For those of you who regularly eat fresh coconut, the normal way of dealing with it is to poke a hole, pour out the water, smash the whole thing and remove the flesh. After all, it's a nut. The shell is waste. (Incidentally I'm working on a book about nuts now.) But I insist otherwise. In the Middle Ages coconuts were rare exotics - and I don't mean the flesh which no one ever tasted, I mean the shell. Set in silver and used to in communion service. Or to judge the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow. You must admit, even without the silver, it is stunning. This was an ordinary coconut bought at the store. Carefully saw off the top, scoop out the flesh. (Carefully! I have a few wounds from this one.) Then scrape off the hairy part, sand the hell out of the exterior. Gradually proceed to the finest grade until extremely smooth. Then apply a mixture of beeswax and mineral oil. (I use it to keep my wooden spoons lovely too.) At this moment it holds a perfectly made Manhattan. Buffalo Trace, Sweet Red Vermouth, Angostura bitters and some preserved cherries from the backyard. Did I say perfect?
6 comments:
very cool - looks like a cimarrón (or a mate gourd). it's almost like a piece of art! what can't you do, ken albala?
I saw an exhibition a long time ago with those silver-mounted shells and thought they were gorgeous... looked like wood or even stone... I thought they were amazing.
Don't know if I would have the patience or the dexterity to make them (I am notoriously bad at knife-related handicrafts... sliced more than one finger in the process). You did a fab job.
Who said I didn't slice more than one finger?!
Hi Ken,
Long time reader, first time commenter. I look forward to your updates on this site, and this recent addition is no exception. The cup looks beautiful - masterfully done! I like how you've taken something most see as a disposable food product and turned it into a drinking vessel! Also, Buffalo Trace is a fine bourbon. Prost!
Thanks so much Bluukinen. I'm sort of wishing this one had gone into the next cookbook, but we turned it in a few weeks ago. There will be many similar projects though. Stay in touch. Ken
Hi Ken, My sweetie used to volunteer as a docent in the German National Museum in Nuremburg. They had several of the coconut shell based chalices in the collection there. He tells me that there was also a painting of the town bigwigs at dinner, each with his fancy cup in front of him. The museum would display the actual cups in front of the painting that showed them being used.
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