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Forbidden Fruit: Finger Limes

Forbidden Fruit: Finger Limes
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  • Forbidden Fruit: Finger Limes

    Post #1 - November 12th, 2009, 11:17 pm
    Post #1 - November 12th, 2009, 11:17 pm Post #1 - November 12th, 2009, 11:17 pm
    Forbidden Fruit: Finger Limes

    I was nosing around the kitchen at the not-yet-opened Epic (112 W. Hubbard), and Chef Stephen Wambach had these really cool and at-the-moment not entirely legal fruits: finger limes. Squeeze one, and you release a flurry of caviar-shaped citrus niblets that you can use for dressing seafood or what you will.

    Image

    Later in the evening at La Madia (59 W. Grand), we had an app of brasceola and squirted out finger lime squiblets all over it.

    Image

    Finger limes are intense, exploding with bubbly tartness that complements fatty meat and, I’m guessing, fatty fish, like tuna.

    They’re from Australia. Once they’re approved for sale in the United States, you will probably be able to get them for less than the current $40/lb price.
    "Don't you ever underestimate the power of a female." Bootsy Collins
  • Post #2 - November 13th, 2009, 12:06 pm
    Post #2 - November 13th, 2009, 12:06 pm Post #2 - November 13th, 2009, 12:06 pm
    Totally COOL :D
  • Post #3 - November 13th, 2009, 3:21 pm
    Post #3 - November 13th, 2009, 3:21 pm Post #3 - November 13th, 2009, 3:21 pm
    David Hammond wrote:They’re from Australia. Once they’re approved for sale in the United States, you will probably be able to get them for less than the current $40/lb price.

    That's funny. Does the price include sales tax? :wink: How would one find these things?
    What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
  • Post #4 - November 13th, 2009, 3:33 pm
    Post #4 - November 13th, 2009, 3:33 pm Post #4 - November 13th, 2009, 3:33 pm
    http://www.limeburst.com/

    You can purchase mature trees for about $60.
  • Post #5 - November 13th, 2009, 7:35 pm
    Post #5 - November 13th, 2009, 7:35 pm Post #5 - November 13th, 2009, 7:35 pm
    wonderful photo..makes me want one now
  • Post #6 - November 14th, 2009, 5:26 pm
    Post #6 - November 14th, 2009, 5:26 pm Post #6 - November 14th, 2009, 5:26 pm
    squiblets!

    great word!
  • Post #7 - November 14th, 2009, 6:23 pm
    Post #7 - November 14th, 2009, 6:23 pm Post #7 - November 14th, 2009, 6:23 pm
    e-Mail to their N. American address bounced. I've forwarded it to their branch in Oz. Looks like they are/were available in the US as trees. Wouldn't *that* be a hoot?!

    Geo
    Sooo, you like wine and are looking for something good to read? Maybe *this* will do the trick! :)
  • Post #8 - January 1st, 2010, 2:19 pm
    Post #8 - January 1st, 2010, 2:19 pm Post #8 - January 1st, 2010, 2:19 pm
    They're currently running a drink special at Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook called the In-Law, which incorporates the finger limes in a clever way. The drink is the creation of Dan Sviland, PGC's GM and mixologist . . .

    Image
    In-Law Cocktail at Prairie Grass Cafe

    In the glass is a shot of Corzo Reposado and adhered lightly to the side of the glass is some Hawaiian red salt. Atop the glass is a spoonful of finger lime pulp cells. You lick the salt, shoot the tequila and then eat the spoonful of crunchy lime caviar. It's a fun way to drink tequila (not that I need it to be more fun than it normally is :wink:).

    David's photos above are excellent but here's one more that helped me understand more about finger limes . . .

    Image
    Partially-empty Finger Lime (after some of the cells have been squeezed out)

    Just like with most citrus, there are individual sections that hold the pulp cells.

    Not sure how long they'll be running this at PGC but if you're in the mood for a holiday antidote, this one certainly worked for me.

    =R=

    Prairie Grass Cafe
    601 Skokie Blvd
    Northbrook, IL 60062
    847 205-4433
    By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada

    Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS

    There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM

    That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
  • Post #9 - January 21st, 2010, 6:33 am
    Post #9 - January 21st, 2010, 6:33 am Post #9 - January 21st, 2010, 6:33 am
    Lisa Shames addresses three-ways with finger limes.
    "Don't you ever underestimate the power of a female." Bootsy Collins

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