My local Shop-Rite is making things a lot easier for me lately, blog post wise. Yet again I was walking down a main aisle, not looking for any exotics and/or disgusting foods or beverages, but I happened to see some on a display case in the middle of everything. On this day it was some plantain strips from the Tropical Madness brand. Based, clearly, out of Ecuador. So I quickly snapped up a bag, and had at them shortly thereafter.
I wasn't taking a big chance here. I've reported on plantain or banana products many times previously--one on plantains on August 24th, 2014, one on bananas on June 2nd, 2018, about Ecuadorian plantain chips on June 1st, 2019, about banana "milk" on April 25th, 2020, and on banana snacks on June 17th, 2023. I'll try not to repeat myself too much here. Suffice it to say that plantains are a subtype of bananas, chiefly distinct because they're usually cooked or fried and eaten as savory meals or snacks, rather than as raw, sweet desserts and such. And while I don't like bananas much at all, I do enjoy plantains.
Alas, I wasn't able to find out much of anything about the maker of these plantain strips. Tropical Madness Snacks, Inc., appears to be affiliated with another company, Sunwork S.A. The only official website for either was "under construction." The little I learned was that the company was founded in 2010, is family owned and operated, and is located in the heart of the main Ecuadorian plantain production area. Plus, aside from plantain strips the brand also markets plantain chips, and something called I.Q.F. frozen maduro and I.Q.F. frozen tostone. (I looked up these words, and "maduro" usually refers to a type of cigar, and "tostones" mean "plantains." Some details on other websites indicated that these I.Q.F. products are probably frozen fruits and vegetables.) Other business-related websites provided a name--Steven A. Shulga. Who along with his wife Karla and his daughter (?) Rachael seem to be the owners of Tropical Madness, and possibly Sunwork as well. And Steven was reported as having been born in Charlotte, North Carolina in the U.S., but has a residence in Ecuador now. And that's it.
Tropical Madness plantain strips, original sea salt saladito flavor: These were yellow strips, of various sizes. Some were slices of an entire plantain, or like 15 cm. (about 6 inches) long, although many were partially folded up. The texture was crunchy. The flavor was pretty good. At first I thought they were weaker than most of the fried plantain chips I've had, as they were kind of bland. But they kind of grew on me, and I liked them better the more I ate. That said, a little more spice or salt would have been appreciated. Overall then, these weren't the best fried, dried plantain strips or chips I've had, but they were at least decent. I would get these again, and would eagerly try another Tropical Madness plantain selection which has more, or different spices on them.
As usual, I'll now pad this out a bit by including some fun facts about the nation of Ecuador, and about famous people who were either born in Ecudor, or at least have some Ecuadorian heritage. Leading off, it's no coincidence that the plantains I tried were from Ecuador, since it's the world's leading producer--25% of the globe's bananas/plantains. The country also has the most species of orchids in the world, with 4,250. The so-called Panama hat was actually developed in Ecuador. While it's not even close to being the world's highest mountain as measured from sea level, because of the Earth's bulge around its middle the top of Ecuador's Mount Chimborazo is the furthest point from the Earth's center. Or put another way, it's the closest point to outer space.
As for human beings, arguably the most famous person born there was show creator/writer/director Mike Judge. He's the son of two Americans, but they happened to be in Ecuador when he was born. Judge created the television programs "Beavis and Butt-Head," "King of the Hill," and "Silicon Valley." He also directed such films as "Office Space" (1999), and "Idiocracy" (2006). Staying in film, Ecuadorian actor Diego Serrano was in such movies as "Class of 1999: The Substitute" (1994), "The 24 Hour Woman," (1999), "The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green," (2001), "The Ode," (2008), and "The Men Who Stare at Goats" (2009).
Switching to sports, Ecuadorian tennis player Andres Gomez played professionally from 1979-95. He finished with a won-loss record of 331-273, with 21 singles titles, and 33 doubles titles. Included in these titles were wins in the French Open singles in 1990, and doubles victories at the 1986 U.S. Open and the 1988 French Open. In the Olympics Ecuador has had 4 gold medal winners. The first was Jefferson Perez, who won in the 1996 men's 20 km. walk, and who later got a silver at the 2008 Games in the same event. Cyclist Richard Carapaz won his gold in the 2020 men's road race event. Brian Pintado received his gold medal at the 2024 Games in the men's 20 km. walk, and later won silver at the 2024 Games for the marathon walk relay. Weightlifter Neisi Dajomes won her gold at the 2020 Games in the women's 76 kg category, and then won a bronze medal in the 81 kg category in the 2024 Olympics.
Finally, there's the (in)famous Ecuadorian Gerardo Mejia, who went by his first name only in his singing/rapping career. Most Americans regard the 1991 performer of "Rico Suave" as a one hit wonder joke, but he's gone on to a successful second career as a record company executive, and is also now a Chrisitan pastor.
No comments:
Post a Comment