There. I’ve said it. My name is Spidergrrl and I am a fruit slut.
My recent obsession has been figs. I despised them in my childhood--our
neighbour Ruby Hall had a fig tree and always offered me one when I came by to
visit. I am sure my words were polite, but my face said, “gag me with a spoon.” It was the texture, it was all grainy and gooey.
She was forever hoisting jars of homemade fig preserves on us and I never ate a
spoonful. Ah, how times have changed.
Recently we went out to eat at my favourite London restaurant Tibits.
One of the salads had fresh figs that had been quartered. I ate one and it was
*love* and first taste. I would like to digress momentarily and say there are
two things I love about Tibits--the delicious fresh vegan food and the flocked
wallpaper.
 |
| just look at that texture, waiting to be caressed |
As a child I had a wallpaper sample book (do they even give
those away any more?) I loved to rub the
flocked wallpaper so much that I rubbed all the fuzziness off of it. When we go
to Tibits I like to sit where I can rub the wallpaper with one hand whilst I
eat with the other. Spiderman just gives me that *look*, but I pretend I don’t
see him.
Anyway, since then I have been obsessed with figs. I have bought some
every week in the local market--big bruise coloured figs with an outer skin
like a bat’s wing and a deep russet interior. There is no other way to eat a
fig but sensually. I like to stand by the sink and rub the soft leathery skin
against my lips and cheeks. Then I slice it open and use my tongue to scoop the
lovely, honeyed interior away from the skin. I tend to moan a lot when I do it
because the taste is so magical. This is a true transcription of something that
happened in our house.
Spiderman: (walking through front door) *whistle* (special
whistle he uses to tell me “I love you/ I’m home“)
Me: Mmmm…oh yes…oh God…
Spiderman: Where are you?
Me: In the kitchen..Oh yes…..mmmm…..Oh..Oh….Ohhhhhh
Spiderman: What the hell are you doing?
Me: (sheepishly) Um….eating a fig.
So there you have it. A confirmed fruit slut. Now if only we had flocked
wallpaper….
A lot of people peel the skin on figs because eating too many cause an allergy around your lips, just a feeling like you have really really chapped lips. Be careful with yo' sensitive self with rubbing that leathery skin against your lips.
ReplyDeleteRuby Hall is still going on her daily walks in the neighborhood, only they are more like weekly walks. She uses a walker (Zimmerframe to the Brits)and pretty stooped over. She must be in her upper 80s by now. Her fig tree came uprooted in a storm several years back, so alas, I get no more neighborhood figs. SweetJames had a fig tree in Opelousas that he was very proud of. It was singed in the fire, but survived. I have last year's figs in the freezer, am slowly eating them because I know they will be the last.
Love figs! I haven't had fresh ones in years though!
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