Lifespan of a Chennette

So, my good friend, former roommate and longtime reader posted some questions for me the other day. I try to be good, so here are my answers!

1) Do you prefer hot dogs and hambugers…and why and what do you like on them?

I can’t stand hotdogs – sausages and most preserved, cured or smoked meats make me a little sick, their smell, texture; I react badly to them. My theory – it’s a food allergy. Or, just good taste (Caveat: I have eaten Bosnian sausage and dried Bosnian beef neck with bread and cheese and liked them, as well as the Rik’s Pizza sausage, but those don’t have the same taste or texture. And probably not made the same way).

Hamburgers I like sometimes. Burnt and crispy. With mayonnaise. No ketchup or mustard. No sloppy tomatoes or raw onions. Maybe some lettuce. I am not a meat sandwich person so I am picky when I DO eat them.

2) What’s the most adventurous food you have ever had and where and why?

I think sushi was my most adventurous – raw fish, new flavours – but I loved it. First had it in Edinburgh. Before that, it may have been a seafood pasta, with squid and mussels etc that I had in Jardin des Tuileries in West Mall. Love seafood, but it takes a bit of getting used to the rubberiness. I am so texture oriented.

3) Which food do you hate the most?

See 1 above. Sausages and the like. Also hate processed cheese slices – taste like plastic. And I have a ridiculous and self-caused aversion to vanilla essence.

4) If you were stranded on a deserted island and had only a three course meal – what would it be and why?

Yikes. This is hard. Dessert – coconut ice cream because I’d never get tired of it (no sinus allergies on this island right?). Appetizer – something fried and crispy? calamari! or bruschetta. This is hard. Main course…something with rice meat and peas. Pelau or biriyani maybe. But this is what I am feeling now.

5) For your wedding what would you serve…and why?

Lamb biriyani. I like it and whether I have a small or big, simple or fancy wedding, it’ll meet the challenge.

6) If you were on a diet, what would be the hardest thing to give up?

Pizza. Cheese.

7) Do you eat when you’re depressed…if yes, what’s best?

Popcorn. It’s light and doesn’t make my sinuses object and I can eat a whole big bowl of it. Gives my hands something to do to eat all those little fluffy kernels. Reminds me of being in a cinema. Followed by a hot drink of something.

8 ) What’s your favourite drink…I should know this?

Ahm…dunno.

9) Does your Dad cook, does he have one ‘great’ dish – what is it?

Eggs. Dad makes eggs. Whenever we were left alone with him as children we’d get eggs. It wasn’t always great, because he and sister, the elder loved poached eggs and I couldn’t stand them (texture). Apparently, when he was a student in the UK, his landlady took pity on his non-cooking self and taught him that much. In the last decade Mom has taught him to cook some basics for when he is in the US on studyleave during the summers. She wrote out recipes and shopping lists for him in a copybook.

10) What kind of chow do you like and what do you put in it? And are you like ALL trinis who feel that their chow is the BEST because of….whatever it is that they add?

Nah, I don’t claim my chow is the best. We grew up making chow whenever something was in season. Cucumbers if nothing was. Half-ripe mango. The classic, with shadon beni and garlic, salt and of course, pepper. I also like ripe mango chow, for the contrast in flavours. Guava chow I have not had in ages. But half-ripe mango is definitely my favourite. Although…age tells. My stomach may not like it as much as I do

11) What is your favourite fruit?

Argh. Tough again. Is coconut a fruit? I like pawpaw.

12) Favorite kind of mango and why?

Ice-cream mango. Do I really have to explain?

13) Favourite kind of banana and why?

Ah. Think I am allergic…

14) What’s your Mum’s favourite dish to cook?

It varies. She likes to make kibbeh and biriyani. Saim! Best to ask her.

15) Can Lilandra cook?….smile just kidding?

Cook? Her? Ha! She doesn’t know what a kitchen looks like – we have to post directions. (hehehe…how long till she replies to that one!!)

16) Can brother cook?

Allegedly. Although the only thing I have ever seen him make by himself was Crix fried in butter (don’t ask, it was apparently a neighbourhood boy fad in our village at some point). Actually, he can cook. He can make paratha. And he made pizza dough on his own. And always participated in making things he likes. There’s probably a whole list of things he can cook, but I haven’t seen the actual proof.

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Ok. Those are my answers. That was like homework Next time – I get to ask Hmmm questions! Although I have to hurry before the baby is born and she doesn’t have any more time for my blog…