By Chuck Woodbury
ROADSIDE JOURNAL
Some friends and I were sitting around a campfire gabbing about random stuff when the subject of food came up. For some reason we started talking about artichokes and how we eat them.
I said I like my artichokes dipped in melted butter. Others said they only eat theirs when dipped in mayonnaise.
I eat my artichokes by putting the leaf into my mouth with the fleshy side up, peeling the meat off with my top teeth. But others said they eat their artichokes with the fleshy side down, using their bottom teeth to shave off the meat.
We figured that we probably all picked up our artichoke eating techniques from our parents. I know that growing up my mother always served artichokes with melted butter. I have tried using mayonnaise, but it’s not satisfying.
After artichokes we talked about bananas.
I said I always totally peel a banana before eating it. Others said they removed the peel about halfway, and then gripped the banana as they ate it. That made sense to me because your hand wouldn’t get sticky. Still, I must eat my banana fully peeled or it’s not a quality food experience.
Someone asked about peas. “Do you like canned peas, frozen peas or fresh peas?” I said I did not like canned peas because they were slimy. We all pretty much agreed we did not like canned peas. One of my friends told a story about when his brother was a little fellow and had to go to the doctor to remove a pea he’d stuck up his nose. It was off-topic but we all got a good laugh.
Do you have any particular food-eating experiences you would like to share? Please leave a comment.
My mother was born and grew up in NYC but after my parents came to NH she became a HUGE gardener. Nice to have plenty of fresh vegitables when your raising 5 very active kids. The first year of her vegitable garden she planted peas as we liked peas, but had no idea how much she should plant. We ended up that year with 96 pounds of shelled peas! We were still eating put up peas in July! We were so tired of peas I dont think she grew any for a couple of years and then only planted about 1/8th of what she had done that first year.
I eat my peas with honey
I’ve done it all my life
It may taste kind of funny
But it keeps them on the knife
My dad used to recite this to me when I was a kid. Thanks for reminding me.
The same way I would eat an elephant, one bite at a time!
I am not judgmental, but I hope this wasn’t a state or federal campground where smoking marijuana is not allowed. ’cause by the sounds of the conversation, you were all high.
I looked at the picture at the top of the article and see neither leaves nor meat. Curiously, I still have no desire to try an artichoke.
Pinch the end opposite the stalk and peel. No knife needed
No utinsels in the jungle
I was going to mention that as well… most people peel the stalk end, but “banana experts” (nonhuman primates) universally hold the stalk and pop the opposite end (which pops easier than the stalk!).
I almost always completely peel a banana before I eat it. Also, some folks peel their banana from the end opposite the stalk. Says it removes more of the little stringy things.
My 7 year old taught me what another at her lunch did. She opens the banana at the opposite end, because it is really easy. Now, you offer another reason, it really does peel without those stringy things clinging.