Food Prodigy Gets His 'Bizarre' Break
Student Makes Appearance on Travel Channel
Rodrigo Mejia
Posted on: 10/30/08 Section: Lancer Life
It looks as if it were made to be hurled at Mongols from the high walls of fortified battlements. Piercing spines that lace the bulbous fruit draw the eyes to a wince once you realize that you are meant to gorge upon this foreboding menace. It has been banned in public places in mainland China due to its nauseating aroma.
To 19-year-old Javier Cabral, however, it couldn't be any more inviting to a tongue that long has been at the forefront of a burgeoning career as a food critic and notable blogger on local eateries.
"The smell is a mix between dirty sweaty socks and crusted arm pits," said Cabral of the aroma Durian, the 'king of fruits' emits. "It looks like a weapon, but it really has a creamy, luxurious texture like a fleshy or meaty cross between a mango and coconut."
Cabral's enthusiasm for abstruse foods drew the attention of the weekly Travel Channel program, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
The show, which follows the bald headed food journalist into the recesses of the world where unique and wholly ethnic delicacies are the norm, found its insatiable appetite fixated on the Latin population of Los Angeles.
Cabral caught the attention of the producers with his blog and was featured as the traditional taste for Latin families as the scents of fresh food were carried from Cabral's home to audiences across the globe.
"It was the headlining segment of their show, featuring a whole family," said Cabral. "You can't do anything L.A. without showing the influx of the Latino population."
Visiting Cabral's household, Zimmern was introduced to a kitchen of hardened hands preparing an array of flavors that spread a redolent induced quiver down the show-host's spine as he threatened to 'eat up everything' that lay before him.
"Sunday morning we made [him] menudo. My mother used blue corn, beef tripe and pigs feet," said Cabral. "All traditional ingredients." The heaps of delectable offerings, prepared in the manner reminiscent of past generations that perfected these dishes, is where Cabral's passion for food was given cultural and historical strengthening.
To 19-year-old Javier Cabral, however, it couldn't be any more inviting to a tongue that long has been at the forefront of a burgeoning career as a food critic and notable blogger on local eateries.
"The smell is a mix between dirty sweaty socks and crusted arm pits," said Cabral of the aroma Durian, the 'king of fruits' emits. "It looks like a weapon, but it really has a creamy, luxurious texture like a fleshy or meaty cross between a mango and coconut."
Cabral's enthusiasm for abstruse foods drew the attention of the weekly Travel Channel program, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
The show, which follows the bald headed food journalist into the recesses of the world where unique and wholly ethnic delicacies are the norm, found its insatiable appetite fixated on the Latin population of Los Angeles.
Cabral caught the attention of the producers with his blog and was featured as the traditional taste for Latin families as the scents of fresh food were carried from Cabral's home to audiences across the globe.
"It was the headlining segment of their show, featuring a whole family," said Cabral. "You can't do anything L.A. without showing the influx of the Latino population."
Visiting Cabral's household, Zimmern was introduced to a kitchen of hardened hands preparing an array of flavors that spread a redolent induced quiver down the show-host's spine as he threatened to 'eat up everything' that lay before him.
"Sunday morning we made [him] menudo. My mother used blue corn, beef tripe and pigs feet," said Cabral. "All traditional ingredients." The heaps of delectable offerings, prepared in the manner reminiscent of past generations that perfected these dishes, is where Cabral's passion for food was given cultural and historical strengthening.
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