'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Saturday 5 June 2010

A Jungley Breakfast

Up in Kerikeri we breakfasted each morning on the sunny verandah overlooking the tropical lushness of the 'Wharepuke' gardens.
A tame jungle fowl arrived early and waited while the coffee brewed and we set the table with our tropical fruits.


Feijoas, mandarins, gold kiwifruit, and, straight from the tree nearby, those green things that look like unripe apples are Casimiroa edulis, or white sapote. I had never tasted one before and it was absolutely heavenly! A soft, custardy, creamy texture, not too sweet, with a flavour somewhere between a musky peach and vanilla ice-cream. My mouth is watering at the memory even now as I look at the photo I took.
I've saved the seeds. I hope they germinate.


Next morning, guess who was waiting politely on the doorstep for some more breakfast crusts.


6 comments:

  1. I have never tasted Sapote. They sound similar to Custard Apples?
    That bird must know it is sure to find a tender heart.

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  2. I think that was the name the owner used to describe the taste. I've not tried Custard Apples.

    Yes. That's exactly right, that chook knew a kind heart. My companion's. Birds are wiser than you'd think.

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  3. Mmm. I've never heard of, or tasted, sapote, but they sound very tasty!

    The jungle fowl is cute - the ancestor o our hens, yes?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hiya Jay. No - she's just a regular domesticated chook (a kiwi-ism for hen). Just me trying to make the post more jungley.

    ReplyDelete
  5. How lovely Katherine and in my imagination - so NZ. Please inform your parliament that we are planning to come around Christmastime 2011 so that they can debate our itinerary and security arrangements.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aha. A 'round-about' date. I'll let them know.

    Re. security arrangements; if you continue with the racist comments they'll have to hire twenty bodyguards for your around-the-clock protection.

    ReplyDelete

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