And it wasn't because I didn't have anything to write. Quite the contrary, I have so much!
I guess . . . let me begin by writing about the Food Situation in American Samoa.
American Samoa depends heavily on importing food to the territory.
I could not find an exact figure.
But it is very insecure. If the ships ever stop importing food, there would be little food on the island and society would crumble into chaos. No joke.
American Samoa is in a very vulnerable position.And it is alarming that nothing is being done.
For my part, I always make sure that I am stocked up on water, frozen meat and vegetables, and canned goods.
You just never know!
In the meantime, the ships keep coming, and that is why I end up paying $7 for mushrooms or $10 for asparagus or strawberries...yeah...not every day purchases, only when I feel like splurging.
High prices and food insecurity aren't the only consequences of American Samoa's reliance on food importation. One huge effect has been the fast adoption of the standard American diet of convenience foods, which means carbs, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup and the like.
When I first went grocery shopping, I was shocked. Almost every store, even little bodegas, had pizza rolls or hot pockets, but damn if I couldn't find fresh avocados.
Every chip, cookie, candy, or soda is readily available here.
And if you want fast food - there are two two-story Mcdonalds here to serve you 24-7.
Someone told me that the franchise in American Samoa is one of the most successful internationally. I am not surprised. No matter what time of day or night - McDonalds is packed.
I couldn't find authority to back up that claim, so I don't know if it is true.
UPDATE: It is true. In fact, in 2004, it was ranked Number One in average sales in the whole frakkin world!.
But there is one figure that I could readily find - 94% of the population is obese. This fact makes American Samoa ranked 1 in obesity in the whole world!
Overall, this food situation makes me very sad. Not just because I realized how spoiled we are on the mainland, having any fresh fruit, vegetable or meat available. But also because the traditional Samoan diet is very healthy: fresh tropical fruits and vegetables from the land; fresh fish, poultry and pork. Well-rounded. Good fats. No chemicals or preservatives.
So what happened? How did it become like this? That I cannot answer - definitely beyond the scope of my little knowledge and experience and this post. But it is something that is always in the back of my mind.
Whew....glad to get that off my chest.
Now I can focus on the food itself. This will be the first of many posts on food because as ya'll know I love cooking and eating. Some posts will introduce local Samoa food, some will focus on my experiments at home, and others will be food reviews of the restaurants here.
For today, I would like to introduce you to breadfruit or "Ulu."
I never had breadfruit before. But it grows fast and it is everywhere in American Samoa.
Seriously, it is everywhere. Like I am looking at some trees right now outside. If I wasn't so lazy, I could go pick some for dinner.
The first time I had it a neighbor had knocked on my door one Sunday morning.
He presented me with a plate:
I had no clue what it was...was it a grilled potato? Was it a vegetable?
How do I eat it? I first drank the mug, thinking it was a sweet drink.
NOPE! I got a big gulp of onion, coconut cream, and salt. It was delicious, but just not what I was expecting. So I figured it must be a sauce. I sliced the food in half and recognized it as breadfruit...thank you, No Reservations for that little bit of education. I cut off a chunk, which was still steaming from being grilled on coals. I dipped it into the sauce, and OMG, it was delicious!
The breadfruit is very fibrous. It reminds me of jackfruit fibers. The taste is a cross between a plantain and potato! I really like it!
It is also very filling. i later learned it is a good source of healthy saturated fat, vitamin C, and potassium. But it is also high in carbs and natural sugars.
I could only eat about a quarter of it. I chopped up the rest and poured the sauce over it, and saved it for later. I really like that sauce. It is fresh coconut, thinly sliced onions, and salt to taste. They definitely left the sauce marinate together for a few hours. I know that I will be experimenting with it in the future. I already have a few possibilities for "American Samoa chowder." muahahahahahahaa!
I happily ate the leftovers throughout the week with seafood, roasted chicken, and shredded pork. It really goes well with anything.
Later I found a store that sells homemade breadfruit chips.
Very dangerous.
I think next time I will sprinkle some cayenne pepper on it (if I can find some on this island! - spices are rare here too). Now that I know the carb and sugar content I will be sure to make breadfruit more of a treat than a staple in my diet.
But I am surprised - given how easily breadfruit grows here, why hasn't the government looked into exporting it? This could bring some serious money into the country.
And because it seems to be a great alternative to gluten and potatoes, some fool needs to get on that, and make breadfruit flour, bread, and other products.
mmm....breadfruit...i might get off my butt and snag one from the tree now.
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