Darryle Pollack

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You are here: Home / Chocolate & Other Food for Thought / Busted

9 Comments

Busted

After 12 days in Argentina, it was time to go home.  Daniel had enough of me—- and I had enough dulce de leche.

It was easier saying goodbye to Daniel— I know I”ll see him in a few months.    Who knows when I’ll bond with dulce de leche again?

Not that I should.  I ate enough on this trip to last me a long, long time.

At least until I got to the airport in Buenos Aires…….and saw that one of the souvenir shops sold cardboard containers of the authentic local stuff.

Fortunately– I still had a few pesos in my pocket.

Unfortunately— I had promised not to eat another bite.

Fortunately— I was traveling alone; not with Daniel the Food Police.

The Spanish say: Vaya con Dios.

I say: Vaya con Dulce de leche.

And I barely felt guilty as I stuck the container in my bag and began the long journey back to Carmel.

I was  numb from traveling by the time I had to switch planes in the Dallas–Fort Worth airport.  I stumbled out of the plane and into customs.     An overly–chipper Texan waved me towards my next flight….when I learned I had to go through security again.

I had already been through security in Argentina—which is looser than ours.  This was American style— Shoes off,  bag of liquids out, laptop in its own plastic bin.

Even half-asleep it’s worth the hassle to keep America safe.   And I fully woke up when the TSA guy plucked off my carry-on from the line—and carried it over to the side for a closer inspection.  People were watching, as he opened and went through my bag—resting it on a stainless steel surface and handling all of the items with rubber gloves—until he found what he was looking for—liquid contraband.

The agent wouldn’t allow me to identify him; but he did allow me to record a photograph for posterity—- of  the illegal substance he confiscated, that I had attempted to smuggle across the American border:

Either this was a sign from the universe….or a subconscious warning from the Food Police.

So Adios Dulce de leche. It”s been sweet.

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Comments

  1. Darryle Pollack says

    April 21, 2010 at 9:09 am

    Just read an interesting study pertaining to my little incident above. It indicates that when airport security finds something harmless (i.e. a water bottle, or dulce de leche) they’re more likely to overlook something really dangerous (i.e. a boxcutter):
    http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-04/du-cch042010.php

    Fortunately, in my case, they did confiscate the most dangerous item I was carrying.

  2. Lolly says

    April 21, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    I admire your self control…all those LONG hours on the plane and you still had it unopened. Wow! I am impressed.

  3. Bob says

    April 22, 2010 at 7:04 am

    Dahling,

    I can tell you that while you had your fill for now, Dulce de Leche withdrawal can be quite uncomfortable,

    So here is a way to get a pretty good one in the States:

    http://www.melburyandappleton.co.uk/dulce-de-leche-1352-p.asp

    And for instant gratification Häagen-Dazs has it frozen,

    Yum. Glad you had such a wonderful trip and time with Daniel.

  4. Darryle Pollack says

    April 22, 2010 at 8:41 am

    I didn’t even remember I had it; I was so groggy. But I think even I have my limits– when I conjure up the mental picture of me sitting on a plane slurping Dulce de Leche out of a can.

  5. Darryle Pollack says

    April 22, 2010 at 8:45 am

    My withdrawal symptoms have already started—Thank you for helping me prevent a medical emergency.

  6. feefifoto says

    April 25, 2010 at 5:57 am

    The same thing happened to me last month when the TSA found a bottle of Dead Sea Salt I’d brought home for my kids to take to science class, which Israeli security had allowed because they know how to conduct security, while the TSA most decidedly does not.

  7. Darryle Pollack says

    April 26, 2010 at 1:10 am

    So annoying. Don’t get me started on airport security. IF only the TSA would bring in the Israelis I’d feel a lot better. Someone wrote on my Facebook page that the TSA motto is “We’re not happy until you’re unhappy.”

  8. Kitty Mulcahy says

    April 27, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    Hi Darryle,
    Spoke to Jane last night and she had me cracking up with the story of you and the dulce de leche, so I am now dying to try the stuff. I am already addicted to the Haagen Daz version, but really want to try the real thing. My search has found it here: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/dulce-de-leche-sauce/
    Can’t wait to receive it.
    Sounds like your trip was amazing & am putting Argentina on my bucket list!!!
    Welcome Home!

  9. Eileen F says

    May 7, 2010 at 10:28 pm

    Did you see this recipe in Relish Magazine that came on Wednesday in the Herald? http://www.relishmag.com/recipes/view/42516/alfajores.html The first part (filling) is dulce de leche. Also, if you google dulce de leche, there are several recipes for making it at home. I’ve made it before, and also fell in love with it.

    Okay, you’ve signed up for the ACS support, but you can still have some once in awhile. (Also you can sometimes find it at Grocery Outlet in Marina.)

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