Cultural Delicacies: Guinea pig

by Brenda Yun on

I had a guinea pig as a pet when I was in elementary school. His name was Guinea (I know, really original). He was brown with a little splash of white on his chest. He had a cute pink nose. He was kind of a nibbler (he would often bite me with his two sharp teeth), and whatever he put in his mouth came out the other end. I guess it comes as no surprise, then, that I had to change Guinea’s cage frequently. What I didn’t realize in his very short life was that he froze to death. I didn’t know it then, but I had put Guinea’s cage right under the air conditioner. He died of pneumonia, and I spent a whole afternoon in bed holding my dead guinea pig, feeling like I had wronged the poor thing. I had been a very irresponsible pet owner.

As is the case with other household pets (like fish, dog, and turtle), guinea pigs (or “cuy,” in Spanish) are cultural delicacies in some parts of the world. Although I couldn’t bear to order it last year in Ecuador, “cuy” is a pretty common item on traditional restaurant menus.

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I am a vegetarian cook, so the thought of killing and roasting a small guinea pig sounds awfully unappetizing to me. Even more baffling to me is how anyone could find the little meat on a guinea pig worth eating or even the slightest bit delectable. According to Wikipedia, it tastes like rabbit or dark chicken meat.

“Cuy” can be fried, roasted, broiled, or served in soup. It is commonly found in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, as indigenous tribes in the area would cook them for ceremonial purposes. Peruvians consume over 50 million guinea pigs a year. If that number doesn’t surprise you, then this fun fact will: the past two decades have seen a rise in guinea pig exporting from South America to the U.S., Europe, and even parts of Asia. To be certain, it has become more acceptable to eat guinea pig as a common meal. Some restaurants in New York City now serve “cuy asado” and hang them in the window like Peking duck in Chinatown.

I don’t think we have to worry yet about locking up our pet guinea pigs for fear of someone killing and eating them, but I know my little Guinea is rolling in his grave in pet heaven thinking about how his life could have ended.

Celebrate the season with an airport karaoke carol. Which is your favorite?

by Jamie Rhein on

Meg isn’t fond of the idea of airport karaoke. I think it’s the best thing since sliced bread, particularly after I heard the NPR radio story about the small karaoke stages at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. That’s the very karaoke effort that Meg gave a bah humbug review.

By the time I arrived where I was going and had parked my car, the story about the airport karaoke and carol singing had me grinning big time. The story featured some of the singers along with the details of why karaoke has been added to the airport’s offerings.

In the past during the holidays, the airport has featured various local groups singing seasonal ditties. The karaoke is meant to give harried travelers something to do and enjoy while they’re heading home or elsewhere. (See article)

Most carolers weren’t bad. The last one, who belted a rendition of “Santa Baby,” was actually very good. Men and women were crooning in equal measure, although that could be due to the show’s editing.

In a way, this airport karaoke effort is like Improv Everywhere’s Food Court Musical, although it’s real. A real security guard actually belts out holiday cheer. I wonder if there’s any problem getting a person to get off the stage once he or she has been handed a mike?

If I’m passing through Houston, I’m singing “Jingle Bell Rock.” I have some dance moves to go with it. Sorry Meg, although peace and quiet is a good option also.

To listen to the NPR story on All Things Considered, click here.

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The “Travel Test”: During and enduring it…

by Brenda Yun on

Travel Test: (noun) a trip that is taken fairly early in a relationship and designed to gauge the commitment level and compatibility of the two persons involved

Passing the Travel Test usually leads to a deeper relationship and greater trust. Failing the Travel Test signals the end of the relationship and often results in either one or both parties despising the other.

I could tell you plenty of nightmarish stories about Travel Tests I’ve administered that went sour fast and furiously. Aside from the torture I survived in Italy, there was another time in Costa Rica when I spent nearly the whole week taking care of my boyfriend who basically couldn’t digest anything on his plate — not even white rice. No matter how much you love someone, there’s a tipping point at which enough’s enough.So, the Travel Test has been administered. Before you two pull each other’s hair out, here are a few things you need to keep in mind while you’re on the road:

  • Immodium and rehydration salts: Even if you feel the slightest stomach ache, take an immodium. When things get bad, be sure to rehydrate! You certainly don’t want to end up like one of my friends did in rural Thailand, hooked up to an IV in a grass hut.
  • Money matters: Try to strike a happy balance with regard to who pays for accommodations, food, and other expenses. It’s actually best if each of you pay your own way, so you don’t have to fight about the bill later.
  • Make decisions together: Choose activities and restaurants that both of you can agree upon. It may be hard sometimes, but it’s important to keep each other happy as often as possible.
  • Make friends: I don’t care if it’s your honeymoon. You should still interact with other people if you’re traveling somewhere. You two will have plenty of alone time.
  • Get out: Don’t spend all time on the beach, by the pool, or in your hotel room. Be out and about and active!

Despite my own preference to be a solo traveler, when you’re with the right person the world is an even bigger and better place to explore.

Cultural Delicacies: Tarantula

by Brenda Yun on

When opportunity knocks, you have to take it. That’s what happened when I was standing in the shade of a bus stop on my way from Laos to Cambodia two years ago. Stretching my limbs, I looked over my shoulder, and a Khmer lady with a sun hat had a huge plate of what appeared to be big, black, fried spiders for sale to eat.

“What is that?” I asked the lady.

“Tarantula,” she said in nearly perfect English.

I had heard of Cambodian people eating insects like grasshoppers and ants before, but never had I encountered a delicacy like this one. Nor do I understand how the lady came across so many tarantulas (at least 100! do they raise them in cages?) and thought to kill and fry each and every one of them. Regardless, my “Survivor: Gross Foods” mode kicked into high gear, I purchased a fried spider and crunched it down.

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Fried tarantula tastes just like a crispy potato chip. There’s nothing spidery about it. In fact, it’s not just a delicacy in Cambodia. According to Wikipedia, tribes deep in the Amazons of South America eat them too. I have seen a BBC program on the preparation of fried tarantula, and it appears they can be undercooked and you have to removed their teeth sometimes. Aside from this, though, eating fried tarantula is a harmless and unique cultural experience! I hope you have a chance in your lifetime to try it!

The “Travel Test”: Before you administer it…

by Brenda Yun on

Travel Test: (noun) a trip that is taken fairly early in a relationship and designed to gauge the commitment level and compatibility of the two persons involved

Passing the Travel Test usually leads to a deeper relationship and greater trust. Failing the Travel Test signals the end of the relationship and often results in either one or both parties despising the other.

Whether he liked/knew it or not, every one of my boyfriends has been given the Travel Test. While most of them passed the Test enough for us to continue our relationship, one of them failed the Test so miserably that I had to flee Italy, undergo therapy, and ultimately move away to avoid further contact with him. With that experience alone, I wholeheartedly believe in the Travel Test, but there are some distinctions that need to be made if the Test is to serve as a true relationship gauge. Thus, here are a few tips BEFORE you embark on a journey with the possible yet untested love of your life:

  • The Relationship: Don’t hit the road with your partner unless you feel it’s worth testing. Make sure the relationship is strong and healthy beforehand, as traveling with a loved one always puts a strain on the relationship no matter how solid it is.
  • Timing: The Test should be administered in the early stages of the relationship — around 6-12 months after it started. At this point in the relationship, you should know your partner well enough to plan and prepare accordingly.
  • Location and Length: If this is your first Test or if your partner is not well-traveled, it might be best to go somewhere close by, familiar, or technically “easy” and to travel for no longer than 2 weeks. If you’re both travel pros and want to truly test each other, then go for broke — make the trip exotic and long.
  • Plan ahead for road bumps: It’s always best to have an exit strategy even if you’re certain things will work out while you’re on the road. Come to some sort of agreement before you go as to how you’re going to handle one another if things fall apart while you’re on the trip. This will be one less conversation you will want or need to have later.

I believe avid and frequent travelers must administer the Travel Test upon a loved one as it is an integral part of the relationship process. I know for myself that, at some point, anyone who is interested in me will have to, in addition to tolerating my beloved pug Iris, endure a boot camp-like trip to prove his commitment and compatibility with me. It’s just a hard reality for this particular globetrotter.