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What Are Your Favorite Foods By Mouthfeel?

2008_10_15-Mouthfeel.jpgLast week, my boyfriend made a trip to Los Angeles and brought me back a large container of curried jackfruit from Bharat Bazaar/Samosa House. This, by the way, is one of my favorite foods ever. I've tried to replicate it at home and have not come close. (If you know their recipe, please tell me!) Anyway, as I bit into each succulent piece of jackfruit, I took pleasure not only in the taste, but also the mouthfeel.

 
 

The curried jackfruit is made with canned green jackfruit, so it's slightly unripe. The texture is somewhat fibrous like a pineapple, but the feel is silky like hearts of palm. The young seeds are firm, smooth, and slippery, which makes a wonderful contrast against the fibers of the jackfruit flesh. This is a food that I love to eat slowly and savor.

For me, eating is more than a necessity; it's also a pleasure. Some more of my favorite foods by mouthfeel are:

• Pulpy citrus fruit
• Hearts of palm
• Canned green jackfruit
• Gelato
• Goat cheese
• Avocados

Share yours here! Which foods give you the best mouthfeel?

(Image: Chris Johns for National Geographic. Buy the print at the National Geographic Print Store.)

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Inspiration, mouthfeel

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Comments (39)

Egads, that picture creeps me out!

Packham pears, beef brisket, glutinous rice balls, meaty prawns, crusty bread.

posted by KidMoe on October 15th 2008 at 8:40am
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dried apricots

posted by wwoolsey on October 15th 2008 at 8:48am
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Scallops. Rice pilaf. Raspberries. Bavarian cakes. Angel hair pasta.

And I agree, that picture is scary.

posted by renata on October 15th 2008 at 8:53am
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Wow, I'm surprised at the comments about the photo being scary! Sorry guys - it's one of my favorite National Geographic photos of a geisha training how to eat slippery foods with chopsticks without smudging her makeup. Didn't mean to freak anyone out.

posted by Kathryn Hill on October 15th 2008 at 9:09am
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Juicy mangoes, cherries and oatmeal.

posted by sandhya on October 15th 2008 at 9:24am
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...and the pic IS scary!

posted by sandhya on October 15th 2008 at 9:25am
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Custards, beef brisket, pop rocks!, soft scrambled eggs, chilequiles.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on October 15th 2008 at 9:29am
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Oh, and I didn't find that photo creepy, just exotic. Figured it was Japanese.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on October 15th 2008 at 9:30am
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i like the picture, but then tofu is one of my favorite mouthfeel foods (most people would probably disagree?). almonds. certain apples, like honeycrisps. fresh mozzarella and crusty bread.

posted by youreacigarette on October 15th 2008 at 9:32am
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water chestnuts! the perfect crunchy foodstuff.

posted by makyo on October 15th 2008 at 9:32am
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Rice pudding... crusty French bread... really rich pears... mostly rice pudding. :)

posted by surplusj on October 15th 2008 at 9:38am
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Almonds, brie, cherries, and super-thinly-sliced prosciutto.

posted by nadarine on October 15th 2008 at 9:43am
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I think what's odd about the photo is that it is more about the make-up than the food.

posted by renata on October 15th 2008 at 9:45am
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Ripe avocados and salmon sashimi.

posted by ericacbarnett on October 15th 2008 at 10:00am
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salmon roe.
warm cake.
jelly krimpets - mainly sticking my tongue into the jelly bit
flan
papadam

posted by sciencegeek on October 15th 2008 at 10:09am
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How has nobody mentioned solid dark chocolate yet?! Chocolate is one of few things that is solid at room temp but melts at body (mouth) temp. My favorite way to eat dark solid chocolate is to put a piece on my tongue and let it dissolve slowly without biting it with my teeth or "worrying" it too much with my tongue. That way the liquid chocolate is so much more intense.

posted by quark on October 15th 2008 at 10:14am
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maki sushis :D

posted by Sol on October 15th 2008 at 10:26am
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Sharp cheddar cheese sliced incredibly thin - I love how it melts immediately. The taste and sensation work wonderfully together.

Strangely that's why I like those listerine strips.

posted by Plaid Ninja on October 15th 2008 at 10:34am
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Tapioca, udon soup/noodles, mochi, oysters, scallops, fried tofu or sauteed silken tofu, angel hair.

Fun post!

posted by Squirrely on October 15th 2008 at 10:36am
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fudge
fried tofu
buttered toast

posted by Jezebella on October 15th 2008 at 11:49am
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creme brulee
avocado
flaky fish
anything crunchy! I used to HATE anything creamy and soft, but I can appreciate it now, my love of crunch still remains!
Strangely though, I cant stand water chesnuts, cottage cheese or cashews for their mouthfeel. Ewww...

posted by Tara blogs about everything on October 15th 2008 at 11:57am
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umi budo
salmon roe

posted by amt230 on October 15th 2008 at 11:57am
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ooo good question! hard to come with my answers though. what comes to mind immediately though is: dried apricots. and tobiko. my answers make it sounds like i squishy foods though, and i typically don't.

posted by KimberlyM on October 15th 2008 at 12:25pm
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avocados
chewy candy like licorice (mmm the black kind)

posted by sassy on October 15th 2008 at 12:40pm
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I think we all take potato chips for granted.

posted by quark on October 15th 2008 at 12:56pm
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I can't believe that no one has said ice cream yet. I love the melty soft with cold sensation. I'm not a big fan of things that are crunchy. And I prefer, if possible, not to mix my textures. Eating something soft like yogurt with crunchy hard like granola really bugs me.

posted by RoseCampion on October 15th 2008 at 1:05pm
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water chestnuts and macintosh apples - not together, but they have almost identical textures.
really rich ice cream.
over easy fried eggs.
risotto.
not-too-cripsy bacon with a perfect amount of fat.
lindt truffle balls at slightly warmer than room temperature. I swear those things are mixed by Willy Wonka's waterfall.

posted by kat98 on October 15th 2008 at 1:19pm
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Jicama fruit! So crispy, wetly satisfying.

Mochi ice cream. Smooooth, with a little resistance.

Irish style steel cut oats. Kinda 'underdone' feel.

Smoothies made with heavily seeded berries always have that nice crunch.

posted by Bx on October 15th 2008 at 2:04pm
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The pop and subsequent flooding of mouth with fat and flavor of a good, charcoal grilled brat (on a challah-style bun.) Creme brulee (silky custard, sugar shards.) Grapes.

posted by Dana V on October 15th 2008 at 2:31pm
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Again, fried tofu! I love it when it's crispy on the outside, soft and puffy on the inside, and soaks up all the flavour of the marinade/sauce. There's a place near me which makes a pad thai with tofu skin, and it's just so spongey and saturated with flavour.

Also, celery remoulade - the crunch plus the mouthwatering tartness.

And a good, creamy soup, like the cream of mushroom I just made :)

posted by lemonader on October 15th 2008 at 4:33pm
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A carbonated beverage
Kidney beans
Canned mandarin oranges
The ribs of romaine lettuce
Carmel corn

posted by popcorn.for.dinner on October 15th 2008 at 4:53pm
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ooh, this is fun! I agree with Salmon Roe and water chestnuts, but would also add prawn crackers (I love the way they fizz on the tongue), and lychees. especially lychees...spongy, gelatinous but firm and chewy. and so tasty!

posted by penelopepreens on October 15th 2008 at 6:21pm
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Mochi

posted by Comicgeek on October 15th 2008 at 11:17pm
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fresh cherries, warm chewy chocolate chip, and a strange fondness for stale cheese puff thingies, how they have that tough resistance. I leave a bag open sometimes on purpose.

posted by Kate (NC) on October 16th 2008 at 5:52am
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Kate (NC) sometimes I do the same thing with a bag of liccorice: leave it open for a few days until they are REALLY hard and chewy. Delish.

posted by spossberg on October 16th 2008 at 6:36am
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plain carbonated water
avocado
over-medium fried egg
toasted nori strips
non-crispy bacon with extra fat
baked tofu that has been in the fridge overnight....ahhh
soaked almonds


So hungry now!

posted by SkippyB on October 16th 2008 at 3:52pm
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i love chewy & crunchy things:
crisp apples
fresh cherries
tapioca pearls!
mochi
fresh crispy nori wrapped around rice

i also like fresh creamy tofu, rice pudding, peanut butter!, soft serve ice cream... i used to hate soft textured fruit like bananas and avocado, but have managed to get over it because i love their taste!

posted by sleepyapple on October 17th 2008 at 4:56am
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SPAM! SPAM! SPAM!

posted by iaintgoingthere on October 18th 2008 at 7:46pm
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I also love tofu in my mouth. Brie cheese and cherry butter on a slender slice of really great bread. I love cheese sandwiches with apples or tomatoes. I don't think any food makes me happier. A great tomato bisque -- has to be really fresh. Tiramasu, of course -- oh, and baklava. Tiramasu because of the soft layers and baklava for the flaky, but really honey dewy layers.

posted by mamaspank on December 8th 2008 at 3:27am
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