Yes, We Have No Bananas

The food really can be amazing here – fresh fruit, chicken, yucca, fish, cacao, lemongrass tea, avocados – talk about only eating things grown within a few miles of home. The challenge (for me) is to take those items from their current state and make them into something edible. I’m categorically unqualified to prepare a live chicken or fish and most of the fruit I’ve never even seen before. Keep in mind that there is only a camp stove available, no refrigeration and water is at a premium. There is no corner store or market or anywhere other than your backyard to get most of what you need to eat.

Thank goodness for rice & bananas. Rice goes with everything and at every time. There are about a dozen different types of bananas – which can be prepared in a dozen ways. For the record, I need no more boiled green bananas…ever.

There are also a fair number of critters running around which can be bbq’d (again, not by me). Agoutis, peccaries, and several other names which I can’t remember – but they all are kinda rabbit, rodent, pig-like creatures which are downright tasty.

We felled a 40ish foot palm tree – to get at the heart. Check out the size of the heart of palm. Price is right too.

And what you’ve all been waiting for – weird stuff. I’ve eaten two bbq’d grubs – taste like bacon and chewed on a cooked chicken toe (see photo) – I don’t think I did it right – there is a technique for everything. I did turn down a raw, live grub opportunity (only thing I’ve declined). The video of the grubs squirming around is way more interesting than the still shot – but you get the idea. Btw, you can find them in rotting palm trees and they are also used for fish bait (versatile).

I admit my body craves chemicals from time to time and I add margarine to my rice. Mmm yummy.