Same Food, Different Flavor

"Make yourself available for the experience."  Marianne Williamson

This is a definite experience and I'm trying!  So, as I write this, it is MY Friday afternoon.  Alex is at school.  Joe is off to Macau for the day, for work.  I am still trying to figure out how to be Tammy in Hong Kong!  Everything is different and I am the same.  Yet I am completely different.  Everything I once knew about myself has shifted. The friendships, the community, the job, the routines, the food, the transportation, the language, the customs, the places to shop, the weather, the seasons, and, brace yourself...the TV options.  Oh how I miss a good, bad TV show to get my mind off of things! LOL!

FOOD AND GROCERY SHOPPING

 

So I've been cooking but so far I am not impressed with myself.  I need to learn how to make food really yummy again.  So much is imported here that nothing has the same flavor.  Fruits and veggies, breads, and, as you see above, the proteins are a whole new experience here.  The meat in the grocery stores is super expensive but the other option is the street markets where you can find the above selection sitting out all day in 90 degree weather with 80% plus humidity.  Not brave enough for that yet. 

                                                                               

NAME THAT FRUIT...

When I first arrived, a beautiful, large fruit basket showed up from Joe's store and coworkers to officially welcome us to Hong Kong.  It was filled with amazing pears, plums, grapes, apples, grapefruit, and several things I wasn't familiar with, like the above.  Turns out it is a dragon fruit.  I wasn't sure how to eat it or prepare it so I cut into it and this is what you get:

It's good.  I wouldn't say I'm in love.  I think it would be great in a big fruit salad with other flavors to balance it.  Now, speaking of salad...not a big deal here.  I love a salad.  Green salad, fruit salad, spinach salad, pasta salad, etc.  Here...not so much.  They cook their vegetables and don't usually serve lettuce cold. 

THE GOOD NEWS AND MY BEST FIND SO FAR

WINE IN A GLASS, TO GO!

This makes me happy!  I went to get a bottle of water at a little food store and LOOK...They have white and almost-red wine in a glass with a sealed top on it, kinda like a pudding cup for grown-ups!  So, I figure I have many more wonderful discoveries ahead but the glass-o-wine is good enough for now!  Pam, Carla, and all my wine country ladies...come join me for a glass!  My treat!!