Durian Diaries

After watching Bizarre Foods and No Reservations on the Travel Channel, it was clear that the exotic fruit called the durian is a force to be reckoned with. Some have described it as having the taste and smell of rotting meat and stinky cheese, yet we have also read that it has a sweet, almond-y taste. Andrew Zimmern of Bizarre Foods couldn't eat one (yes, the same dude that takes pleasure in consuming BBQ guinea pig and bull penis cannot down a bite of this fruit), and Anthony Bourdain practically made love to the thing.
So which is it? A fruit of the gods or a horrible inedible spiny bomb?
We were (or maybe more so Matt was) determined to find out the truth, so a visit to the asian market (and $7 later) we came home with a durian. I expected it to be smelly right away, but it didn't: a cross between a muskmellon and almonds comes to mind.
But after a day or two on the counter, the smell became more pungent, so we decided we had better crack this baby open before it got too ripe (apparently the riper it is, the worse it tastes and smells).
After cutting the durian open, the smell was, honestly, pungent and not pleasant. I wasn't looking forward to tasting this fruit after the scent filled the kitchen. But Matt took a bite (of the creamy flesh, not the seeds--they are poisonous) and said it wasn't bad. The texture is a bit stringy but also very creamy and smooth. The flavor is actually quite complex. When it first touches the tongue it tastes a bit like it smells, but then quickly becomes sweet (simmilar to a banana), with a hint of onion, then a tart and fruity, like a mango. Overall, I would say a not-too-ripe durian tastes like a puree of onion and banana. Not entirely unpleasant, but not something I would buy and eat the whole thing.

Now we can say we've tried durian!