Comments on: Central Asian Food: The Good, the Bad, and the Inedible http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/ measuring the Earth with our feet... Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:37:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Daniel Noll http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-241266 Daniel Noll Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:37:28 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-241266 @Valentina: Thank you for your comment. We were fortunate to try a number of dishes that you mention. Actually, we had a memorable beshbarmak during Ramadan at Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan: http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/10/goat-and-five-fingers/ Plov is excellent, one of our favorites. I think we had some in Almaty. We also ate it quite often throughout Uzbekistan: http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/photos/picture/1201957606/ (We even ate some recently at our Kyrgyz friends' house.) We might have had a donar (doner?) at Zeylony Bazaar, but I actually remember having a really good one in another not-so-touristy Almaty neighborhood (forget the name) with our friend who lives there. I would have hoped that our website is a testament to adventurous eating -- and not just to wear the "look what I ate" badge, but to understand what the facets of a cuisine say about a culture. If we had our way, we'd probably never eat Snickers again. But when you're stuck in the mountains with rock-hard bread and a sheep's eyeball (after having eaten goat blood soup for the last two days), sometimes a Snickers is in order. @Valentina: Thank you for your comment. We were fortunate to try a number of dishes that you mention. Actually, we had a memorable beshbarmak during Ramadan at Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan:
http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/10/goat-and-five-fingers/

Plov is excellent, one of our favorites. I think we had some in Almaty. We also ate it quite often throughout Uzbekistan:
http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/photos/picture/1201957606/

(We even ate some recently at our Kyrgyz friends’ house.)

We might have had a donar (doner?) at Zeylony Bazaar, but I actually remember having a really good one in another not-so-touristy Almaty neighborhood (forget the name) with our friend who lives there.

I would have hoped that our website is a testament to adventurous eating — and not just to wear the “look what I ate” badge, but to understand what the facets of a cuisine say about a culture. If we had our way, we’d probably never eat Snickers again. But when you’re stuck in the mountains with rock-hard bread and a sheep’s eyeball (after having eaten goat blood soup for the last two days), sometimes a Snickers is in order.

]]> By: Valentina http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-240916 Valentina Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:56:54 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-240916 I was actually a little sad to see that Kazakhstan's list was so small. The cheese samsa is kind of like a quesadilla on steroids; absolutely delicious -- but not the talk of the town. Most are for sale at around 100 Tenge, or 68 Cents (that being the more expensively priced). It might be an interesting note to mention that while Kazakhstan has an extensive list of delicious foods to enjoy, they're all taken from different cultures. Beshbarmak is the pride of this country, for example. Any Kazakh-born will ask you if you've tried "our national dish, Beshbarmak... delicious, yes?" Plov is also a country favorite and also one of my own. Oh, and if you're going to the Zeylony (Green) Bazaar in Almaty, I'd say, try a donar. Another food not originally from Kazakhstan but still worth the buy if you're wandering around hungry. It's a big burrito stuffed with tender meat, french fries, onions, carrots and cucumbers, all panini-pressed together. If you're looking for a taste of American-style coffee, not far from the Green Bazaar is 4A Cafe, a shop owned by a man born in Boston. The baristas speak English and the coffee is exceptional. I mention this because of the Snickers referrence --- sometimes it's good to go to what's familiar, even when you're surrounded in delicious cuisine. So that's my two cents. I just felt I had to speak up for my beloved Kazakhstan because there's a lot of good eats worth finding while in country. :) I was actually a little sad to see that Kazakhstan’s list was so small. The cheese samsa is kind of like a quesadilla on steroids; absolutely delicious — but not the talk of the town. Most are for sale at around 100 Tenge, or 68 Cents (that being the more expensively priced).

It might be an interesting note to mention that while Kazakhstan has an extensive list of delicious foods to enjoy, they’re all taken from different cultures. Beshbarmak is the pride of this country, for example. Any Kazakh-born will ask you if you’ve tried “our national dish, Beshbarmak… delicious, yes?”

Plov is also a country favorite and also one of my own. Oh, and if you’re going to the Zeylony (Green) Bazaar in Almaty, I’d say, try a donar. Another food not originally from Kazakhstan but still worth the buy if you’re wandering around hungry. It’s a big burrito stuffed with tender meat, french fries, onions, carrots and cucumbers, all panini-pressed together.

If you’re looking for a taste of American-style coffee, not far from the Green Bazaar is 4A Cafe, a shop owned by a man born in Boston. The baristas speak English and the coffee is exceptional. I mention this because of the Snickers referrence — sometimes it’s good to go to what’s familiar, even when you’re surrounded in delicious cuisine.

So that’s my two cents. I just felt I had to speak up for my beloved Kazakhstan because there’s a lot of good eats worth finding while in country. :)

]]> By: Daniel Noll http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-157503 Daniel Noll Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:24:37 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-157503 @Emily: I can't say that cuisine was the highlight of our visit to Tajikistan, either. However, that kurtob in Khorog was a site for sore eyes (and weary stomachs) after all the bread, potatoes and butter tea in the Pamirs and Badakhshan. Thankfully, the people in that region make up in warmth what they may lack in food variety. @Emily: I can’t say that cuisine was the highlight of our visit to Tajikistan, either. However, that kurtob in Khorog was a site for sore eyes (and weary stomachs) after all the bread, potatoes and butter tea in the Pamirs and Badakhshan. Thankfully, the people in that region make up in warmth what they may lack in food variety.

]]> By: Emily http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-157087 Emily Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:34:15 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-157087 I think the entire population of Tajikistan should take mandatory cooking lessons - or at least introduced to the concept of butchering an animal by type of meat/body part/cooking method. I've never lived in a place where the local cuisine wound up being a disappointingly bland use of local ingredients. I'm surviving on Oranges imported from Pakistan at the moment. I think the entire population of Tajikistan should take mandatory cooking lessons – or at least introduced to the concept of butchering an animal by type of meat/body part/cooking method. I’ve never lived in a place where the local cuisine wound up being a disappointingly bland use of local ingredients. I’m surviving on Oranges imported from Pakistan at the moment.

]]> By: Iaroslav http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-4768 Iaroslav Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:42:39 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-4768 I realy liked Central Asian food. I like Shurpa,Bishbarmak,achuchuk,samsa,shashlik,plov. I recomend every body to move to Central Aia it can change your life well. I'm from Ukraine still miss Uzbekistan Tashkent. Uzbekistan is my favourite country. [duplicate link removed] I realy liked Central Asian food.
I like Shurpa,Bishbarmak,achuchuk,samsa,shashlik,plov.
I recomend every body to move to Central Aia it can change your life well.
I’m from Ukraine still miss Uzbekistan Tashkent.
Uzbekistan is my favourite country.

[duplicate link removed]

]]> By: Audrey Scott http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-598 Audrey Scott Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:51:07 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-598 Joe, that's interesting that your grandparents used to make laghman but never called it as such. Maybe it has another name closer to mainland Russia and Ukraine? Do you have your grandmother's recipe to share? The Soviet Union had a tendency to move people around, voluntarily and involuntarily, so it is very possible that your grandfather's family originated in Central Asia but lived near Kiev. Could be some interesting family research. The food markets were some of our best memories from that region - full of color, life and expression! We hope a fraction of that came through in the photos. Joe, that’s interesting that your grandparents used to make laghman but never called it as such. Maybe it has another name closer to mainland Russia and Ukraine? Do you have your grandmother’s recipe to share?

The Soviet Union had a tendency to move people around, voluntarily and involuntarily, so it is very possible that your grandfather’s family originated in Central Asia but lived near Kiev. Could be some interesting family research.

The food markets were some of our best memories from that region – full of color, life and expression! We hope a fraction of that came through in the photos.

]]> By: Joe http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-596 Joe Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:05:30 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-596 Hi again, Laghman, I've not heard that word but have had that dish many times at my maternal grandparents home. It was a personal favorite of gramps and still is for me. He was born somewhere in the south of Russia near Kiev but must have had an Asian in his family tree somewhere along the way, he had almond shaped eyes. The market pictures are great. Thanks again. Joe Hi again,
Laghman, I’ve not heard that word but have had that dish many times at my maternal grandparents home. It was a personal favorite of gramps and still is for me. He was born somewhere in the south of Russia near Kiev but
must have had an Asian in his family tree somewhere along the way, he had almond shaped eyes.
The market pictures are great.
Thanks again.
Joe

]]> By: Daniel Noll http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-435 Daniel Noll Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:27:52 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-435 Michael: Right on. Tell a friend. Nothing against Bourdain, but I chuckled when I saw the list of international destinations in the "On the Road" section of his site: Paris, Iceland, New Jersey, Vietnam, Malaysia. And we don't have assistants or a crew. I suppose he gets some points for eating the beating heart of a cobra, though. About that book, we have somewhat secretly deluded ourselves into thinking that our blog may form the foundations of a book some day. If you know any publishers, alchemists or anyone schooled in re-aligning the stars in the sky, please let us know. In the meantime, the pavement, the people and the markets await. Michael: Right on. Tell a friend. Nothing against Bourdain, but I chuckled when I saw the list of international destinations in the “On the Road” section of his site: Paris, Iceland, New Jersey, Vietnam, Malaysia. And we don’t have assistants or a crew. I suppose he gets some points for eating the beating heart of a cobra, though.

About that book, we have somewhat secretly deluded ourselves into thinking that our blog may form the foundations of a book some day. If you know any publishers, alchemists or anyone schooled in re-aligning the stars in the sky, please let us know.

In the meantime, the pavement, the people and the markets await.

]]> By: Daniel Noll http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-434 Daniel Noll Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:24:21 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-434 Nicole: What we endure to keep ourselves - and our blog - well fed. Your comment reminds me of a recent conversation I had with my father: "OK Dad, gotta run and get some breakfast." "Oh, what are you going to eat?" He's excited to hear what exotic dish is up next. "Oatmeal. Audrey will probably order French toast." "Oatmeal?!?! You're kidding me!" I suppose he expected some exotic fish-broth morning soup served in a jungle hut. Truth is that it's nice to give the taste buds a rest and occasionally retreat into comfort food. I followed up with the fact that last night's dinner was pizza and tagliatelle with cream sauce. By our rationale, we must keep things balanced and occasionally give our taste buds a rest so that they are ready to tackle the next new thing. So cavatappi with spinach sounds pretty good right about now. The more we travel, the more we appreciate the variety and selection of ethnic foods we had access to while we were in the States. Nicole: What we endure to keep ourselves – and our blog – well fed. Your comment reminds me of a recent conversation I had with my father:

“OK Dad, gotta run and get some breakfast.”
“Oh, what are you going to eat?” He’s excited to hear what exotic dish is up next.
“Oatmeal. Audrey will probably order French toast.”
“Oatmeal?!?! You’re kidding me!”

I suppose he expected some exotic fish-broth morning soup served in a jungle hut. Truth is that it’s nice to give the taste buds a rest and occasionally retreat into comfort food. I followed up with the fact that last night’s dinner was pizza and tagliatelle with cream sauce.

By our rationale, we must keep things balanced and occasionally give our taste buds a rest so that they are ready to tackle the next new thing. So cavatappi with spinach sounds pretty good right about now.

The more we travel, the more we appreciate the variety and selection of ethnic foods we had access to while we were in the States.

]]> By: Michael O'Boyle http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/comment-page-1/#comment-428 Michael O'Boyle Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:08:06 +0000 http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2008/02/central-asian-food-good-bad-inedible/#comment-428 Is an Uncornered Market Cook Book Series forthcoming? Anthony Bourdain has nothing on you guys. Cheers, Michael Is an Uncornered Market Cook Book Series forthcoming? Anthony Bourdain has nothing on you guys.

Cheers,
Michael

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