Category Photo Journal

Whitey the Dog

Six Choice, Five Dollars

Garapan’s Thursday Night Market

Most of the local restaurants set up tables checkered with steel catering trays filled to the brim with all kinds of greasy fare. Meat on a stick, whole fried daily catch, fried rice and saucy noodles. If you decide to order six choices you’re served Thanksgiving plate proportions of food in a deep bottomed styro take-home container, a pair of chopsticks and one napkin.

I took these photos last week, when the market wasn’t as busy as I’ve seen it. It had just rained and you could feel the day’s wet heat rise up from the black top. The carnival lights strung from under the tents turned the surrounding night even darker. The abundance of choice makes it hard to decide even for an off-the-wagon vegetarian like me. I pace the length several times, considering my options, always gravitating toward the Thai and Indian food. Now, I don’t have the gastronomic capacity for a spade full of dinner but Peter let me in on an unadvertised secret: three choice, three dollar, which seems to me a perfectly good deal.

We found a spot up Garapan’s walking mall, plunked down, and cracked into our convenience store beers.

Afganland Part III

I got another photo drop from our man in Afghanistan. Ken says this one’s from yesterday’s mission.

From an e-mail:

You can take the boy out of the punk but you can’t take the punk out of the boy remember. Also, the SF [special forces] guys here have taken to calling me Joaquin Phoenix. I guess I resemble him.  But I prefer my self given nickname: “The Butcher,”  which is “Kasab” in Pashto.

I’m glad he mentioned the Joaquin Phoenix thing so I didn’t have to.

Better Than SPAM

It's a food product!

You’re probably thinking, “whoa cowboy, nothing’s better than SPAM.” And until yesterday I would have never agreed, but now I don’t agree even more. There’s an old saying about American indians using every part of the buffalo. It’s usually trotted out to illustrate how wasteful American culture has become but it’s time to retire that ridiculous idea. Here’s 69¢ worth of evidence, three ounces to a can.

Unlike the other food products available to the modern grocery shopper, Libby’s brand potted meat food product boasts:

Mechanically separated chicken, pork skin, partially defatted cooked pork fatty tissue, partially defatted cooked beef fatty tissue, vinegar, less than 2% of: salt, spices, sugar, flavorings, sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite

(Source)

With concert of flavor the first four ingredients offer it’s a wonder that they have to add flavorings including spices and flavorings. But don’t doubt the cooks at Libby’s! They’re a part of the family! You wouldn’t doubt the good people at Carnation who put milk in a can would you? Or how about Toll House chocolate chips? Nestlé is responsible for  those family classics and your new favorite potted meat food product is theirs too. Nestlé quality IS potted meat food product quality.

Previous to my arrival on Siapan I’ve had a pretty strict vegetarian diet. So perhaps you’re  thinking, “Kevin is really getting behind this meat food product, he must be a fan.” You’re right, I am a fan. Now you may think, “how does it taste?” Well, let me just say, modestly, I’m glad that I never have to find out. That’s because seven years ago someone else survived a taste test and you can read all about it on his site.

The next time your stomach is growling, try the food product you know will be satisfyingly pink and creamy: Libby’s potted meat. It hits a spot.

Nice Eggs Ladies