chameh

I eat a lot of fruit. Gotta get them vitamins, you know. Korea is ripe with fruit. Everything you'd find in a grocery store in the States is readily available here.

There's also one fruit in particular which can't be found back home. I've always referenced it as the Korean melon to people here. And, despite living in Korea for more than a year, I only just gotten my hands on one.

I've learned that its name is "chameh". It's about the size of a pear, its skin is striped yellow and white.

I've never bought one. However, recently I had dinner with a friend, during which some soju-riddled Korean dudes sat down at our table and talked to us. At some point during the meal a vendor entered the restaurant selling Korean melons. The Koreans we were with insisted on buying us a bunch of them. We accepted, and were stuck carrying around a bushel of fruit for the rest of the night.

So, I've gotten my paws on one. Here's a picture of it:

Yeah, the picture isn't upright. I'm too lazy to fix that. Deal with it.

Here's a picture of it cut in half:

Once again, sideways picture. If you don't like it, screw!

Now, I'm no food critic. I'll readily admit to not caring how food tastes, my sole purpose of eating is to prevent starvation. I'm not one to savor intricate flavors, or insist on only the freshest ingredients. I grew up on grilled cheese, tomato soup, and franks and beans. My palate is unrefined.

Regardless, I'm in a privileged position compared to you, my readers back home. I can readily sample this fruit, whereas you can't. So, I feel I owe it to you all to give you my review of it.

So, here it is, my debut as a food critic:

Tastes like cantaloupe.