I got a durian for my birthday. How weird is my life?
I have fond memories of this infamously stinky fruit. It’s a favorite of my mothers, and she will fight you for the last piece. It’s been years since I’ve had one, but thanks to the global food market, my friend Anthony delivered one, frozen, to my doorstep. I gathered a coalition of the brave and willing and sliced into it.
Unfortunately, I don’t think I like durians anymore. This specimen tasted like a rotten onion and I couldn’t take more than a few bites. Perhaps it was underripe–it didn’t have the custardy texture I remembered. Or maybe freezing doesn’t do the poor fruit any favors.
Still, how many people in this part of the world have the distinction of receiving a durian for their birthday? For the sheer surprise factor, you can’t beat that.
32 Comments
August 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm
That’s so cool. Even if you didn’t like it. I do think freezing could have played a part in that—I’ve never found frozen durian in any form that was the least bit appealing to me. But then, I’m not a huge durian fan. The best durian in my experience was perfectly fresh, with breakfast on a Malaysian beach.
August 29, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Ooh! Durian! My all time favorite fruit next to mangoes. I’m sure something must have been wrong with that particualr fruit. I have eaten frozen durian before (packed in containers), although they were not as perfect as the fresh ones, they were not that bad.
One reason, I would like to visit Sri Lanka for all the fruits, especially durian and mangosteins!
October 12, 2008 at 2:34 am
I found your blog after googling Moroccan Chicken.
(I used a CREDITED version of your recipe at my food blog – chowreview.blogspot.com. Yours was the most similar one I could find to a recipe a friend had prepared for me, with preserved lemons and olives.)
Durian is one of my husband’s guilty pleasures…and I have to admit, the frozen ones here in the states are NOTHING like the fresh ones from Asia! I could stomach a pod or two of the fresh Durians. Back in the US, I can’t take more than a bite of two – the freezing throws the texture way, way off and seems to rob much of the flavor as well! Sad, sad, sad.
Happy birthday, though.
December 21, 2008 at 2:45 am
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January 4, 2009 at 4:52 am
Thats too funny. Hey, I do not even think I know what that fruit is
…
January 26, 2009 at 2:20 am
Aaaaaah! You killed it! The durian actually has seams in the shell that allow you to extract the pudding-like fruit intact in little sacs surrounding the seeds. Sorry to say, I think this specimen was a bit past its prime. The pulp of the shell definitely should be completely white and the seeds shouldn’t have a bit of brown within. Did Anthony tell you how much it cost? (If not, you probably shouldn’t ask!) \^_^/
March 21, 2009 at 10:23 am
that’s the wrong way to open a durian.. and that looks bad.. the durian is either too ripe or unripe..
come to singapore if you want to taste a good one
March 21, 2009 at 10:27 am
hey, you don’t open a durian like that.. it has seams like what steve said and you pry it open. I practically laughed out loud at that picture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl5×6xbmcNI
check it out on youtube.
March 21, 2009 at 10:27 am
u got it all wrong…. tis shldnt be the way u open the fruit…….
March 21, 2009 at 10:29 am
thats the wrong way man! the correct way is chop into the shell n twist the knife. then pry open with ur hands exposing the soft oval flesh. still , i admire you. u mus have spent ages trying to cut this durian into half. lol
March 21, 2009 at 10:56 am
LOL!! You chopped it? There is a small slit in the huge fruit. You gotta find it first. Then open it up.
March 21, 2009 at 11:52 am
omg, you so cute!
LOL, you cut the durian like a papaya….
March 21, 2009 at 12:17 pm
OMG … this is not the way to open a durian….
lol ……..
AMAZING !!! you actually chopped into 2…
Well done ! Must had taken you alot of time and effort…
March 21, 2009 at 12:22 pm
So.. i guess you made good use of the lightsaber i gave you last xmas.
PS: Perfect Cut
March 21, 2009 at 4:00 pm
lol slice down the middle. wad a tard.
March 21, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I’ve eaten durians my whole life and I’ve never seen a durian cut open that way.
March 21, 2009 at 4:44 pm
It looks weird after you cut. But sure it taste as great as it is!
Cept maybe you all hate it.
March 21, 2009 at 4:56 pm
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March 21, 2009 at 4:56 pm
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March 21, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Gosh! You should have cut it down the middle… this is the first time I have seen a durian chopped this way.
March 21, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Malaysian durians are great, but not for breakfast.
March 21, 2009 at 11:44 pm
YOU MADE MY DAY
LOL
March 21, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Epic Phail
+1
March 22, 2009 at 12:55 am
LOL @ slicing durian.
pruss huan
March 22, 2009 at 5:36 am
well done, you made the whole of south east asia laugh at you.
March 22, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Epic phailure. you SLICED the durian. =O
March 23, 2009 at 6:38 am
hey babe,
sorry about the rude comments some of my fellow southeast asians have left you. after all, how were you to know the proper way of opening a durian?
that said, your picture will now undoubtedly become legend here! indeed, looking at that picture still makes me dissolve into tears of laughter.
if you ever swing by singapore, malaysia or thailand (possibly hong kong too), do try some durians, opened properly for you by a fruitseller. you might be won over this time around =)
March 23, 2009 at 8:25 am
Ha this made my day! I have no idea how you managed to cut it that way, you have really strong arms.
March 23, 2009 at 9:24 am
That’s one hell of a strong knife and strength u have. I am saving this rare pic.
March 24, 2009 at 3:18 am
Well, this is a damn good joke? How the hell did you manage to cut it so nicely? You can open it without a knife if you know how to….. GOOD JOB!!!!
March 27, 2009 at 2:03 am
Great job on cutting the durian that way! FTW
March 27, 2009 at 4:32 am
Oh Mine..did the durian suffers any pain the way you open it. It must have been groaning and begging you during your slicing and chopping. Poor poor durian. I am sorry you have suffered so much…LOL