Cambodian Delight: Black Ripe and White Pepper

I know I have mentioned Cambodian pepper on my blog in the past and now I have another reason to.  Today, I received a package of black and white pepper from my friend Harumi who works at the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia.  She was kind enough to send me two packages that I can't wait to use.  I think they'll be perfect for roast chicken, and probably everything else too.  If you haven't tried it yet, let me assure you that it really is delicious.

I know of only one other place that sells this pepper and it's a spice shop in Paris called Epices-Roellinger.  It's definitely worth taking a look at their website.  They have an incredible assortment of peppers, salts, spices, as well as olive oil and much, much more.  The peppers (and they have many) cost about 5.50 Euros for a 40g jar.  If you want more information about the shop in Phnom Penh I have scanned the brochure for you.

In case you have trouble reading the details, here is the contact info for the store.  I know the owner is Japanese so if you speak the language you will be delighted to know that you can read his blog. 

Kurata Pepper
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
www.kuratapepper.com
customer@ksline-cambodia.com

There was some interesting info on the back of this brochure so I scanned it too.  I wish I could visit one of these farms, it looks so cool.  It must be those farmer genes of mine.

In case you are interested in the prices, I did inquire about them.  Here they are as follows.

1. Black pepper
     50g: 4USD
   100g: 7USD
   250g: 15USD
   500g: 27USD
     1kg: 45USD

2. Dry ripe pepper (limited: not available all the time)
     30g: 6USD
   100g: 18USD
   250g: 40USD
   500g: 75USD
     1kg: 124USD

3. White pepper
     30g: 4USD
   100g: 13USD
   250g: 27USD
   500g: 45USD
     1kg: 75USD

If I had my way, I would probably buy these by the kilogram, because they're worth every penny.  I hope you try them out for yourself.

A Kiss From Mexico

I can't even put into words how cold it has been, so cold that there was a week where I stopped going outside.  Even. To. The. Grocery. Store.  That's how cold.  I started craving something warm, something hearty and it had to be a soup.  I knew it had to involve lentils, don't ask me why, I'm not even a vegetarian.  I quit that many years ago and I haven't looked back.  So, I began my search.  There were countless of soup recipes that I looked at but nothing really stood out.  I wanted something spicy, something tart but also something filling and with beans (yes, on top of the lentils).  And here's what I came up with:  A Spicy Lentil-Bean Soup with a Kiss From Mexico.  Eating it will make you happy, I promise.

Ingredients:

I should probably warn you that a lot of this soup came from a can, awful I know.  It's not that it was meant to be quick and easy it's just that I'm incredibly lazy when it comes to soaking anything overnight.  I simply can't bring myself to do it.  I like to cook spontaneously and the idea that I have to prepare something the day before turns me off completely.  I'm sorry, but unless you're making cheesecake (which I suggest is the only thing worth spending that much time on) no recipe should require 24 hours of prep time, even if it involves soaking something in water.  Of course, if you're feeling empowered don't let me stop you and go ahead, use dry ingredients.  But here is what I did:

Sautee the following in a pan:

1/2 medium sized Vidalia onion or yellow onion
4 large garlic cloves (minced or crushed through a press)
1/2 cup of chicken stock (take this from the carton you will be using to make the soup)
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil or grapeseed oil

Of course if you like a stronger flavour by all means use more onion and more garlic.  Don't let me stand in your way.

Then mix the following in a large pot:

900 ml of chicken stock (I used Campbells, you can make your own if you're feeling ambitious)
1 can of lentils
1 can of black beans
1 can of white beans

(All those canned foods!!!  Ahhh, I think I just heard Anthony Bourdain cry)

1 can of La San Marzano tomatoes (796 ml)  (use the entire "juice" plus 2-3 actual plum tomatoes)
3/4 to an entire jar of Mexican green salsa (I used the Herdez brand, it's really tasty)
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 generous pinch of chili flakes (make that two if you like it hot)
1 generous pinch of fleur de sel (or whatever salt you like)
freshly ground pepper (if you can find Cambodian pepper please use it you will love it, see Epices-Roellinger)
1/2 fresh lime (squeeze out all the juice)
1/2 fresh lemon (squeeze again)

OPTIONAL:  You can add carrots, potatoes, corn or bacon to this concoction.  Have fun and experiment.

Mix all of this stuff together with the chicken stock and then add the sauteed onions and garlic.  Cook it on low to medium heat.  If you like it thick add more lentils or beans.  The first time I made this soup I added a carrot and a potato but it was too chunky for me.  I omitted them the second time and I know that the next time I make this soup I will add corn and bacon.  I don't know why but maybe it's because this soup tastes too good to be true, and it's almost too healthy that I want to add something bad, but a little bacon once in a while won't kill you.  I hope you enjoy it as much as my family did.

And because this post has a Mexican flavour I thought I would add a bit of a literary element to it by including a couple of poems by Octavio Paz the Nobel prize winner for literature in 1990.  Happy Reading everyone.

Octavio Paz

Where Without Whom

There is not

A single soul among the trees

And I

Don't know where I've gone


Brotherhood

I am a man: little do I last
and the night is enormous.
But I look up:
the stars write.
Unknowing I understand:
I too am written,
and at this very moment
someone spells me out.


Between going and staying the day wavers

Between going and staying the day wavers,
in love with its own transparency.
The circular afternoon is now a bay.
where the world in stillness rocks.

All is visible and all elusive,
all is near and can't be touched.
Paper, book, pencil, glass,
rest in the shade of their names.

Time throbbing in my temples repeats
the same unchanging syllable of blood.

The light turns the indifferent wall
into a ghostly theatre of reflections.

I find myself in the middle of an eye,
watching myself in its blank stare.

The moment scatters.  Motionless,
I stay and go:  I am a pause.

On a final note, I thought I would share with you a picture of the new contemporary art museum that is being built in Mexico City by Carlos Slim who also happens to be the richest man in the world.  The museum's spectacular size and design will make your mouth drop.  It's just as grand as the Guggenheim in Bilboa.

I Must Have Missed This One At Adopt-a-Pet...

I wish I could keep this beautiful llama as a pet unfortunately it lives in Ecuador and I don't have an acre of land to let it graze on.  This pic was taken by my cousin on a farm called The Secret Garden, a heavenly oasis surrounded by volcanoes in Ecuador.  Don't you just want to go there right now?  Hope you're having a great weekend.

Photo by Karolina Armstrong

The Cuban People are a Beautiful People...

And so are their beaches.  In fact, I have never seen water so clean and clear before, not even in the South of France, or in San Sebastian not even in Costa Rica;  it's a perfect turquoise green, with the softest white sand you can ever hope to walk on.

Away from the resorts you can't help but think that time has somehow stood still in this country.  Foreign goods are rare and internet use is scarce and very expensive.  Before attempting to use it at the hotel we were warned that it would take a long time to download a simple web page.  And they weren't kidding.  It cost around $12 an hour and after spending 10 minutes trying to log into my email I decided that maybe this was for the best.  I was on vacation and if I couldn't handle a week without the internet, then what was the point of it anyway.  I relaxed instead and soaked up the sun for an entire week.  I'm still white like a Caucasian cabbage but I think I left with a soft and gentle glow.

I already miss the old Chevys and Ladas and Fiats that are ubiquitous on the roads in Cuba.  They give this country such an unusual and Old World presence.  It's just hard to imagine that these cars from the 50's and 60's are still going strong.

My only regret is not going to Havana but knowing that there are direct flights from the city where I live lasting only about three hours, I know that I will be going back again.  Once you're here, everything is very affordable, high-end cigars will cost you around $10 and even their rum is really reasonable.  I only wish they had more variety but being a communist country it is hardly surprising. 

This lovely bird followed me around for about an hour but when I offered it some Doritos it abandoned me at last and ran away forever.  I guess even the animals here have an aversion to anything American. Just kidding.

 

What you'll notice most of all is the people who are always warm and friendly and eager to talk to you.  I think it must be the weather because when you factor in that most Cubans barely make $25 a month you can't help but wonder what their secret is.  I stumbled upon this fisherman during my many walks on the beach.

 

Of course, a post about Cuba wouldn't be complete without some mention of Fidel Castro.  I asked around hoping to get a glimpse of this man but no luck.  I know, wishful thinking on my part.  But I did manage to pick up a post card of Fidel playing baseball in his youthful days.  I have to say he looks rather cute.  I'm not sure if that's a zero on his hat or he was just anticipating O magazine.  All I can tell you is that I left Oprah in Cuba (or at least her magazine) and she was quickly snapped up, by who I will never know.

After this post, I hope they still let me in into this country.  I know they're not very fond of journalists but I'm a blogger, so that's different.  But just so you know, everyone who arrives in Cuba is photographed at customs.  After your picture is taken it is then stored on their system, forever and ever.  Why that is, I don't know, but I suppose just like with the internet use, everyone here is carefully monitored.  Upon your departure you will pay a tax of 25 pesos without so much as a stamp on your passport suggesting you were even here. 

Who's your city?

I don't know about you but I don't feel very Christmassy this holiday season.  I keep dreaming about foreign lands.  Maybe because I have avoided the mall and all shopping this year; I don't know.  So, I decided to put up this photo I took of Monaco.  Who knew the city could be so photogenic.

I want this house...

It is just one gem I found dotted along the roads of Costa Rica's countryside when I came here for a wedding two years ago.  

It's tiny and shaped like a square box but there's something mysterious and almost seductive about it in the way the white drapes hide its interior.  I also like the cacti growing in front and the happy-go-lucky chicken roaming around.

And when you consider that most locals live in houses like this one below it puts many things into perspective:

You start to wonder how much space you really need in order to be happy.

Anyway, if you're lucky enough to visit Costa Rica you'll find it to be one of most beautiful places on earth.  If you haven't been I highly recommend it.

Here are two locals I met as I wandered away from my resort.  They were so friendly and completely adorable.  I wonder if those chickens know what's waiting for them.

I don't know about you but I'm dreaming of a warm vacation.