The Guardian's resident (?) greengrocer, Charlie Hicks, recently wrote about new and what he calls "weird" fruits and veggies appearing in some UK supermarkets. Here's his take on the pitahaya, a tropical fruit Foodie cannot recall sampling:
"This is my favourite stupid fruit. These things look like purple hand grenades. They have white flesh with little black seeds - and absolutely no discernible flavour."
Pitahaya is a desert plant fruit originally from Central America and a huge hit in Vietnam for over 100 years. Google came up with a Malaysian company that apparently sells both the fruit and a juice drink made from it. 
Clearly Foodie needs to head to a Vietnamese restaurant, and ask for the flavorless fruit, but, as today is Cinco de Mayo, she will probably make up a green chile black bean burrito at home instead.
On the other hand, C de M actually commemorates a nasty and useless battle in Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862 that pitted outnumbered Mexican militia fighters under General Zaragoza against Napoleon III's French troops. The French, though handily slaughtered, were only briefly defeated, and controlled Mexico City until 1867.
So maybe Foodie should enjoy a simple French omelet.
On second thought, maybe something from Costa Rica. It abolished its armed forces in 1949. Alas, though a friendly, bird-filled gorgeous country, Costa Rica has generally unimaginative food. Sigh.
( Fruit photo by David S Chow)
in it, though... Wife makes me drive over 600 miles round-trip to buy it there - so I stock up...
Posted by: runes of magic gold | June 22, 2010 at 05:58 AM
Yes - you CAN get Salsa Lizano at the Talin Market in Albuquerque - comes in BIG (almost 1-liter) plastic bottles. My wife is Costa Rican, and got me hooked on the stuff. No Tamarind in it, though... Wife makes me drive over 600 miles round-trip to buy it there - so I stock up...
Posted by: Vince | May 22, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Thanks, Rita--sounds refreshing!
Posted by: foodie | November 24, 2006 at 11:56 AM
A little more about dragonfruit....
Yes, dragonfruit is bland by itself. One way to 'wake up' the flavor is to peel and cut one into one inch (approximately) sized pieces. Then squeeze the juice of one lemon or lime on these pieces. VOILA! It's very tasty!
Posted by: Rita | November 23, 2006 at 08:51 PM
How about Coq au Vin with some corn tortillas? I'm not sure why, but that sounds delicious.
Posted by: Abi | May 07, 2006 at 08:50 PM
I've eaten it in Taiwan, also under the guise of Dragonfruit. And since then, I've only ever seen it in Chinese markets. Funny, I've never thought of it as anything but an Asian fruit.
They also come with purple-y insides, but whether white or purple, the taste is rather watery and non-existent.
Posted by: Raspberry Sour | May 07, 2006 at 09:12 AM
I sampled the fruit pictured in Hong Kong, but there they called it Dragon fruit. It doesn't have a strongly distinctive flavor, but it's sweet and refreshing, with a texture much like kiwi fruit. And it looks cool.
And as for your French omelet, maybe you want to pour a little salsa over it, in keeping with the holiday. ;-)
Posted by: Cynthia | May 06, 2006 at 12:38 PM
Haven't seen that in Albuquerque but I bet it exists--I would definitely try Talin Market on Louisiana.
Posted by: Foodie | May 06, 2006 at 11:01 AM
What you put on Costa Rican food to liven it up is Lizano sauce (reportedly called lizard sauce by the visiting biologists there). It is a brown tamarind-based liquid like Worchestershire sauce. Anybody know where you can get it in Albuquerque?
Posted by: Michelle Meaders | May 05, 2006 at 11:52 PM