The Omnivore's Hundred #29 Baklava

Sunday I met up with friends who are leaving the US this week for good and going back home to their home countries. So we met up at Moustache Pitza in the west village for lunch.

Moustache Pitza is a middle eastern place, with a big focus on fresh baked pita breads that arrive to your table hot, and puffed up like a blowfish. The food there is amazing, everything is fresh and you can count on a waiting a bit for your food (even when it's slow there) but believe me--it's worth it.

My friends Christy, who is going home to Malaysia, is also doing the Omnivores 100, so when we saw baklava on the dessert menu, it was decided even before we ordered drinks.

So after a delicious lunch of hummus, pita bread and various "pitzas" which we all shared, we ate baklava.

So now about the baklava.

It was pretty tasty, but I wasn't a huge fan. The crust was flaky and buttery with a nice golden top. The filling was full of nuts and a tad dry. I think it was too much for me, too many nuts.I would have liked some dried fruit maybe some raisins in it along with the nuts.

I was expecting a sweeter flavor and a moister filling. Baklava is on my Cook's 100 list, so when I make it I think I might like that one better.

That's really all I have to say about the baklava.

Omnivore's 100: No. 65 Durian

On my break today I went to check my email and facebook. When I went to facebook I found this message from my friend Christy:

hey lauri are u free tmr? i bought u durian, the no. 65 on the omnivore's hundred:)

I immediately left her back a message and texted her to get the durian. My mind was racing, how bad would it smell, would I hurl? Would people run away from me after I ate it? Christy had to get the durian from her friends car, where it had been hiding for the day. 1 Min. before my next class I see Christy calling and I run out and there she is with my Durian. Wrapped up in a bag. It smells she tells me. She also lets me know that I can freeze it if I dont finish it and want to save it. And that if I get it on my hands they will smell for a bit. Just as I was walking back to class with the Durian I saw my friend Cynthia. Poor Cynthia, little did she know when she woke up today she would be peer pressured into eating the stinky fruit. But she was in! We had a plan. After class we were going to get forks and sit outside and try this. We also thought of over places we could put the Durian to freak people out by the smell. We parked it on a picnic table outside and started. We opened the bags and the smell started to hit us. Once we opened the plastic and the box it came in it was'nt that bad. We each took a forkful and counted to three. I also held my nose, just in case. Not bad we decided. We tried to figure it out. Mangos for sure. Very creamy/custardy like. We tasted something else out couldn't put out fingers on it. Then Cynthia figured that it was mango+shrimp shumai= durian. Overall not bad. We discussed ways we could cook it and make it better. Cheesecake, pudding, a sweet bread. After I saw my friend Haruka called her over to try the Durian. As she was walking over she stopped about three yards away. She said she could smell it. She tried it, we all liked it, but not loved it. 

After we left I texted Christy and asked what I could make with it. She said ice cream , put it on cake, make pancakes with it. And creme puffs. Creme Puffs. Mhhh. So the Durian is in the freezer awaiting it's fate in the form of creme puffs. 

The Omnivore's Hundred

I love lists. I love crossing things off of lists even more. It makes me feel highly accomplished. When I saw this omnivore's hundred on Just Hungry  I knew I had to give it ago!

This will also serve as an eating checklist for me in a celebration of sorts, since I found out for sure that I am absolutely 100% non celiac. I will try ANYTHING!

Here are the rules of this

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Lauri's Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue- I made this for a christmas party once and It was a huge hit! I also got a new fondue pot at my wedding shower which I have not since used in the year. 
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari- Tentacles and all!
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart- I live in NY how could I not?
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes- Just had blueberry port the other day from Duck Walk Vineyards on Long Island. YUM!
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries- We have a great mulbery tree that leans into our yard
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese Good chance this will not happen.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (probably will not be able to handle this one, but will probably try it anyway)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters- My favorite sushi place makes this great roll with fried oysters in it.
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl- I've had both but not together
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut- :)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects Through questionable probably not.
43. Phaal (I hope I can handle this!!)
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear- I am on a mission to find one to make these cupcakes from VanillaGarlic
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine (Similar to Disco Fries!!)
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian- Thanks Christy!
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict- One of my favorite things from the dinner, or a monte cristo
83. Pocky- I eat this like its my job
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee- When I was in HS I worked in a coffee shop that sold this, I was allowed to take home the expired bags!
100. Snake


Updated November 17th, 2008 -40 down/ 60 to go!