The Saraga Challenge

Last week, some friends told me about their new dinner party format -- the Saraga Challenge.

The format? Everyone goes to Saraga International Grocery (either alone in in a group) and selects one item they've never heard of before. The item can be a fruit or vegetable, a packaged product, or fish. The key is that it's something completely unknown. Then, each cook researches the item, and finds a recipe using it. Guests prepare their dishes (with a little host coordination) and all are served for the group.

I think this is a fantastic idea! The challenge (should you choose to accept it)? Go forth and shop! (Maybe we need to be make "seraga" a new verb meaning to shop for new and unknown international items.) Go forth and seraga!