Sensual Foods: The Pomegranate

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from pp. 61 of the Jan. 16, 2006 Newsweek
(part of the larger article entitled "Sense and Sensuality - Cooking and eating have never been so fraught. We find sweet satisfaction in getting up close to our ingredients and hands-on with our prep.)

The Pomegranate

"... Bringing home a pomegranate is like emptying a sack of rubies on your counter. Hold the full, fat globe in your hand; feel the weight of its potential. Slicing it cross-wise reveals translucent seeds in patterns that are as good a proof as any of some divine being. Dislodge the seeds from their spongy white packing material with your fingers. Crush some between your teeth and let the sweet, tart juice fill your mouth. No wonder the pomegranate is thought to have been Eve's apple..."

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:11 (twenty years ago)

but then you're left with a mouthful of seeds.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:14 (twenty years ago)

shut up and chew them, they ain't gonna hurtcha.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:14 (twenty years ago)

the mrs. loves pomegranites. that's also one of her favorite words. i think it's arguably the slowest fruit to eat on the planet. you better not be hungry and sit down for some.

― msp (mspa), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:15 (twenty years ago)

the pomegranate is a classic allusion/metaphor for the lesbian stuff.

i learned that in college

― bb (bbrz), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:17 (twenty years ago)

the seeds are delicious!

― GET EQUIPPED WITH BUBBLE LEAD (ex machina), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:19 (twenty years ago)

i don't think i ever actually ate the seed... i remember eating it like an olive.. sucking off the outside and then spitting out the seed like a pit.

gonna have to check er out.
m.

― msp (mspa), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:25 (twenty years ago)

These are great if you want to put some time into eating fruit somewhat ritualistically.

Too bad they doom you to hell for half the year.

― Laura H. (laurah), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:28 (twenty years ago)

worse than that, they doom the ENTIRE WORLD to WINTER for half the year!

winter is obv. worse than hell.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:30 (twenty years ago)

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:33 (twenty years ago)

it's 50 degrees according to the New York Building....

― bb (bbrz), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:34 (twenty years ago)

http://www.besuche-oscar-wilde.de/bilder/pomegranates.248x358.jpg

― bb (bbrz), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:36 (twenty years ago)

TRUE FACT: My last name derives from the Greek for "little pomegranate."

As the story goes, one of my great-grand-dames was known as such because of her rosy cheeks, though the fact the name was passed on (rather than her own given surname) makes me suspect she was a lady of ill repute.

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:37 (twenty years ago)

I can hear vibrations fly
Through mangoes, pomegranates, and planes
All the same

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Thursday, 12 January 2006 18:39 (twenty years ago)

http://www.bevnet.com/images/reviews/pomwonderful/pom-blueberry.jpg

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 12 January 2006 19:01 (twenty years ago)

in 3rd grade we had greek gods and goddesses day. i dressed up as persephone and walked around with pomegranate seeds all day, but no one really got it. so much for private school education!

― tres letraj (tehresa), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:15 (twenty years ago)

mmmmmmmm delectable symbol of fecundity with bonus sticky fingers

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:25 (twenty years ago)

I did a focus group for pom wonderful.

― adamrl (nordicskilla), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:27 (twenty years ago)

eating the seeds is so satisfying.

― ShawShank Rambo Connection (Carey), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:29 (twenty years ago)

sometimes, i think if I ever wanted get crazy with tattoos, i would have a half-sleeve of pomegranates down one arm, and possibly a half-sleeve of white lilies for the other arm. which sounds pretty gay, but then, so am i.

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:39 (twenty years ago)

pom is like $4 FFS. the mango kind rules but FUCK that

― A BOLD QUAHOG (ex machina), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:41 (twenty years ago)

it looks really good but i refuse to buy it because of the pricetag!

― tres letraj (tehresa), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:42 (twenty years ago)

The best thing about pomegranates is they have tigers in them (if you're crazy):

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/l/jls693/Dream.jpg

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:45 (twenty years ago)

there are generic brand pomegranate juices that you can buy.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:46 (twenty years ago)

POM is fucking tasty. But yeah, e$pen$sive.

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:46 (twenty years ago)

I made a bong out of a POM bottle once.

― A BOLD QUAHOG (ex machina), Thursday, 12 January 2006 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Seeds from 1 large pomegranate
1 cup Marsala
1 tablespoon chopped mint
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 Cornish game hens
6 thin slices pancetta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Peel of two oranges, cut into 1/4 -inch slices

In a small bowl, just cover the pomegranate seeds with the Marsala. You may have to use more Marsala. Gently mix in the mint and set aside, covered, for 1 hour.
Season the birds inside and out with salt and pepper. Drain the pomegranate seeds and mint, reserving the liquid. Stuff the birds with some of the seeds, reserving remainder for later use, and the mint. Using a needle, truss the bird tightly so that the inner cavity is closed and sealed shut buy the 2 legs. Wrap each bird in a slice of pancetta, using your palms to press the pancetta tight against the bird.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In an oven-proof saute pan, heat the olive oil, butter. Add 3 sage leaves and cook 1 minute before adding the hens. Brown the birds on all sides over high heat until well-browned, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat, and add the remaining sage leaves, and pomegranate seeds. Place the saucepan in the oven for 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle the hens with 3 tablespoons of the remaining Marsala and pat with 4 tablespoons of the remaining butter. Baste the hens with the pan juices and return to the oven for 5 more minutes. In a small saucepan, melt the remaining butter over low heat. Add the orange peel and saute gently for 5 minutes, stirring gently so that the peel absorbs the butter. Remove the sauteed peels from the heat. Remove the hens from the oven and transfer them to a serving dish. Sprinkle the hens with the orange peel, and drizzle them with pan juices and pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 12 January 2006 22:00 (twenty years ago)

Ooh I was just thinking a bit ago about buying some cornish game hens, thanks M!

― Allyzay must fight Zolton herself. (allyzay), Thursday, 12 January 2006 22:04 (twenty years ago)

Prego That's a Battali recipe, btw.

I used to go to this cheap little Persian restaurant that's long gone and they made a chicken in pomegranate glaze that was delicious.

― M. White (Miguelito), Thursday, 12 January 2006 22:37 (twenty years ago)

there's an indian restaurant on court street that used to sell glasses of pomegranate juice for a dollar. no idea if they still do.

― yvette yreka (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 12 January 2006 23:05 (twenty years ago)

Woah, this thread really took off to a place I could never imagine!

Rock on, my pomegranate homies, I just got some succulent and tasty pom-poms from Trader Joes.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 12 January 2006 23:09 (twenty years ago)

my roommate has some sitting on our kitchen counter and i'm tempted to steal them...

― tres letraj (tehresa), Thursday, 12 January 2006 23:11 (twenty years ago)

Vegetables are sensual. People are sensuous.

― titty sanskrit (sanskrit), Friday, 13 January 2006 00:57 (twenty years ago)

you can like a liter of the pomegranite juice at the metfood in greenpoint for like 2 bucks...havent tried it, but how bad could it be?

― bb (bbrz), Friday, 13 January 2006 15:39 (twenty years ago)

i've heard that pom is so expensive vs. other pomegranate juices because it's not made from concentrate. hence, it has more antioxidants and crap like that.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 13 January 2006 15:57 (twenty years ago)

i take vitamins with antioxidants anyway; how much more do i need?

― yvette yreka (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:11 (twenty years ago)

and they say that the whole antioxident thing was the bullcrap anyhow...

― bb (bbrz), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:13 (twenty years ago)

just sayin'. take it up with pom!

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:15 (twenty years ago)

for a moment, i misread that as 'take it up with porn.'

― elmo, patron saint of juicy fingers (allocryptic), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:23 (twenty years ago)

I just figured that Pom was so expensive cos it must take like 17 pomengranates to get all that juice. It didn't really occur to me to question why others are less expensive, in that instance.

― Allyzay must fight Zolton herself. (allyzay), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:24 (twenty years ago)

fancy bottles vs. plain bottles???
advertising??

who is/are pom's parent compan(y/ies)?

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:25 (twenty years ago)

dude, almost 2 years ago:

New (to you) Beverages - S/D

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:31 (twenty years ago)

The POM website actually has a very helpful page on how to separate the seeds. Sounds like it would make things a lot easier.

How To Open

Three Easy Steps to Get Inside.

1. Cut off the "crown", then score the outer layer of skin into sections.

2. In a large bowl of water, break apart the sections along the score lines. Roll out the arils (the sweet juice sacs surrounding a tiny edible seed) with your fingers. The arils will sink to the bottom while the white membrane floats to the top.

3. Strain out the water. The arils are ready to eat whole, seeds and all.

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Friday, 13 January 2006 17:34 (twenty years ago)

theres no sense in bringing sense to pomegranites...

but that actually is a good plot.

― bb (bbrz), Friday, 13 January 2006 20:12 (twenty years ago)

My mom insists that, to de-seed a pomegranate, you should cut it in half and beat it with the ass-side of a butter knife until all the seeds fall out. Haven't tried this yet.

― Allyzay must fight Zolton herself. (allyzay), Friday, 13 January 2006 20:35 (twenty years ago)

Like veins of ore... I use a stripminer.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 13 January 2006 20:38 (twenty years ago)

I am curious as to how you define the 'ass-side' of a butter knife, Ally.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 13 January 2006 20:49 (twenty years ago)

The handle basically. The bit with junk in the trunk.

― Allyzay must fight Zolton herself. (allyzay), Friday, 13 January 2006 20:52 (twenty years ago)

i can see that butter knife getting very messy

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Friday, 13 January 2006 21:10 (twenty years ago)

i thought we were opposed to beating on fruits...

― bb (bbrz), Friday, 13 January 2006 21:12 (twenty years ago)

MORE POMEGRANATE FUN FACTS:

The word 'grenade' comes from the French word for pomegranate.

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Friday, 13 January 2006 21:19 (twenty years ago)

delicious

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 16 January 2006 23:24 (twenty years ago)

A hand grenade is a hand-held bomb designed to be thrown by hand. The word "grenade" is derived from the Spanish granada ("pomegranate"), in reference to the general size of early grenades, and because its shrapnel pellets reminded soldiers of the seeds of this fruit. Grenadiers were originally soldiers who specialized in throwing grenades.

― A BOLD QUAHOG (ex machina), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 06:25 (twenty years ago)

The picture of pomegranate kernels/seeds above actually made my mouth water!

― Sundar (sundar), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 03:22 (twenty years ago)

jon, i dispute your spanish etymology and the american heritage dictionary backs me up

― elmo, patron saint of nausea (allocryptic), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 03:51 (twenty years ago)

that shit is wrong

― A BOLD QUAHOG (ex machina), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 03:58 (twenty years ago)

Grenade

"small explosive shell," 1591, from M.Fr. grenade "pomegranate," from O.Fr. pomegrenate (infl. by Sp. granada), so called because the many-seeded fruit suggested the powder-filled, fragmenting bomb, or from similarities of shape. Grenadiers (1676) originally were soldiers "who were dexterous in flinging hand-granados" [Evelyn], from Fr. grenadier; later "the tallest and finest men in the regiment."

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 16:43 (twenty years ago)

we need a goddamned dictionary thread

― bb (bbrz), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 16:49 (twenty years ago)

From Trésor de la Langue Française informatisé (version simplifiée)

Pomegranate:

Étymol. et Hist. Ca 1165 pume grenate (CHR. DE TROYES, G. d'Angleterre, éd. M. Wilmotte, 1356); ca 1314 grenate (H. DE MONDEVILLE, Chirurgie, 1838 ds T.-L.). Prob. empr. aux dial. de l'Italie du Nord : piém. pum graná, lomb. pom granat, istr. pom graná, où pomo remplaça melo « pomme » dans l'expr. melo granato « grenade », du lat. malum granatum « id. » (d'où sont issues, souvent avec des altérations p. étymol. pop., les formes des autres lang. rom.), propr. « pomme à grains » (v. FEW t. 4, p. 239b). Bbg. HOPE 1971, p. 41. - QUEM. DDL t. 1.

Grenade:

Étymol. et Hist. 1558 (PHILIPPE DE CLÈVES, Traité de la guerre, p. 122 ds GAY). Issu de grenade1* p. métaph. due à l'anal. de forme.
STAT. Grenade1 et 2. Fréq. abs. littér. : 478. Fréq. rel. littér. : XIXe s. : a) 239, b) 365; XXe s. : a) 607, b) 1 267.

By which we see that the French seem to think that they got the word for pomegranate from Northern Italian dialect for 'apple (fruit) of grains (seeds)' and the first usage as a description for the military weapon that I can find in French is this one from de Clèves' 'Treaty on War' dated 1558.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 17:03 (twenty years ago)

The Brittanica seems to think it comes from the French too.

― M. White (Miguelito), Wednesday, 18 January 2006 17:06 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/fruit-spill-causes-traffic-delays-on-southbound-5-freeway.html

― jØrdån (omar little), Tuesday, 1 December 2009 20:31 (sixteen years ago)

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