Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

So me and a couple of my co-workers hit the Pho joint close to where we worked and things were tasty as usual. I had the Pho with all the random stuff minus the tripe, 'cause I'm not so much into entrails, and I was quite satiated. My boss, who's a great guy, then gets the brilliant idea to get a durian smoothie for whatever reason.

Long story short, we all passed around the smoothie and took a hit, like a bong at R.J.'s Santa Cruz pad, and this thing was something else. For those who have not tried Durian, let me explain the experience:

Lifting smoothie to mouth: OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH GAWD! This thing smells worse than a Phoenix Taco Shack's dumpster in the middle of August. Then again, people eat this sh!t, so there must be a reason. Go for it, pussy!

First taste: OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH GAWD!!! This thing is even worse than the smell. Why is this happening to me? -- Aside from tongue --- What did I do to you to deserve this???

15 seconds after taste: Hmmm, this is pretty fragrant and nice. Kind of like a mango, but more "mango-ey." Not too bad at all.

30 seconds after taste: There's a lot going on here, though I'm not sure I like all of it. Some good things (sweet, complex), but that rotting stank of death is back, loitering in the roof of my mouth and lower sinuses like a Market Street panhandler. Please go away Panhandler Taste!

5 minutes after taste: OK, that was kind of strange, but things are returning to normal.

10 minutes after taste (belch #1): OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GAWD! That one kind of snuck up on me and somebody dropped a bomb. Jesus that is horrible. No more delicate taste, just the rotting trash. REVENGE OF THE PANHANDLER TASTE!

This pretty much has continued at almost exact 10 minute intervals for the past hour, and I'm getting a little tired of it. In all, I'm glad I tried the durian smoothie, but I do not think I will have a repeat visit, other than the belches that will surely remain with me all afternoon, if not longer.

Damn you, durian! Damn you indeed.

Postscript: The new Crimson Challenge: EATING TWO WHOLE DURIANS, no water, no other help. I can't imagine that world of pain, but I'd pay to see it.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Who the hell figured out these things were edible in the first place? When I've seen them in the grocery store they look more like weapons than food. And the stink is apparently legendary.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

I've eaten a whole section and that was enough. Smells like open-sewer, looks like an aborted pig fetus. Texture is surprisingly pleasant though.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Do you know how big a whole Durian is?

I lived in Thailand for 4 months and finally bought a Durian just before I left. I intended to take it back home so my family could try it too. When I went to load my baggage on the plane the counter girl asked me if I had any fruit. I tried to blag it, but they caught me. So I tried it in the airport before boarding, and the smell is overwhelming, a bit like a gas leak, the taste is very strange, and yes the taste changes as you go along. I actually quite like it, and would be up for the Crimson challenge provided I got some compen$ation.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Eating a whole durian would be PIE...I like it...its really good. Too bad it smells

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

How expensive was the smoothie? In Thailand, Durian is SUPER expensive compared to other fruits.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Hi Dean,

I am aware of how big a durian is. I've seen/smelled tons of them, but never tried it before. I have no concept of the pain that would follow after eating two of them, though.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Smoothie was a few bucks.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Good style; no-tripe pho is the way to go. That stuff is pretty tasteless and just looks and feels strange. The real question is: did you add sriracha, lemon, jalapenos, and cilantro? Subtract points if you added hoisin sauce because I don't like that stuff.

Never heard of the smoothie you had and based on your description I don't think I will be trying one ever. Thanks for the warning.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

You people are weird.

Tripe is good. I hope you at least had tendon in your pho.

Durian is awesome. Eating 2 at once would be difficult only because that is a lot of food to eat. Best fruit ever.

This isn't something you shuold eat before going to work, or onto a plane.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Sucker,

Interesting.

http://www.fruitlovers.com/Durian.jpg

http://durian.timtyler.org/graphics/durian.jpg

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

El D, if you like avocados I think you will enjoy durian, as long as you have an open mind. (I'm guessing you haven't from your 'interesting' comment)

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

I had all kinds of tendon in the Pho. Love it. Like I said, everything but the tripe. I'm just not into it so much; I don't like menudo for the same reason.

I put sriracha, many jalapenos (spicy ones today), bean sprouts, lime (this is a nice changeup from the lemon), and cilantro. No hoison. You think I'm a pho rookie, bitch?

Dooo maaah!

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Avacados are nothing like a durian. I suggest you try the durian, though.

FWIW, this place had an avacado smoothie, too. I'm not kidding, nor do I think I will be trying it. This place is like smoothie survivor!

Diablo, we need to get GoG out there. It'll be a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell for him.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

I would try fresh durian, though I'm not sure why at this point. It's an experience and it did have some positive notes sprinkled into the rank odor/taste. I also can say I've never had anything that's hit the parts of my palate that the durian did. It was strange as hell, and I don't know if I like it or not.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Sucker,

Mitchell's Ice Cream, the best ice cream in California, has an avocado ice cream that is supposed to be incredibly delcious. I haven't had that one yet, but everyone who tries it says it is great.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

JA,

I am guessing the person who prepared the smoothie did not take the skin off of the fruit.

edit: I am not sure if I have actually eaten a Durian or not. There are a bunch of these tropical fruits that taste similar and have similar textures, ie rambuttan, logon, logan, lychee, mangosten. I have never bought one of them whole, so If I ate it was after someone peeled it for me, but I have no recollection if it smelling bad.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

i would like to try this sometime, thanks for the post sucker!

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sucker,

Mitchell's Ice Cream, the best ice cream in California, has an avocado ice cream that is supposed to be incredibly delcious. I haven't had that one yet, but everyone who tries it says it is great.

[/ QUOTE ]

el d,

the owner of mariannes ice cream in santa cruz told me that he has the highest butterfat content of any ice creamery in the country, i dont know if i believe him, but it was the best ice cream ive ever had.

rj

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sucker,

Interesting.

http://www.fruitlovers.com/Durian.jpg



[/ QUOTE ]

You see the aborted pig fetus resemblance? Although I'm pretty sure mine had undeveloped eyes. What you don't get from the picture is that this thing is about the size of a bowling ball.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

RJ,

What sort of flavor range there? Mitchell's is an incredible combo of super-rich + tons of great flavors ranging from the classics to pretty crazy stuff.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

I had a durian smoothie from the local Asian sandwich place down the street a few weeks ago. I liked it a lot! The smell wasn't pleasant, but I didn't really mind it either - though my coworkers tried to shut me in the bathroom with it. After my first taste, I described it as a strong onion taste mixed with pineapple. The first half was okay, but it started growing on me and by the time I'd finished it, I was really enjoying it.

P.S. Good pho requires tripe.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

People either love or hate Durian. You have to try it to
see in what category you fall in. The smell is unbelieveable,
reminiscent of rotting eggs. I believe that in Singapore it is illegal to eat Durian in public spaces (because of the
overpowering smell).

You can find it in chinatown. In Boston they had the frozen
variety, while in New York they sell the whole fruit. It is not all that expensive, but I am not sure of how ripe they
are. I do remember the smoothies in the Pho Pasteur in Boston, quite good though a little bland.

Note to those who wish to try it. Apparently it is dangerous
to consume durian and alcohol as it leads to some sort of
indigestion, though I am not sure there is any conclusive
evidence.

As I said earlier it is really hard to anticipate whether
one will like the taste or not (despite the smell). Try and
be ready to be surprised. Personally I love it !

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
i would like to try this sometime, thanks for the post sucker!

[/ QUOTE ]

Astro, I thought this as well until I smelled an opened durian. I've eaten all sorts of organs and feet and tripe--basically everything short of brain--and generally like all of them, but the smell of durian is so incredibly repulsive that I can't bring myself to eat it.

Just about any decent Chinatown will have it.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Sucker,

Mitchell's Ice Cream, the best ice cream in California, has an avocado ice cream that is supposed to be incredibly delcious. I haven't had that one yet, but everyone who tries it says it is great.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've had it. Very good. Not Laboratorio good, but very good. Mitchell's is top notch.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]

FWIW, this place had an avacado smoothie, too. I'm not kidding, nor do I think I will be trying it. This place is like smoothie survivor!

Diablo, we need to get GoG out there. It'll be a little bit of heaven and a little bit of hell for him.

[/ QUOTE ]

I get avocado smoothies all the time and think they are the bomb. My local viet place has durian, long gan, avocado, and some other variety of shakes.

Avocado is very savory, which is something you usually don't get in a shake. Gelato from Il Laboratorio is awesome. Too bad they don't have kiwi and black sesame all the time.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]


edit: I am not sure if I have actually eaten a Durian or not. There are a bunch of these tropical fruits that taste similar and have similar textures, ie rambuttan, logon, logan, lychee, mangosten. I have never bought one of them whole, so If I ate it was after someone peeled it for me, but I have no recollection if it smelling bad.

[/ QUOTE ]

you have never eaten Durian. Rambutan, logan, lychee, mangosteen all look and taste VERY different from durian.

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

kkf,

Lychees are amazingly good, as are several of the others. Durian is in a class by itself. The taste was correct, as verified by my boss who had many of them in Malaysia. He had forgotten about the belches but that's his problem since he's riding his bike 60 miles home tonight from work. Ha Ha!

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
i would like to try this sometime, thanks for the post sucker!

[/ QUOTE ]

Astro,

I recommend you do try it out sometime. It was unlike anything I've ever had, so I felt I had to share it. Let me know when you check one out!

Sucker

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

One durian is a lot for one person to finish.
I did manage to eat about half of it during one sitting.

Avocado shake does rock! I just buy the avocado from Costco and make them myself. Pretty easy to make. Peeled avocado, some condensed milk, and some crushed ice. Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

Daver,

"I've had it. Very good. Not Laboratorio good, but very good. Mitchell's is top notch. "

When you typed that out, did it make you think of the awesome Thai Chili Chocolate that you never had?

Re: Durian Smoothie Trip Report
 

For some reason Durian doesn't smell bad to me at all and I like the taste. Weird I am.

Bump. Look for non-stinky durians soon
 

Link to article

"The nearly odorless durian, which has not yet been officially unveiled, will obtain final approval in the coming weeks from Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture."