I found these Abate Fetel Pears at Whole Foods and wanted to give them a try. The name alone makes it sample-worthy, but it has the most beautiful green and blush pink color. I usually like to buy locally-grown produce, and these ones are from imported from Italy, but I had a feeling that the kids would love this week’s investigation. And in the process, I’ve found my new favorite pear. If you can find this variety, make sure to give it a try – it’s juicy and really flavorful.
ME: OK, do you know what the mystery food is?
LAUREN: I want to see it! [gasp] Oh yeah! I really wanted to try that one.
ME: Look how pretty it is.
LAUREN: It’s so pretty. Can I hold it?
ME: Yeah. It’s kind of like pink on one side…
LAUREN: Yeah! It feels weird too.
ME: Yeah, it feels a little gritty doesn’t it?
ME: Well, that’s why we touch things and explore things, right?
LAUREN: It feels like it’s been rolled in dirt.
ME: [laughing] Rolled in dirt – that’s a funny one.
EMMA: Ooo…
ME: Can I have it, Emma?
LAUREN: Can I feel it again? It feels kind of cool.
ME: Yeah, you can feel it one more time.
SAM: UGH. Yuck.
LAUREN: It’s like a lizard’s skin. Kind of. Right?
ME: Yeah, it does feel like a lizard’s skin. What a good description!
ME: What do you think it’s going to look like on the inside?
LAUREN: I think it’s going to look like green – like a regular pear.
SAM: I think it’s like a regular pear: white.
LAUREN: Maybe white or green like a regular pear.
ME: You guys ready for it?
EMMA: Maybe PINK!
ME: Pink?
(cutting)
SAM: Told ya!
EMMA: WHITE!
ME: Just like a regular pear.
SAM: I said white.
EMMA: [singing]
ME: OK, who wants the first bite?
ME: Lauren’s fighting for it, first. There you go.
ME: I didn’t even tell you what these are called! They’ve got the funniest names.
EMMA: I want the pink!
LAUREN: There’s no pink one.
ME: There is a pink side! There is a blush pink side of this pear, isn’t there? You’re right. There is a pink side. Here you go.
ME: These are called Abate Fetel Pears, isn’t that a strange name?
EMMA: YUM!
ME: Do you love it? They’re a little bit like a Bosc pear, aren’t they?
SAM: It tastes like…
ME: It tastes like, what?!
LAUREN: [laughing] Why are we tasting a pear for mystery food?!
SAM: It tastes like me!
ME: It tastes like meat?!
SAM: ME!
ME: Like you?! Oh! Like if you were to eat your arm, it tastes like this… the texture, you mean?
[laughing]
SAM: Mmm hmm.
ME: Lauren, there’s no such thing as a regular pear. There are all kinds of varieties. Even you’re regular pear, is a certain kind of pear – Bosc or Comice. Or we tried Asian pears…
SAM: Mmm… my arms taste good.
ME: So, guys, should we get this one again?
ALL: Yeah.
ME: Yeah.
SAM: Let me see what the bone looks like… inside.
EMMA: The seeds!
ME: This is not called the bone. It’s called the pit.
LAUREN: It’s called the core.
ME: Whoops, you’re right Lauren. The core.
LAUREN: Can we open the core?
SAM: I can do it! I can do it!
LAUREN: Give me a pear.
ME: Can you cut it crosswise?
SAM: I will! I will! I will!
ME: OK. I don’t know if I like you using knives.
Sam tries hacking at it with a butter knife
LAUREN: No, you break it.
ME: Oh OK.
LAUREN: There you go.
ME: Thanks Bear. That’s what it looks like on the inside. It kind of looks the same, doesn’t it?
LAUREN: Yeah, it’s weird.
SAM: Here you go, I cut it!
ME: This was really fun. I liked this one. Did you guys like it?
ALL: Mmm hmm.
ME: Yeah, me too. Let’s get these again.
SAM: I cut the core!