So I just got back from a local Asian market I'd never been to before and found TONS of exciting stuff like live tanks of various fish (black grouper, striped bass, etc.) and live Dungeness crabs for something like $8.99/lb..

I also found a Durian, only two left being they were on sale for $1.50/lb., and succumbed to curiosity. My wife gave me a look like I was nuts, my daughter just said, "Keep it outside....but I WILL taste it!". Man, that kid continues to prove I raised her right. The cashier and lady in line behind me assured me that it was very tasty. Big approval all around. My wife and I WERE the only gwai lo in the store so I guess they COULD have been putting me on. We'll see.

So, anyone besides myself ever been curious/crazy enough to try one? I'm cracking mine open tonight. Tony Bourdain can't get enough of these things and Andrew Zimmern claimed it was one of the worst things he'd ever put in his mouth.

I'll report back later.....

I finally succumbed and ate some Durian while in China in March. It was actually deep fried, so I think the cooking may have taken the stink out of it. It was actually pretty good. Kind of a creamy texture and mellow flavor.

When I was doing business in Malaysia, the hotel I was staying at had signs on the elevators depicting a durian fruit with crossed circle for "NO DURIAN ALLOWED". Best description I've heard of the smell of fresh raw durian is "a really bad baby diaper".

$8.99 for Dungeness crabs? Where you at?

Man...seems like when the season is in full swing around the Puget Sound, we can get them as low as $3.99/lb.

Of course, if you have the time and gear, all they cost out here are bait (well, when you factor in the gear, then they're about $400/lb.).

I saw a few of these yesterday at the strip (pgh's market district), but they were $2.50/lb..........a little pricey.

You'll like it.........especially frozen.

pac, you have to remember I am in New York. Hell, yesterday I saw lobsters at Wegmans (our local grocer) for $9.99/lb. and those come from right around the corner in Maine! You NEVER see live Dungeness around here, hell, rarely even find them cooked!

andy, thanks for the reminder. I heard awhile back (from you maybe?) these were better frozen. just returned from putting mine in the stand-up. Planning on bringing it to the lake to share with family.

Ha! That was funny! Like I'll get anyone besides my daughter to even get near it.

We'll see.

The suspense is driving me crazy!

blech

TRUE STORY ABOUT DURIAN FRUIT

My friend Val once told me a story involving the very odiferous durian fruit - known in Asia as "the King of Fruit" but durian fruit is banned in public places such as subways, malls and hotels.

She and her family were visiting Malaysia a few years ago but had a stop over in Singapore. Her parents, who had moved to Canada about 30 years earlier, were chomping at the bit for durian. This was NOT permitted in the hotel but they went out and got one anyway from a local market.

"They brought it back and it was like they were little kids again. Giggling and all a-twitter about the durian. They opened it up in the hotel room and started to eat. I think only a few minutes had passed and we got a phone call."

The hotel staff demanded to know if they had durian in the room. Her mother lied. The official replied: "Madam, we have had reports of a durian smell in your vicinity, please tell us if you have durian." Mom did not relent.

Her parents opened all the windows and were furiously fanning the room with the hotel magazine when they heard a knock on the door. A man dressed like an astronaut was standing on the other side.

http://asiancuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/durian__the_king_of_fruit#ixzz0ORJU85HB 

LOL

JonR

like creamy onions...

durian = taste good, stink bad.

Tonight I busted my durian cherry and, like sex, I'm looking forward to doing it again.

I brought the monstrosity out to the picnic table and whacked it open with a cleaver. Since it had thawed it was like opening a spiky, pudding filled football. Once it was opened I noticed an odor but not the death odor I was expecting. It was sweet smelling but with that onion-like thing in the background. Pretty much how it tasted too but the texture was very creamy and rich. My wife's first reaction (could NOT believed she just stepped right up and took a bite!) was, "Hmmm...melons!". I get that too. But so creamy, a little butterscotch pudding and definitely that onion-like flavor in the background.

Sounds weird.

It is weird.

But it's damn good.

^freeze some of the goo...............it's delicious.

#6 Damn, that sucks. I've been walking out on low tide and picked them up just wandering around. One time I was out on the coats, digging for razor clams (outstanding clams, BTW), and amidst dozens of other diggers, there was this male dungeness crab, just wandering around.

Fresh--really fresh crab in hot butter, fried razor cleams, coupla Heinies, some garlic bread. Come to think of it, if I'm ever on death row, that's what I want for my last meal. Right there.

andy- done. couldn't eat the whole damn thing and I read the same thing. probably have some of the frozen stuff today.

pac - bite me. seriously.