Swords and Tofu
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Possessed men hissing like snakes with swords stuck through their faces are hard to upstage - especially by something as mundane as fried tofu. But so far, the fried tofu here at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival has impressed me more than the mutilations. During the festival, Phuket town becomes an all you can eat buffet of delicious vegetarian Thai food. Slices of perfectly ripe mangoes on beds of sweet sticky rice, slathered in coconut cream. Spicy green curry pocked with bitter eggplants the size of marbles. Soy protein delicately fried in sesame oil. Cold Chinese noodles piled with fresh basil and light curry sauce. Chewy fried balls of sugary dough served hot from the flame. Green papaya salad with crushed peanuts and lime juice. Roasted chestnuts. Stir-fried noodles spiked with glistening green onions. Fresh squeezed orange juice. Vats of iced coffee. Fresh spring rolls. Deep fried spring rolls. Boiled mushrooms. And the tofu – man – how can I describe the fried tofu! Golden skinned, full-flavored, bursting with juice and served in bite-sized chunks topped with sweet chili sauce. I even saw one street vendor selling peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It’s hard to do justice to the food here, and I’m too hungry now to waste more time trying. I wish I could write about food like Anthony Bourdain, or Brian Jacques, two authors who never fail to make me drool. In fact, now I’m curious. Some writers have an incredible ability to write mouth-watering descriptions of food. How do they do it? Do they just wait until they get hungry, then start writing and not eat until they get it right? That would probably work. But your correspondent doesn’t have the willpower to try that trick. What writers make your mouth water? By “make your mouth water” I mean with their food descriptions, not their sexy bodies, so, sorry ladies - you can’t answer David Miller. Photos by Ryan Libre, www.idioimagers.org |
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Yum. I looove tofu, and mangos. And likewise, I'd like to be able to write mouthwatering descriptions of food.
Mmmm.... droooool....
A little too distracted by thoughts of fried tofu to think hard about food descriptions that have stayed with me. We've talked about that Liz Gilbert piece in France before, Tim, and I think I recall a story about soup (Calvin Trillin, maybe?) in one of the Best American anthologies?
It's funny - not all the big names bother much with food, do they? I'm trying to remember a Theroux food description, for example.
Ever read Peter Mayle? He can write about food.
I just finished Dark Star Safari, my first Theroux read. Here's his ideal:
"I want a smoked turkey sandwich on a seeded roll, with a slice of provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato, a little mustard, no mayo. A glass of freshly squeezed juice, and a cup of coffee."
Funny how the best food descriptions are the simplest. Clarity and simplicity - the highest virtues of good writing.
Mmm, apart from the no mayo that sounds pretty good! I'd forgotten that bit in Dark Star. It's one of my faves! What did you think overall?
I thought it was good, but not outstanding. Not a classic. Actually was talking with Smaller about this on Matador earlier - my take was that P.T. isn't as good a writer as, say, Pico Iyer or Bruce Chatwin, and not as intrepid an adventurer as Rory Stewart or Mark Jenkins. He's a very good writer, and a good travel companion, but not exceptional on either count.
I'm with you on the mouth watering, but did you have to include that first image in the description of the food...? Such blood, ugh - I never figured out why they do that.
Yum. I loved Jay Rayner's recent book, The Man Who Ate the World.
And I think you'd like it, Tim, because the most beautiful description of a meal is a dinner Rayner ate in Japan.
I wrote a review of the book here: http://collazoprojects.com/2008/07/09/the-man-who-ate-the-world-book-review/
just read the review - nice Julie! rayner's book sounds pretty decadent.
I second Mojo; this post had me drooling within seconds.
Mango sticky rice rocks.
It remains the Bourdain for me when it comes to writing about, speaking about, or even downing food. Totally in a league of his own.
Gorgeous shots from Ryan as always.
You're very modest Tim, but believe me, your descriptions almost prompted me to immediately book a flight to Phuket for a late lunch! :)
The one piece of food imagery that stands out most for me takes me back to my childhood, when I first read the Chronicles of Narnia. In the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe the White Witch offers Edmund Pevensie something warm and delicious to drink and then asks him what his favourite food is. Turkish delight he replies. At the time, I had no idea what turkish delights were, but they seemed so delicious I imagined they must be my favourite as well (it turns out, they are not).
About a year or two ago, I reread The Chronicles and even though I am now aware that I do not care much for said Delights, that scene still made my mouth water.
interesting - i remember that scene also. and the tootsie roll scene in To Kill A Mockingbird.