Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Spree Lantern Fruit

Suitably random title for an unthemed post.

I have been working hard the last couple of weeks, and we are now mostly caught up, so the other day when I got to leave at 5pm, I treated myself :)




1. Shelli Segal, bless her for making jackets in size 2. Ready for summer in linen and cotton. (My classic LBD is also "off the Laundry line".)
2. A pleasant reunion with Etienne Aigner, and in sky blue. (One of my fave pairs of shoes were by him.)
3. Some random tiny leather belt that sits discreetly on the waist. (For when I don't want a noticeable buckle.)
4. A cream t-shirt with gorgeous crocheting and lace on the yoke. (Took it home, read the label and laughed.
Once again I display my penchant for Danish clothing...)

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I completely forgot to share pictures from Chinese New Year.


Paper lanterns on Gerrard Street, Soho, Chinatown's main thoroughfare



Later on, lantern light displays at Oxford Circus


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Also, a couple of weeks ago I bought a dragon fruit because Vanessa had one in Thailand and said it didn't taste of anything. The perfect reason to try it when I saw one on sale. I would try it again, just in case that particular shop wasn't carrying the best specimens.


The crimson fruit of a Mexican cactus



Tiny, crispy black seeds scattered in non-juicy flesh. It tasted almost of nothing, though I could detect a slight rooty earthiness to it.

14 comments:

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I had dragon fruit once and still can't figure out what it tastes like, but it's not an unpleasant fruit, and it must be delicious cold, on a hot day.

Selba said...

Wow... you bought nice things, what a good treat for yourself :)

CNY in London looks beautiful with the red lanterns.

So you had your first dragon fruit! Hehehe... Well, it's tasteless, try to find the purple flesh (but probably it's hard to find because here in Jakarta is also very seldom), it has a bit of sweet and sour taste.

When I was in Vietnam, everyday I ate dragon fruit, it's always provided during breakfast at the hotels.

Anonymous said...

I remember dragon fruit in VN but I think I remember the purple or lavender colored kind rather than this white one. So glad you found some nice things. I remember now that you're tiny!

Anonymous said...

oh, dragon fruit. You can find those all over Thailand. I used really enjoy them after a long bike ride home. Did not taste like much but it was a great substitute for water when i did not feel like having water.
hehehe
Vanessa

L B said...

There is also a red fleshed variety of the Dragon fruit, which doesn't taste any tastier!! Great chilled, and with some lychees..

I used to loiter without intent at Gerrard St., hunting ducks.. :-)

Selba said...

Hey bee, me also during my 1 week stayed in London, almost everday ate ducks at Gerrard St. :D

The Moody Minstrel said...

That's an even weirder-looking fruit than durian!

Any bets on what the strangest edible fruit in the world is?

Miss Dallas said...

Love, love, love the belt and handbag! It is almost time for linen and seersucker in Texas but the mornings are still chilly enough to wear a full-out sweater, though I most usually shed it by the time I leave the office! Yay spring!

Olivia said...

Gyal - hey, you're back in the blogosphere!

Ummm, no, it's not an unpleasant fruit, at least nothing to wince about.

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Selby - I didn't know there was a purple fleshed one. It's rare here - there was only one box in the store I bought it at, for £1.99. I've seen it at a very good fruit shop for £9.99 and in my experience every fruit I've eaten from there was perfect. I still wouldn't spend a tenner though!

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Nikki - hehe, partly tiny, but my behind won't fit into petite anymore!

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Vee - apparently, cactus fruits are a good source of water if you need to survive in the desert.

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LB - oh, now lychee - that is a good thing! also, cherimoya.

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Selby again - knowing LB, he's not just talking about ducks ;)

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Minstrel - hehe, yeah but at least it doesn't stink! I prefer its cousin jackfruit.

There are so many strange edible fruits, but this is worth thinking about...

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Jo - heyyy, glad you went all girlie on me there!

Get you, all you need is a sweater? It won't be like that here until JUNE!!! I am so fed up of wearing coats and scarves and gloves :(

Once again, if we don't have summer here, I will take all my summer clothes to NYC and wear them for that one week in June when I will be there.

Pearl Morale said...

I love the bag! Could you tell me where you got it from? I live in London, so just name the street and I'll be so grateful! :)

Olivia said...

Lulwa - Almost the only place where I can find my American goodies (Etienne Aigner is based in NYC)is TK Maxx. I got the only one at the Harrow St George's branch so you could try the one on King Street, Hammersmith...

Doubtless you will find more than you bargained for there, I am warning you!

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Eating my lunch and drinking my tea here at work, I have just noticed that the bag is the same colour as my mug :)

Nabeel said...

i really like the sleeves on the jacket .. very stylish (in a simple way) .. the buttons too.

Yup these lanterns are very popular .. and are almost symbolic to the Chinese culture. I've used many pictures of them at work too.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I like your new bag. Very nice!

Anonymous said...

I'm amazed at the range and colour of fruit & veg out there. There's me, thinking fruit is fruit and veg is veg, and it's all visually predictable.

For example, purple potatoes:

http://ecosalon.com/title/Exotic_Veggie_Spotlight_Peruvian_Purple_Potatoes