This week, chef (and all-around good guy) Eric Ripert, he of the 4-star seafood temple Le Bernardin in NYC, will be sharing postcards from his trip to the Kingdom of Bhutan
Lots of fruit
Tea
The incense market
Incense
Blood sausage
The butchery
There are small markets scattered across the Kingdom of Bhutan as well as many stands along the road that offer a wide range of organic fruits and vegetables that are really fantastic and flavorful. The potatoes were the most surprising ingredient because the variety there has a minimal amount of starch and tastes light and delicious. Grilled corn is readily available to eat from these stands and, in contrast to the potatoes, the ears have more starchy characteristics and are less sweet than American corn.
In Bhutan, a mainly Buddhist country, it's common practice not to kill animals, but there are some butcher shops and stands that sell bacon and blood sausage as well as butter and cheese. These shops and stands are kept separate from all other produce.
The biggest and most intriguing market was located in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. Here I found some fresh fish that had been imported, as well as huge amounts of dehydrated fish. The market boast a wide variety of fruits and vegetables as well as grains (mainly rice), specialty teas, and an entire area dedicated to incense which is an important trade for the Bhutanese. --Eric Ripert
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