Beware the Durian

After my morning client, I decided that the day was so spectacular that it would be a shame to waste it indoors. So, formulating a plan, I contacted and told him that we all should go to the new Fry’s that opened in Concord. He has been in the market for a laptop computer, so he thought it was a good idea. was laying in his darkened cave writing some script or another, but I roused him and off we trundled to San Leandro, up in the hills, where Albadger lives. The glorious sunshine streamed down on us, windows open to catch the nearly-spring air.

First, though, we had to get lunch. My assignment to Albadger was to find Vietnamese food near the Fry’s. We ended up at Pho Hoa Phat, and ordered our meal. We ordered two plates of Goi Cuon, fresh spring rolls, and plates of noodles or soups. I had this wonderful bbq shrimp and vermicelli bowl. But the real surprise was the Durian Shake with Pearls. You may have seen ‘s post about this fruit, but if you have not – beware, beware, beware. Durian is called the King of Fruits in Thailand, but it has an odor redolent of Brimstone, wretched and sulfurous. If you can get past the smell, there is an amazingly delicate creamy aftertaste. Alas, after four largish sips from the shake, the odor overpowered my sense of adventure. I’m only slightly ashamed that I wasted the shake, but it was definately a learning experience.

Next, in the same parking lot, was a store called New Country Market, an Asian supermarket, where I picked up a pound of strawberries and a large bottle of hoisin sauce. Albadger and John also made a couple of purchases.

Well, the Fry’s was an absolute mob scene, with a line stretching along the length of the building and around the corner, consumers waiting to get in. Scratch that plan, but there were other consumer electronic stores in the area, so we kept on driving, enjoying the Spring air. We got to Best Buy, but the laptops they had there didn’t have the combination of CPU and graphics that Albadger was looking for, so we left for the next place Comp USA.

I walked over to the REI in The Willows shopping center and tried on cycling gloves – now I know which one’s I want. Riding my bike without gloves is less than optimal, I think.

Deciding on the route to take to get back to Albadger’s house, we headed south on the 680, to Crow Canyon road, bypassing the 580, but a short while into the canyon, we came to a halt, as there was some traffic up ahead. Turning around, we headed back toward the 680, stopping at Bay Books, a large used book store. John and Albadger went in to the bookstore, and I walked three doors down to Jo-Ann fabric store, looking for some bargain denim, for my next crocheting project. I’m going to take strips of denim and crochet it into a rag rug. No luck, so I went into the book store, and picked up a copy of “Thai Cooking” a slender volume of recipes and travelogue, organized by region. Fun, fun, fun!

All the while, I was munching on strawberries, chatting with John and Albadger, and feeling the moment – sunshine, crisp air, the beautiful green hills of California’s coast. We dropped Albadger off, and headed home, where had surprised us by cutting his beard really short! He looks pretty good, but it is a shock.

What a wonderful day.

Tagged as: Life in San Francisco