Auteur : Martine

Crappucino anyone?

Blork told me last week about these funky looking cat/monkeys whose droppings are used to make the most expensive coffee in the world. These animals climb up trees to eat the coffee cherries, which they are unable to digest. Someone waits for the cherries to pass through the animal’s digestive system and picks up the coffee beans from their droppings. According to this CBC article, the enzymes in the animal’s stomach add « something unique » to the coffee’s flavour through fermentation. The beans are thoroughly cleaned and then roasted at 249 degrees C.

This upscale grocery store in Edmonton is testing whether its customers will shell out $600 per pound for this delicacy.

But is it fair trade coffee? ;-)

I got Blork a new book about food from all over the world, and we found out that Moroccan goats climb trees as well to get to the berries. Local women (of course) pick up the undigested berries from their droppings, this time to make a stinky kind of oil, used for food, skin and lighting. Check it out, it’s quite a sight.

So what’s next? Nutella from squirrel poo? Shark’s ass sushi?

Coming home

Sleeping for 9 hours instead of the 4 hour nights I’ve been getting in the last 10 days. Taking a very long shower, letting the burning water massage my tensed shoulders. With the help of the steam, being able to take the first deep breath in what seems like a very long time. Getting through one of the most stressful periods of my life with the help of his arms, his food, his words and his stories. Coming back home completely beat, but grateful and comforted by the knowledge of having finally found the right person, and the joy of finding this person at the right time in my life.

(Pardon my little « Linda Lemay » public display of affection here… ;-)

In 4, 3, 2, 1…

I’m back in front of the camera, after working behind it for the last 12 months or so. I’m the high tech « expert » for this tv show and there’s a computer on the set which we use for my segments. Television is all « hurry up and wait », and since I’m a bit nervous about being back on cam, I kill time playing with the computer’s very fast net connection. While I type this message, I’m surrounded by spotlights, cameras and people giving orders. Not quite my usual « blogging from the living room » experience…