pirun i ožica

My first encounter with  sweet-salty combination was in Hong Kong. I was 16 years old. Until then, I was out of the country only once, and I was accustomed mostly to my mother’s way of cooking.

I very well remember the day I left. Proudly wearing a shirt that had Montenegro written on it, I could hardly wait for my adventure to begin. My family went with me to the airport, still not believing that I have so much courage to go alone into something completely out of my comfort zone. Later, when I rethought some of my life decisions, I wondered what was I thinking. The only conclusion that I could draw is that the insanity of my decisions came from being young. Each adventure occurred without much thinking. Now I wouldn’t even think of going impulsively to Thailand with just a backpack, not knowing where I am going to sleep that night, and probably would not so easily go hiking through Yunnan province when I can’t speak any Chinese.

However, the two years in Hong Kong were interesting from culinary aspect as well. I went there thinking I was so open-minded that I would try anything! But then … Let’s say that my experience is divided: the first year I kept to international cuisine and refused to try something that even “sounded” strange, while the second year I ate nothing but Chinese food and a variety of unusual dishes (I even tried the so-called stinking fruit, i.e. durian ). I lived on campus in a very international school, for which I received a scholarship (UWC), and whose canteen had this division between the Western and Eastern cuisine. Now I regret that I didn’t dare to eat Eastern dishes until the second year. And now I miss Chinese food. There are a couple of Chinese restaurants here, but those are not even vaguely reminiscent of the real Chinese food. W. For years I haven’t eaten Chinese steamed fish, mooncakes, hand-pulled noodles, Bing Tang Hulu in Beijing, or fresh dumplings from bamboo steamers…

Coming back to this sweet-salty combination. It has nothing to do with Chinese cuisine, but this salad with pineapple reminded of those days. I remember one time my mom called and I said: “These are crazy, they combine everything together. I love prawns, and I love pineapple, but not mixed together!”  I had no idea what good food is :) (more…)

While I lived in Italy I ate pasta virtually every other day. Prepared in million different ways. I still would, but it bothers me that now in Montenegro I can’t find some basic ingredients like fresh basil or pinoli available every day. I could keep a small basil plant in my apartment, but I am sure it would be doomed to die very soon. The only plant I have is a small bonsai tree in the corner of the living room, and that survives only because it can last without water for 5 days (maybe even longer but I haven’t forgotten about it for more than 5 consecutive days :)) Anyway, as far as I know, there is only one stand that sells fresh basil on the farmers’ market in Podgorica. And he sells it in a large plastic container, the size of a family ice cream package. That is definitely too much for me (unless making pesto), so I don’t buy it very often. But it’s important that it’s there when I need it. :))

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