Comments on Vanilla Garlic: Entertaining Rambutans

Oh my goodness! You definately have Fraggles on yo...

2009-11-18T15:01:00.142-08:00

Oh my goodness! You definately have Fraggles on your blog. That is ridiculous and AMAZING! That made me smile so much. This is a great site, I will spending quite a lot of time here from now on.

Imagine my surprise when you said "Sacramento". I...

2009-11-17T08:32:57.239-08:00

Imagine my surprise when you said "Sacramento". I have never seen those at that market either - I guess I'm never early enough!

I learned to love rambutans on a trip to Bali and ...

2009-11-06T12:25:07.930-08:00

I learned to love rambutans on a trip to Bali and think they are really cool looking. I even purchased a hand carved tabletop rambutan tree while in Bali. It had about a dozen bright red prickly wooden fruit hanging from the stems. It got beat up during one of my many moves, and I miss that goofy little tree. I've never seen the fresh fruit here in the U.S. so am a bit envious you can find them.

"She untied it and plucked out five of the plumpes...

2009-11-03T08:56:05.924-08:00

"She untied it and plucked out five of the plumpest ovals she could find, their spines bending to massage her hands like eager servants."

I love this line, Garrett.

What an unexpected and exotic treat! I have never ...

2009-11-02T18:43:49.602-08:00

What an unexpected and exotic treat! I have never seen these before.

thanks for letting me know where to get fresh ones...

2009-11-02T12:57:12.735-08:00

thanks for letting me know where to get fresh ones! Here in Davis they're definitely not going to show up at the farmer's market, and the only other ones I've seen are canned around here. I love rambutans!!!

M

Do do do do do do do--(humming the Fraggle Rock so...

2009-11-02T10:18:43.012-08:00

Do do do do do do do--(humming the Fraggle Rock song).
I grew up with them as well, but the best ones are the ones I get in Indonesia. You should also try to find some mangosteen, they're delicious. Ooo! I miss fresh passionfruit and fresh jackfruit! I wish they had some around here! And durian--I think I'm one of the few that love it.

so glad to see this! I live in nyc's chinatown and...

2009-11-01T23:12:11.313-08:00

so glad to see this! I live in nyc's chinatown and see these all the time. I was curious, but never brave enough to try them. Now I think I finally will!

Fantastic Garrett! This post makes me happy.

2009-11-01T21:16:50.499-08:00

Fantastic Garrett! This post makes me happy.

When I lived in the Philippines (for six years) I ...

2009-11-01T06:56:27.733-08:00

When I lived in the Philippines (for six years) I never saw these. It wasn't until I moved to Panama (yes, like the Canal) that I discovered them.

They were sold in huge plastic bags by men, women and children on the side of the road (like newspapers, flowers, cigarettes and oranges.) Something like $2 for a full produce bag way back in the early '90s.

I asked the Americans driving us around what those were and was told "we call them monkey balls". Hah. The kids loved that and refused to ever call them anything else... so that's what they are to us.

Any time we can find them, I buy them. And we don't use a knife to cut into them... we use our teeth. ;-)

I think y'all have an H-mart around there, right? They sell them frozen there and while I haven't tried the frozen variety, I've been tempted when they're off season and my kids are coming home for a visit. They love them so much.

An odd childhood memory for them.

Hehe, being Indonesian, I grew up with rambutan. T...

2009-11-01T01:34:51.858-08:00

Hehe, being Indonesian, I grew up with rambutan. They're amazing things really, just don't ever break the stone like I did as a kid, the taste is really unpleasant. ^^;

I have yet to get my hands on these. I find lyc...

2009-10-31T14:44:46.472-07:00

I have yet to get my hands on these.

I find lychee everywhere but not as large and fresh as those of the ones in Taiwan (I'm located in the midwest)...

Garrett, you are truly one of a kind. It is the ra...

2009-10-31T10:57:17.334-07:00

Garrett, you are truly one of a kind. It is the rare person (besides possibly myself and equally goofy sister) who would compare a fruit with a fraggle! I think it should henceforth be named a Fruiggle. !!

Anyway, thanks for the entertaining post - I needed to read the humor today! Plus, you've imparted me with a bit more courage for the next time I get to my local farmer's market, also run by charming Asians: this time maybe I'll venture into what I call the "corner of adventure"...

I love rambutan and lychee. When we were touring ...

2009-10-30T21:17:34.170-07:00

I love rambutan and lychee. When we were touring Hanoi, I saw them everywhere in the street market and commented on how much I loved them and how expensive they are at home.

When our guide came to pick us up the next morning for our drive to Halong Bay he brought me a whole grocery sack full. They were fabulous!!

Of course I couldn't get them home with me (ag bans) so I ate as many as I could before we left.

Garrett, I'd suggest buying a big bag. They're o...

2009-10-30T19:07:06.297-07:00

Garrett,

I'd suggest buying a big bag. They're oddly blandly addictive, even if you've acquired the taste late in life.

(Spent a month in thailand at the beginning of summer, the height of fruit season, and we ate these things almost daily! They're a refreshing snack, and a huge bag makes a meal!)

I wish I could find them in Columbus (Ohio)!

--Crystal