My Brussel Sprouts Saga

[liuzhou]

Brussel sprouts are almost unknown in China. I'd never found them.

However, on May 20th, my birthday, I found some for sale online. Of course, I ordered some.

 

 

By May 23rd, not only had they not arrived, but the website tracking service was showing no movement. They promise to ship within 48 hours. It was now 60 hours. So I contacted the sellers. No reply, but I was able to leave a message.

May 24th, I get the news that the package has been lost in transit. I ask them if it was in transit, why didn't the tracking say that it had been dispatched. I'm still waiting for an answer to that question. Anyway, they said they would re-ship them immediately.

May 26th Still no sprouts. Still no tracking information. I contact them again.

"Oh! It's been raining for two days, so we couldn't pick them! We are picking them now and will send later today!"

Yeah, right!

Anyway, later I'll update this mini blog of my sprouts adventures en route from Shanghai to me. If they ever get en route.

I was tempted to tell them where they could put their sprouts but we are only talking about $4 USD (plus $1.25 delivery) and it has become quite amusing to see what happens next.

I just hope they are here for Christmas dinner!

Edited May 26, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[heidih]

Frustrating! What they were waiting for the baby cabbages to grow? I've mentioned before that Amazon shipped my copy of Marcus Samuelsson's "The Rise" to stepmother in the desert. At least the tracking showed it and I was able to stop before it twisted their racist knickers. Or the Amazon delivery (picture sent) left on the ground at mailbox adjacent to busy road; a good long hike from the house.  Good luck! They are one of my personal favorite vegetables.

[liuzhou]

Well, at 19:21 local time, finally something happened. Tracking is showing that they have been picked up in Shanghai and shipped to a depot elsewhere in Shanghai to be forwarded to their next staging post, wherever that may be. Hopefully, I'll find out in the morning.

Edited May 26, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[kayb]

Well, one good thing about it, they hold up pretty well unless it's sufferin' hot there.

 

[liuzhou]

May 27th.

According to the tracking report 00:03:35, my sprouts have left Shanghai and are on their way to Liuzhou with no intervening stops. I don't know how they are being shipped, but it it is unlikely I'll be hearing any more today.

 

12 hours ago, kayb said:

Well, one good thing about it, they hold up pretty well unless it's sufferin' hot there.

 

It's around 30 - 32℃ at the moment, so not as hot as it gets. But perishable items are usually shipped in these effficient insulating foam boxes with icepacks, which are good for 2-3 days - the most it takes most deliveries to arrive..

 

Edited May 27, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[liuzhou]

2 hours ago, liuzhou said:

According to the tracking report 00:03:35

 

I love how the tracking is timed to the second, yet they take a week to find and dispatch the things!

[kayb]

Saw what looked like a good Brussels sprout technique today. Marinate them in olive oil and lemon juice with salt, pepper and paprika, overnight. Then bake at 400F for 20 minutes.

[liuzhou]

4 minutes ago, kayb said:

Saw what looked like a good Brussels sprout technique today. Marinate them in olive oil and lemon juice with salt, pepper and paprika, overnight. Then bake at 400F for 20 minutes.

 

I would normally roast or bake sprouts, but I am temporarily oven-less. When (if) the things arrive, I'll share how I cook them.

The method you mention does sound interesting.

[Darienne]

40 minutes ago, kayb said:

Saw what looked like a good Brussels sprout technique today. Marinate them in olive oil and lemon juice with salt, pepper and paprika, overnight. Then bake at 400F for 20 minutes.

I love, love, love Brussels Sprouts and will try your recipe next.  Ed?  Not so much, but he will eat them.

 

I have a funny Brussels Sprouts story.  (Don't often hear that line in a conversation.)  I once thanked my now departed Mother for introducing me to Brussels Sprouts when I was a child.  Well...she drew herself up and looked down on me and said:  "You never ate Brussels Sprouts in MY house" ...as if I had just suggested something vulgar.  I guess not.  I must just just bought them and tried them one day quite out of the blue. 

[lindag]

7 minutes ago, Darienne said:

I love, love, love Brussels Sprouts and will try your recipe next.  Ed?  Not so much, but he will eat them.

 

I have a funny Brussels Sprouts story.  (Don't often hear that line in a conversation.)  I once thanked my now departed Mother for introducing me to Brussels Sprouts when I was a child.  Well...she drew herself up and looked down on me and said:  "You never ate Brussels Sprouts in MY house" ...as if I had just suggested something vulgar.  I guess not.  I must just just bought them and tried them one day quite out of the blue. 

"I love, love, love Brussels Sprouts and will try your recipe next"

Me too.  Thanks @kaybfor the suggestion.

[AlaMoi]

I give them a 10 minute boil, cool, cut in half, sear the open face.

[liuzhou]

 

The trip from Shanghai to Liuzhou took 31 hours, 44 minutes and 13 seconds, according to the tracking - not unreasonable, I suppose. The package then hopped around Liuzhou for the next 3 hours, 44 minutes and 8 seconds before finally being dispatched from the nearest depot to me (in the next street to my home). 54 minutes later it was in my hands!

 

As predicted, they were wrapped in a styrofoam insolating box with an ice pack (which had almost completely melted). They are in perfect condition and will appear on the dinner thread tonight, all being well! I'll probably post them here, too!

[KennethT]

7 hours ago, liuzhou said:

 

The trip from Shanghai to Liuzhou took 31 hours, 44 minutes and 13 seconds, according to the tracking - not unreasonable, I suppose. The package then hopped around Liuzhou for the next 3 hours, 44 minutes and 8 seconds before finally being dispatched from the nearest depot to me (in the next street to my home). 54 minutes later it was in my hands!

 

As predicted, they were wrapped in a styrofoam insolating box with an ice pack (which had almost completely melted). They are in perfect condition and will appear on the dinner thread tonight, all being well! I'll probably post them here, too!

Congratulations!

[chromedome]

I'm actually rather surprised that Brussels sprouts are unknown in China, given their broad embrace of other brassicas. Seems like there might be an entrepreneurial opportunity there for someone.

[liuzhou]

8 minutes ago, chromedome said:

I'm actually rather surprised that Brussels sprouts are unknown in China, given their broad embrace of other brassicas. Seems like there might be an entrepreneurial opportunity there for someone.

 

Well, obviously someone n Shanghai is trying. That's where I found 'em!

They'll have to work on their logistics, though to be successful. Two to three days for delivery anywhere in China is teh norm. Not 8 days.

Just last week I ordered something online at 10 pm (approx). It was in my hands by 2 pm the next day. And it came about the same distance as those sprouts.

[kayb]

21 hours ago, Darienne said:

I love, love, love Brussels Sprouts and will try your recipe next.  Ed?  Not so much, but he will eat them.

 

I have a funny Brussels Sprouts story.  (Don't often hear that line in a conversation.)  I once thanked my now departed Mother for introducing me to Brussels Sprouts when I was a child.  Well...she drew herself up and looked down on me and said:  "You never ate Brussels Sprouts in MY house" ...as if I had just suggested something vulgar.  I guess not.  I must just just bought them and tried them one day quite out of the blue. 

 

21 hours ago, lindag said:

"I love, love, love Brussels Sprouts and will try your recipe next"

Me too.  Thanks @kaybfor the suggestion.

 

Note: I have not actually tried this. Ran across it in a facebook post. OP also noted sprouts should be halved or quartered, depending on size.

 

I have some sprouts in the fridge. I suspect I'll give this a whirl this weekend.

 

[SLB]

They are awfully pretty.

[Anna N]

@liuzhou

did I miss what you did with the sprouts?

[liuzhou]

20 minutes ago, Anna N said:

@liuzhou

did I miss what you did with the sprouts?

 

I did use them in one meal which I posted in the Dinner topic on Sunday. In fact, you saw my post and "liked" it!

 

The remainder (about 2/3rd of them),  I vacuum packed and bunged in the fridge. I will use them again in the next day or two. In fact, you saw my post and "liked" it!

 

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[Anna N]

@liuzhou

Forgive me. I was sure I had seen them but I thought it was in different thread than the dinner thread. I will blame it all on being decaffeinated at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. They look very good.

I had a bad experience with them a few years ago and haven’t been able to look at them again although they used to be one of my favourite vegetables. 

[liuzhou]

2 minutes ago, Anna N said:

Forgive me.

 

Nothing to forgive. I do occasionally wake up eager to respond to an eG post that I only dreamed someone had made.  While totally forgetting others which are real!