and energy.
Just look at how juicy the were…
April 14th, 2008
After our taking many, many pretty photos, swimming it was time to eat. So we decided to go to a restaurant recommend by the Rough Guide Crete called Delfini Tavern.
This was a classic Greek fish taverna, whose tables were right next to the sea.
The owners had a menu with a laundry list of useless food items. The right way to order was to ask the waitress what kind of fresh fish was available. You then picked the kind and quantity (500 grams, 750 grams, 1kg), the method of cooking and then she brought them to you. You can also order some appetizers. The tzatziki was well done with the right amount of garlic. The Greek salad had some amazingly tasty tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Here we see Andrew eating an octopus
and some tzatziki.
We had some amazing fish including my all time favorite Barbounia or Red Mullet.
As you can see very little was left after I finished eating my share of the fish.
After we paid, we got up to leave the table, when the owners came after us saying: But how you can leave without eating some fresh fruit? And boy was the fruit fresh. The oranges were unbelievably tasty!
As we left the restaurant, I noticed that one of the interior walls of taverna were being painted by a local painter. As we left, I took a picture at him working…
April 13th, 2008
Last night, after the sessions at LISA ended, I decided to go out and eat some meat. After all I am in Texas.
It turns out the place I went to is within walking distance of my hotel, The Hyatt Regency, on 702 Ross street off of Market and is called Y. O. Ranch.
And yes the meat was fantastic.
But the reason I wanted to move to Texas is because there were 5 or 6 steak houses right next to each other! Literally one right next to another. Not fancy fluffy California fusion with mixed greens and arugula, but honest to God steakhouses! Places where the beef was beef and the meat was meat and the men were men.
This is a place, where buffalo meat is considered exotic!
When I told the waiter that I live in California, he smirked at me and asked if they actually serve meat in the state. I told him yes, but the steaks you buy are about 1/18th the size, and most of the time the waiter is explaining how the cow was a happy cow that lived a full and productive life when he’s not looking at you like a baby killer. I then told him about my challenges in trying to find a spit-rod for my roasted Lamb, and he had this perplexed expression on his face: why is finding a spit-rod so difficult to find? How do you roast pig?
So I am moving to Texas.
My wife pointed out that if I do move to Texas, i have to support Bush. But I pointed out that Texas was also the home of such fine upstanding politicians like Lyndon Johnson and Ann Richards. And after all I live in a state with a Governator!
November 15th, 2007
The California state government, bowing to the pressures of the large agribusinesses that do most of the farming, have chosen to ban the sale of raw unpasteurized milk. Of course, an outright ban would have been too obvious, so instead they made the requirements to ship so onerous, that the small farmers that sold the milk will no longer be able to sell it.
This is an outrageous, unacceptable, overreach by a state legislature to kill a segment of the farming community to serve it’s political paymasters in the large agribusiness under the tattered fig leaf of concern for the health of Californians.
If you care about the right of individuals to buy products that are safe then please go to this website:
http://www.organicpastures.com/contact_lawmakers.html
And follow the instructions to protest this recent law.
As if we don’t have more important matters to worry about.
November 11th, 2007
Every Sunday morning I go to the Sunnyvale Farmer’s Market.
My wife, fresh off her triumphant manufacture of plum jam, remarked that I could get any fruit I wanted to turn into jam, and she would do her magic.
I asked: How much fruit should I get?
And she replied: Whatever you think is appropriate.
You would think that after 9 years of living together she would know better. I bought 12 pounds of strawberries. Yes, 12 pounds. Why? Because I am Greek male, and that makes me incapable of buying the right quantity of anything unless someone tells me exactly what to do.
After an hour of cutting, followed by 10 minutes of stirring, we had a pot full of proto-strawberry jam stewing over a simmering fire.
My poor abused wife sat and slaved over a hot fire
( okay, she’s not that abused
)
to produce an excellent jam
that she then put into plastic containers
to be eaten over the winter.
July 30th, 2007
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