Have you gone into the grocery store produce section and found yourself staring at an unfamiliar fruit or vegetable and wondered what it was? How to cook it? Serve it? Wondered what it tasted like? Well, don’t feel too lonely. You are not the first, nor the last.

Here is a little story from the Norwich Courier, January 27, 1890, titled, A New Banana Hater.

Finds a bone in his first banana and calls his second a sweet potato.

At a recent Norwich spread where fruit was liberally served, there was a man who had never eaten a banana, and did not know the name of the fruit. When he saw the fruit upon the table he determined to try it. He did not know what to call the fruit, so he said to the friend beside him.

“I would like to try one of those, “pointing to the bananas, “but I don’t know how to go to work to eat one!”

“You shall have one,” replied his friend and I will prepare it for you!”

The friend took the banana, cut off the end, and pushed into it a small china doll he had in his pocket. He then partly removed the skin and handed it to his neighbor, who made a straight bite at it; and feeling the doll in his mouth he nudged his friend and said,

“Look out when you eat them, for there is a small bone in this one!”

When he removed the doll from his mouth he became aware that he had been the victim of a joke, and throwing down the first banana he looked languishly toward the fruit dish, and in a tone marked with disgust he said so he could be heard the length of the table.

“Will some gentleman be kind enough to pass me another sweet potato!”

The laughter which followed his request nearly paralyzed the young man. In future he will know a banana when he sees it.

Don’t be too quick to laugh or judge. Have you ever purchased a bunch of plantains in place of a bunch of bananas. Both are long and yellow but bananas can be enjoyed raw or cooked but plantains are best cooked. Peel and slice diagonally in half inch pieces. Heat a frying pan with enough oil to create a sizzle. Then carefully lay in the plantain pieces and mash each a bit with a fork as they soften. Turn over only once and drain on a paper towel before sprinkling with salt or spices or cinnamon and sugar and serving.

Thank you for reading and sharing my history and Norwich Community blog freely with your family or friends or anyone you think might be interested or in a position to take on some of the suggested projects. Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information. I am happy to pass along anything I can. Together we can make a difference. Email comments on this blog to berylfishbone@yahoo.com View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs .