It isn't the flavor of coconut that troubles me, but the texture I feel as if I'm chewing on a sweetened cuticle.

I brought a coconut cream pie, Mom's favorite. Coconut's hard, dirty, shaggy exterior didn't promise much. But when you cracked it open and then cleaned it up, it surprised you with the smooth white riches inside. In a coconut shell, this was my mother's mission in life- to tackle the litter, the dust, the stains, the residue of life and tidy them all up. Her sweet reward was that exotic state of everything-in-its-clean-place, always a mirage in the distance while she was living with Helen. Coconut cream pie fed her soul.

It gives it a flavor and texture that's outrageous.

Catfish has a nice firm texture and mild flavor.

Color and texture are just as important as flavor, and these vegetables can make a big difference.

The surface is natural [in texture], as natural as can be.