It all started out with Yvonne asking me to handle the Heart of Palm she brought in from Cotonou, Benin just yesterday... Of course, I'm used to eating heart of palms, mostly in Brazil, but the most I have had to handle so far, was the can opener...
Of course, right from the beginning, Naïs, showed much interest, as usual, when any tap is opened and water is flowing. So, she 'assisted' me on the kitchen counter by the sink.
For a moment, Due to Mina's insistence in scrutinizing my attempts to remove the heart of palm's husk, I thought she might be a vegetarian. This did not prove true...
I eventually made some progress in removing as much as 50% of the 'biomass' before reaching the softer more easily digestible at the heart of the matter...This seems more appropriate as Panda food than a delicacy. Still, fresh heart of palm has a much smoother taste than the canned stuff in brine.
Part II
The Gamba/Banana
Worldwide, marine shrimp species vary much in size and coloration. These West African babies are huge! The size of a banana! check it out!
Cooked however, they tend to look like most shrimp, once fried or steamed... However, tastewise they were definitely fantastic, maybe because they are 'wild' as opposed to the 'farmed' type.... - NB. I have no qualms over farmed seafood including salmon...!
They tasted even better because of Monoprix, this week, as the chain is giving away one free for one bought of a series of items including wine... (ask Brian!) This Chardonnay did fine.
Xuxú, followed our procedures to the table, apparently fulling approving of the results.
The plate lent itself to some imaginative decoration, maybe for a next St. Valentines!
All in all I would say, Life is Good!
