Exotic fruit and my first giveaway

I have seen chatter on twitter in favor and against giveaways. I haven't really thought about it much but on impulse decided on a giveaway. Might I add it's a non foodie giveaway on a food blog. The one year anniversary for my blog is in November, and if you do the math it's already past my six month anniversary, but it's my 23rd year wedding anniversary to a great guy this Monday, July 12. My husband and my son are the biggest and best things that happened to me, but I do take immense pleasure in the little things in life as well.
As recently as last Thursday I was dotting all over the metro DC area and one of my stops was at the Korean grocery store which brings me to this challenge, but wait, for just few moments, at the market I was astounded to find organic beech mushrooms, I also picked some passion fruit, guavas and the fruit above. I also happened to run into two little old Asian nuns carrying heavy grocery bags as I was walking out to my car. It felt surreal, time was suspended, lapsed and I was in some other place and time. It was Fairfax! The next day, on Friday, at a dinner for an American friend who is living in Paris visiting home, I was telling our guests of my organic encounter and the nuns. Our friends were convinced the nuns were Buddhist nuns, only thing they were wearing crosses, so maybe Korean catholic nuns?! It brought up images from Italy or Coptic priests in Jerusalem and all that while I was seeking madly for produce for a dinner party. I felt like a stalker and wanted to approach these two old Asian nuns but I did not want to scare them, and what if they did not speak English and maybe they do not wish to be gawked at. I should know a thing or two about that. Just like this story I thought it would be wonderful to hear yours as related to this fruit. Not many rules about this giveaway. Please leave a comment in the comment section of what fruit is this and any real story you wish that is connected to this exotic fruit. It has to be a real story even if you make new memories or if this image evokes thoughts related to this exotic specimen. The story can be like the one I just told, it can be about the sensation of the fruit, memories growing up eating it or anything you wish to share even if you never encountered or tasted this fruit. Again, please remember to name the fruit first if you can! Looking forward to reading all your comments! Now to the giveaway, I import handmade fashion jewelry and art on leather belts, bags an wallet line from wonderful artists in Israel. This necklace is made by one of my favorite artists, Gabi. It's a versatile crochet necklace and the winner can pick the gold color crochet or silver. The beads are mostly Czech glass beads. Instructions on few different ways of wearing the necklace will be attached. You can wear it casual to dress up your jean and t-shirt or for special occasion.  Girls, I look forward to your comments. If you are a guy, not married or do not have a female partner, I am sure you have a woman in your life you wish to gift this necklace to, a mom or a friend, so please feel free to leave your comment as well! See pic of giveaway below. Deadline for comments is July 30, 2010. Winner will be announced July 31, 2010. Free shipping in US and Canada only.


*Hint: Fruit found in South America and Asia but cultivated now in Israel as well, where I was born and raised and introduced to this fleshy, sweet, exotic fruit.

17 comments:

  1. That's not...a cherimoya fruit, is it? I've never had one, but I always thought that I'd love it - after all, it's Mark Twain's favorite fruit. I remember seeing photos of it in the Harry & David catalogs my mom and dad would get in the mail, and thought it looked DELICIOUS.

    Also, that jewelry is beautiful.

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  2. @foodwanderings Exotic fruit you are asking about is Cherimoya 25 minutes ago via Power Twitter in reply to foodwanderings

    Tried to post this @ 10:51am on UR site but UR site wouldn't take my twitter URL or name Winterthur twitter.com/winterthur

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  3. It's a cherimoya. I've never tasted one; only heard of it. It sort of reminds me (very loosely "sort of!) of a jack fruit.

    Cheers!

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  4. Cherimoya or custard apple, I have always wanted to taste one. That and the stinky durian. And a cashew fruit. Lol.

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  5. That's a cherimoya. We have lumpier looking version in Asian tropics. They are a tasty slimy fruit that I've always enjoyed eating while still a bit tart. Cherimoya, wax apple and the indigenous guavas are the the things I missed the most about my childhood in Taiwan. I do not long for the crowded conditions, the oppressive sun, the long air plane ride but I will dream about the tropical fruits I can't get here in Fairfax. =)

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  6. Oh custard apple... once had a tasty beverage with you in it. So delicious! And I love giveaways!

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  7. Yup - cherimoya! This is a treat I see from time to time, brought to me by one of my Jamaican co-workers. I bring her sapodilla from my tree, and she brings me whatever she thinks might weird me out. Rarely does. She says I'm not really a little white Jewish lady - I'm really Jamaican in the wrong body. :-D

    BTW - I've really got my eye on that gold crochet necklace. :-))

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  8. It's cherimoya. My story? I don't know where to start, or rather ... where to stop. I had the great fortune to be able to live in Asia when I was working for AOL. My first assignment was 2.5 years in the Philippines and being exposed to unfamiliar tropical fruits were a regular and welcome part of life.

    It reminds me of the time an employee was excited to present me with a papaya he'd grown. It was as big as an elephant's head! I didn't know what to do with it, but accepted it gracefully. I was sure he was giving away something his family would enjoy for days, but that he wanted to give me something he was proud of.

    I love both necklaces, but the gold one catches my eye.

    Thanks for the giveaway, and don't sweat it. I don't see anything wrong with giveaways in the food blog world, especially when the prize is not food related at all.

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  9. The Korean grocery store is full of special fruits and vegetables. I don’t always dare to try but this one looks so good. I should probably plan a visit this weekend.

    The necklaces are beautiful. I love the dark one.

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  10. it's a cherimoya but i've never had the pleasure of eating one! and the jewelry is absolutely GORGEOUS!! Would love to have either as I have a thing for 'handmade' jewelry!!

    my story - Italy; had heard about blood oranges but had never, ever seen one or eaten one and couldn't figure out why on earth everyone made a big deal about 'an orange' for goodness sake! until i tasted one, fresh from the market - life has never been the same!

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  11. I believe the fruit is a Cherimoya. I have never personally eaten one, but I have a friend who is from Korea, and she has mentioned them before. They are a bit more difficulty to find in certain areas of the US- but I will keep my eyes open for them- I would love to try them.

    Beautiful jewelry by the way, I like the black and red one best!

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  12. It's a cherimoya, which I've heard is sometimes called the ice cream tree which is a very creative way to describe the tropical custard like flesh.

    My story is not about the cherimoya but about a fruit that has some similarities - the durian - that famous fruit that some airlines forbid you to bring aboard for its famous "aroma". I was studying cooking in Thailand and we were offered a bite of durian. It looks like a rugby ball on acid. Attached to a chain, it could be a medieval weapon. The smell alone is hard to get past and it's been described as rotting carrion which is, of course, not exactly appetizing... however, I am not one to pass by a new taste sensation so fingers clasped over my nose, I tried the durian and was pleasantly surprised at its flavor, so much so that I took my finger clamp off my nose so as to better appreciate the nuances. It was like a thick whipped cream flavored with every tropical fruit you can think of: pineapple, passionfruit, mango with some nut, some vanilla and something - fermented. It was the most unique fruit I've ever tasted. Be warned: the locals told me never to eat durian and drink alcohol. Apparently your stomach can't handle the combination.

    Gorgeous gorgeous jewelry, I love them both, but tip towards the multi-colored one.

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  13. On second thought, I prefer the red and black.

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  14. It looks like a relative of the artichoke to me...and in truth, have NEVER seen or heard of this fruit but I'll take a wild, pie in the sky guess and say it's a cherimoya!

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  15. It's a cherimoya! My parents are huge fans and yet, I'm not particularly adventurous when it comes to fruit. Oh, and the gold necklace is lovely :)

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  16. Hi Shulie! I will admit that I didn't know what it was. Makes sense, though. My Israeli dad speaks nostalgically about the cherimoya tree that he grew up with. It's nice to get to see what they look like, especially with the beautiful photos that you took!

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  17. custard apple is something i could eat non-stop but haven't seen since i have been in london...www.chackoskitchen.blogspot.com

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