bubble tea

I've always liked trying new types of food. Or maybe that's not entirely true. I actually paused for a full fifteen seconds after typing that paragraph opening sentence, thinking about it.

As a kid, I don't recall purposely going out and trying new things to eat and drink. I even avoided certain things...what is it about childhood that makes one so much more picky? I don't know of any child below the age of twelve who will eat pretty much anything (please feel free to contradict me...I'd like to be contradicted).

I've heard some theories that children instinctively know what vitamins they do and don't need, but that nugget of wisdom rings pretty hollow when you observe kids sticking their noses up at all the things that are supposed to be good for you, like carrots, peas, and so on. Jeff's brother, Case, used to surreptitiously scoop his peas into a small drawer in side of the antique dining room table during family dinnertime. His mom apparently found out when she was doing some housecleaning and discovered the petrified pea horde.

As an adult, however, I'm willing to try pretty much anything new, once. I purposely go out of my way and seek out interesting things to eat on a regular basis, just to keep my tastebuds from going into a rut. This past weekend, I bought some smoked apple cheddar at St. Lawrence Market. It was my indulgence of the week...a modest slice cost about six bucks. But it was SO worth it! Gustatory orgasmic heaven. Or is that somewhat of an oxymoron?



Food poll: What about you all? Do you consider yourself an Adventurous Eater? Do you like trying new things, or stick to what you know you can tolerate? Do you have any food allergies? If so, how do you cope? Is there any type of food you absolutely cannot stand? What's the weirdest thing you ever ate? Post your answer here.

I think I used to have mild allergies to bananas and kiwi fruit, but I'm fine with both now. I think I'm allergic to something in Thai food, but haven't figured out exactly what yet...I suspect lemongrass is the culprit, but I'm not sure. Sad thing is, I love Thai food. Having to now regard it with suspicion is truly frustrating.

Every so often, I purposely try foods I don't like to see if I still don't like them. I recently discovered that kiwi fruit isn't so bad after all. Still am not all that keen on sea urchin, however (still tastes like soap). As far as I can tell, I don't have any other food dislikes.

Parki and I met for lunch yesterday at Tiger Lily on Queen Street, and he ordered something called bubble tea out of curiosity (see photo at top of my Blathering). Bubble tea seems to be all the rage in Toronto these days; I see bubble tea signs in a lot of restaurants. Come eat here! We have bubble tea, we really do!

When his mango bubble tea came to the table, it was nothing like either of us expected. Mango juice on the top, round black spherical things on the bottom of the glass. Very odd-looking. Parki says it was okay, but that he likely wouldn't order it again. He let me try one of the black spheres...it was firm, chewy, with a faint unusual flavour I couldn't place. When asked, our waitperson said the black things were made from tapioca. Tapioca???

Intrigued and revolted all at the same time, I did a little reearch when I got home. Bubble tea is apparently an import from Taiwan (craze began in the early '90s), and is a mix of tea, milk, sugar and giant black tapioca balls, served hot or cold. There seems to be a massive selection of flavours in some bubble tea places, including coconut, chocolate (!), peanut, and mung bean. The bubble tea craze hit California a couple of years ago, so this is likely so pass|AMP|eacute; for you all by now.

So in my quest to seek out and explore new gustatory experiences, I've added a new 2002 goal to my list: find and try chocolate bubble tea. :-)

News/Links

Lots of interesting responses to my shower poll yesterday; do check them out in Blatherchat. Christo's comment made me laugh:

"Debbie - A whole blathering on showers and not one photo! I thought you took your camera everywhere!"

:-)

(By the way, check out
this photo of Christo performing with ex-Monkee, Peter Tork! More photos in his Web site)

Other links...

CNN.com ran an article in Nov/2000 called "Tapioca milk tea creating waves as fun coffee alternative".

BubbleTeaOnline.com
"The Ultimate Guide To Your Bubble Tea Needs". Even includes a bubble tea discussion forum, if you're so inclined. Also offers a Bubble Tea Starter Kit "for those of you who would rather make your own Bubble Tea at home".

CafeScene.com
An online guide to finding the best "bubble tea experience" in Toronto.

Blatherpics

	Bubble tea that Parki ordered at Tiger Lily yesterday.
	Snowy scene from my office window yesterday.
	Hello Kitty toilet paper holder in the women's restroom at Azul's on the weekend. I took this to show Parki and Jeff.