Taste sensation
Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008, 5:23 PM by Lonely Planet
There are plenty of nasty culinary experiences to be had. Stories abound with variations on the themes of Moctezuma's revenge and bizarre local specialties. Then there are the times a taste will take you into a whole new territory, far removed from your normal points of reference. It happened to me when I first tried huitlacoche - a mushroom-like delicacy known in English as Mexican truffle, corn fungus, or the even more intriguing corn smut.
A couple of Mexican friends were devouring innocent-looking quesadillas with gusto. I was urged to take a bite, then noticed a black substance oozing from the sides. With my limited Spanish I could only catch the phrases 'found in corn', 'a kind of pest'. Images of corn-dwelling critters stuck around for a while, even after reassurances I was eating a vegetable, but the taste just blew me away.
These infected corn kernels turn to silky, inky-black bubbles when cooked. On the tongue, they release the complex, earthy flavour that enraptures the initiated.
I'll keep waiting for my next taste sensation.
- Dolores Welt
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5 Comments:
How true that you need some sort of cultural reference in order to savour a taste. Without that, it's hard to understand what some people rave about.
When i stayed in Mexico i rented a holiday apartment. That way i was not stuck with bland hotel food and i could try the local restaurants. Some even gave me ingredients to try cooking back in my apartment, but it didn't have the same cultural feel or taste as eating in the restaurant.
Black ooze does not sound very inviting. Nor does the name 'corn smut' tempt me towards tasting that 'sensation'.
Hi,
In my point of view there are variety of listings for bargians both in eating and accommodation - Lonely Planet has never been the wealthy man's guide, although if we are swimming in cash, it will do us just fine.
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martin
Social Media Marketing - 497604809.341004
But that's the point, 'Hotel Arboleda', overcoming those cultural preconceptions/prejudices and giving things a go.
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