So, this morning I bought two pounds of quenepas. I was so happy, the funny thing is I've never had a quenepa. Two weeks back I got off the 23rd st PATH stop, instead of my usual 33rd st stop - malfunction of some sort. I passed a fruit stand guy set up in front of the Chipotle and picked up three peaches for $2. Then something caught my eye - little green fruit still attached to the twig. I asked the guy, "what's that?" "Quenepas" he said, "Spanish people love them." I didn't think anything of it and walked to my office.
The next morning I passed by his stand and curious about quenepas, I decided to buy a bunch - but he didn't have any. "tomorrow" he says. So every day for two weeks I woke up early and got off the 23rd st stop to see if I could buy some quenepas. Of course this is when the city was baking in consecutively humid 90 degree weather. I walked an extra 7 blocks just for the chance to buy these fruits which I've never tasted. I'm not sure why I was so determined - the videos on YouTube and the articles on Wikipedia made them sound like they'd be awesome. And perhaps it was because I already invested a few days of walking and sweating every morning - I was going to see this one through.
This morning I passed a stand a block below the fruit stand guy and they had quenepas! So I got a pound just in case he did not have them. Sure enough he did, so I hid the other bag behind me and handed over the $3. I enthusiastically thanked him twice and walked away with a strong sense of accomplishment - I finally did it - two pounds of little fruits in two little black plastic bags.I had maybe ten of them when I got to work. The funny thing is I don't really like them. I can see why they are popular, but they're not for me. I don't regret any of those heated long walks on those muggy mornings. It was an adventure where I got the prize.
hahah :D - I liked the quest, the treasure not so much.