Crazy Ates

By: Marcia King-Gamble

 www.lovemarcia.com 

So I thought I would put a different spin on this month’s topic Crazy 8’s, and talk about some of the craziest things I’ve eaten while traveling.  Hence, Crazy Ates! Most of you who have been following me on this blog, know that I’m crazy about world traveling; the more exotic the country the better. Nothing gets my adrenaline pumping more than a trip to some foreign part of the world.  If you are going to venture afar, you should be eating like the natives do.

Ready?

The below picture is from my most recent adventure, arriving into the airport at St. Vincent (the mainland.)  Note the 'prop plane.' We're off the beaten path, folks.

This trip took place less than two weeks ago.  Unfortunately, it was a sad occasion. My dear uncle had passed away, and because of his prominence, a state funeral was his send off. I had not been back in fourteen years, and for another sad occasion; to bring my mother’s body home. It had been her desire to be buried in the family plot, in her native land and my birth place, St. Vincent, in the Southern Caribbean.

Foodie that I am, despite the sad occasion, I  looked forward to eating well. I grew up on foods like crab and callaloo, bakes (known as Johnny Cakes to some,) codfish and dumplings. Then there were delicacies like fried breadfruit with jack fish, and loads of fresh fruit with no preservatives.  Fruits like golden apple, plumrose, Bequia plums and soursop.  Because of this, most people are healthier than the proverbial ox, and not at all weight challenged. Walking is not considered an exercise here, it’s something that people living on small Caribbean islands do, whether they have a car or not. Roads are often narrow and winding, so why take out your car when you can get a breath of fresh air and your neighbor is a stone's throw away?  

While on the mainland of St. Vincent I consumed my share of callaloo soup (tastes like spinach,)  see picture below. This time there was chicken added to it and not the customary crab or pig’s tail. Bakes were served with freshly caught fish, and on the island of Bequia (the Grenadines,)   the owner of one restaurant, an enterprising young woman, decided I couldn’t leave without gifting me papaya (locals call it paw-paw) and a bag  of freshly picked Bequia plums.

The markets on St. Vincent offer up sapodillas, and newly hatched chickens for sale. As a special treat, when visiting an old friend’s home, I enjoyed a healthy serving of Pelau and buljol (codfish stew.)     See below.

In terms of more crazy ates, last October I had the pleasure of visiting Malawi, a city in Southeast Africa. I sampled Nsima, a staple made of ground corn, served with side dishes of meat, beans and vegetables. The country is also known for its fish or usipa which reminds you of sardines. Yum!

In my travels, I have eaten delicacies such as roasted iguana (which tastes just like chicken,) frogs legs that really are delicious, and turtle eggs, more flavorful than that provided by any chicken. Some might consider my choices crazy,  but I  believe when visiting a country, visitors should do as the natives do, and turtles are not considered an endangered species in these countries.

Another funny  discovery I made, was  KFC and McDonalds; food chains that I  normally would not patronize there or here, considering them such an American thing. But on the urging of a friend, I tried KFC on the island of St. Vincent.  Wow! What an experience. The unique Caribbean spices  made KFC  tastier than the norm. In fact, I went back in search of more, even putting up with lines that wound around the block. I'd had a similar experience at McDonalds in Frankfurt, Germany with burgers that tasted like they came from an gourmet chef.

All this to say,  when visiting foreign countries, don't miss out on an unbeatable culinary experience.  Step out of your cultural, comfort zone,  and experience the region's food. A crazy ate, is a dining experience  you're guaranteed to remember for the rest of your life.  And just might be food for the soul.

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook:http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

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Eight Dimensions of Me

To paraphrase the perennial classic, these are a few, well, eight, of my favourite things. Not eight discreet items, I’ve lived too long to have only eight favourite things. I do have favourite categories of things though, and after some thought, I came up with my top eight. In no particular order, here they are.

British TV:  I’ve always enjoyed British TV, from comedy (Monty Python, The IT Crowd, Blackadder), to game shows (Pointless, 15 to 1), to panel shows (Mock the Week), to drama (Shetland, The Bodyguard). Given the choice, I’ll stream something British on Netflix rather than watch my local cable TV.

Sweaters I’ve knitted:  I learned to knit as a child but paused for many years for other interests, like piano lessons and boys. I took up knitting again when I got married. I attempted to knit a pullover for Mr. S. but I ran out of wool halfway through knitting the second sleeve – I know! I took up knitting again when I had babies and haven’t stopped since.

Son1 in a cardigan knitted with the wool from failed pullover.

Desserts:  I always eat dessert after supper, a habit established in infancy – or at least as far back as my memory will stretch. Baking is my favourite way to unwind and I love trying new recipes. If you subscribe to my newsletter (www.luannastewart.com/newsletter) you’ll hear about my baking.

Bread:  A theme seems to be emerging – I like food. But I love bread, any flavour, any variety, from a chewy country loaf to a tender, buttery croissant. I could happily eat bread all day long.

Italian cuisine:  By far my favourite. Though I do enjoy the spices in Indian food – cumin, coriander, garam masala – and I enjoy a good stir-fry (check out recipetineats.com for delicious versions and other scrumptious recipes), my true comfort food is pasta topped with a sauce of garlic, tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

Music:  As a kid, we always had music playing on the radio or on the record player. Mum listened to Englebert Humperdink, Dad listened to Chet Atkins, my brother blasted us with BTO (Bachman Turner Overdrive), and I enjoyed Bobby Sherman and the Bay City Rollers. I mentioned piano lessons in an earlier category. I studied classical piano for much of my childhood early teen years and managed to pass grade eight of the Royal Conservatory of Music. So there I’d be in the living room practising The Horseman, Op. 68, No. 23 by Schumann, and my brother would be in the downstairs rec room serenading the entire house with Foreigner.

Travel:  I love travelling – except for the long uncomfortable plane rides – and would gladly spend half the year exploring foreign lands. We recently returned from a few weeks of travel in Europe culminating in a stay at a friend’s house in Cyprus. I had no idea what to expect from Cyprus and I discovered a fascinating country that requires further exploration.

One of the many spectacular views to be found around every bend in the road.

I also enjoy reading travelogues, or fiction that incorporates travel in the story. One of my favourite authors, Elizabeth Peters, takes us through Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East in her Amelia Peabody series, which I re-read regularly.

Cats:  I’ve had at least one pet cat at a time since childhood. There have been a few breaks in feline dominance but never more than a year. Then the need for a furry friend becomes too strong to ignore and we hie off to the animal shelter to be chosen by our next overlord. We currently share the house with two cats – Bruno and Mogget.