CantaloupeAlone

Generous plates of perfect food Hello, you want this guy making your kabobs. This cooking is better than mine, but not quite as good as Grandma's. Living in Taiwan for the last 4 years I thought I would never taste most of the Armenian/Lebanese food I grew up eating again. Even when I return to America family and friends enthusiastically try to feed me sliced cabbage, canned orange and condensed milk salad instead of my childhood sarma, lamb, kabobs, pilaf, yogurt, and lahmacun. Taiwan has a few Middle Eastern restaurants ( Sabbaba , meh) that mostly seem to cut corners or compromise true taste for the local preferences. It is not a good scene. Beyti Kabob wrapped in lavash with Turkish red pepper sauce, rice, and yogurt Vegetable Pida scallions and mushrooms on a flaky and crispy crust That has all changed. No more moping and longing from me! Safranbolu Turkish Restaurant is putting out excellent, high-quality food with authentic flavor. There is though...

From left to right, top to bottom: yams, cauliflower, vegetarian sushi, tofu and century egg, braised Chinesee greens, carrot cabbage kimchi, bamboo shoots, veggie fish patty and steamed lotus root. I remember now why I don't eat a "new food" every day now. There is a lot of greasy, deliciousness on the streets of Taipei that I simply can't stomach too often. I took a day off my 2 week-long adventure in testing my stomach's limits and visited an old staple, the National Vegetarian Buffet. It is a large Buddhist vegetarian buffet chain found all around Northern Taiwan. Taiwan Buddhist vegetarian is different from the concept I knew of vegetarianism in America. Buddhist vegetarians do not consume meat, fish, garlic or onions, but do eat eggs and dairy. They also open delicious buffets in every neighborhood which are excellent places to go and enjoy a huge variety foods. This buffet chain in particular is my favorite. They offer at least 12 in...

Springy leeks and pea greens Its April. It warm. Like leave the house without a jacket warm, but get home before dark otherwise you will need jacket. I sort of thought this month's CSA would be booming after the unseasonably warm weather. I wasn't expecting fruited vegetable (cucumber, tomato, pepper) but I thought, you know salad greens. This month's CSA is okay. Its lighter on the daikon. There is one bunch of herbs. Pea greens are here, a sure sign of spring. Can't say no to 3 dozen eggs. Kensington Windsor Terrace Winter CSA Month 5 - April 3 dozen eggs 5 lb potatoes 3 medium turnips 2 leeks 2 diakons 1 bunch collards 1 bunch parsley 1 bag braising greens 1 bag purple kale 1 big bag pea greens I'm excited for the 3 dozen eggs there is a great article in Bon Appetite this month about eggs . I will definitely try making some souffles to write about. Last time I got this many eggs I made the Thomas Keller quiche and it was such a miserable f...

winter vegetable pile I love trying new vegetables. Scratch that, I live to try new vegetables. I love to compare them in my head, and think up new combinations. In the end I mostly eat the whole thing plain. This month's Kensington Windsor Terrace CSA includes chickweed. Our pre-distribution email explain s that chickweed: " Like most wild food it is super high in vitamins and minerals (Iron, Copper, Manganese, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium, Vitamin C and A). It is higher in iron and zinc than any domesticated green. " and goes on to say , " Helps maintain healthy weight (contains saponins, which may help to bind fats and remove them from the body). Nourishing for the lungs. Helps carry off cellular debris through our lymph system and it also helps clean out and clean up cysts. Great for drawing out infections and soothing pain. Great remedy for eye problem." Oh man that is specific. Cysts look out chickweed is coming to get you. My lungs will prob...