It looks like Durian to me, but I have not eaten any.

Lars

I just googled durian and that's what it is. Are your SIL's Vietnamese? We have Vietnamese acquaintances AND relatives and had heard about, and on one occasion given, a desert made with durian. My assumption is that Asians are just having fun with westerners when they have durian around in the US. It must be an acquired taste. The taste, and I hear the smell, would make almost any westerner Literally gag or worse.

It looks like durian to me also. But, I'm curious as to why your SIL's did not ask what it was before purchasing? It's a farmers market with vendors right there. They love to talk about their products.

EDIT: I see where you just said market (not farmers) but still...

This post was edited by dixiedog_2007 on Wed, May 15, 13 at 19:51

Years ago my family hired a lovely chinese woman to live with my 100+ year old grandmother. She found a chinese supermarket near my grandmothers home and with great excitement brought us a durian. She dissected it and presented to us. We tried it and it was okay. Ms Ha went home to NYC for the weekend. So we were left with a fridge and kitchen that smelled of durian. Whew! I tossed it at some point on Sunday in desperation. She was upset but....

Thanks. The SIL who bought it is orthodox Jewish and bought it at a store not a farmers market. She said it looked good so she bought it, never knowing what it was. My other SIL is from Iran and had never seen anything like it (neither had any of us lol) but she's an adventurous eater and will try anything.

It didn't smell but she did throw it out after those who wanted a taste had one. No-one went back for more.

I'm going to send her the google links. Thanks

I remember an episode of Chopped where durian was one of the ingredients the contestants had to use. Neither the contestants, nor the judges, were pleased with the ingredient.

Sally

It's Durian, no doubt about it. It may not have smelled because it may not have been very riped. When it's riped, you'll smell it even if you're at the far end of the house (^_-)

Durian is an acquired taste, period! Some in my family love it and some detest it. I used to stay away from them as far as I could. And now, I love them!

Come to think of it, it was the same with cheese. I didn't like cheese at all as a child and now, I love all sorts of cheese. It's the changing of the tongue (taste) and the nose (scent), isn't it?

guess those who like (oh, the smell!) lutefisk would also like this? I still remember the lefse & lutefisk dinners back in Scandenavian Iowa!