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"Interesting" foods

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
As a part of my job I had to take a food safety course today. A rather boring dry course as one would expect but I walked away with a note to look something up on the net when I got back. We were talking about various sources of salmonella contamination and eggs came up as a major source and as a side note the lecturer talked about the various types of eggs that they had tested in their labs for food safety. So called 100 year eggs were mentioned, these are a Chinese delicacy consisting of a salted/fermented ducks egg. They aren't the most appealing looking things but taste quite good I understand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand-year_egg

but the production processes renders them almost inert in terms of dangers from pathogens and can be stored readily without refrigeration. None of this was new to me but a passing reference was also made to Balut eggs. I made a not heard of it and went home to look it up. Needless to say if anything is an acquired taste this Vietnamese delicacy takes the cake:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut
http://deependdining.blogspot.com/2005/09/balut-egg-of-darkness-pinoy-pinay.html

The last link contains a very well written and comical blog entry about eating these eggs, and some gruesome pics. Anyways I began to think about other common "adventurous" foods and was soon reading all kinds of stuff on the wiki pedia. I'm now quite interested in trying some of these famous delicacies, some I've tried already.

Durians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

Probably the most banal of the adventurous foods. I've eaten it many times and while I can't say I love it I can see why other do despite it's pungent aroma. It has a very creamy rich texture, very much like a thick pudding. The flesh has a delicate spiced flavour, it's sort of like a cross between cream cheese and a soft pear.

Blood Pudding
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_pudding

I'm sure for you British folk this is everyday fare, and probably nothing special for others either, but I've never had it. Something about the sound of congealed pigs blood turns ones stomach. I'll have to find an authentic English restaurant in town some time and have me one of those breakfasts though, or the traditional Irish one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_breakfast

Sweetbread
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetbread

Rocky Mountain Oysters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_mountain_oysters

Kind of hard not to at least snicker while eating these I imagine.

Haggis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggis

Good old haggis. Again I'm going to have to find me a good restaurant one of these days and give it a go, not sure where you could find good Haggis in Vancouver though?

Insects
http://eat.bees.net/

Hard delicacies to find I'm guessing.

Then there is of course escargot and frog legs.

---

Anyone got others worth trying?
 
Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
Balut

I use to eat this when I was small. Well, the yolk only, but most people eat the entire thing sans the beak.
Click to expand...


Like the blog I posted said and I'm not surprised it tastes fairly bland really. Most "infamous" dishes get their reputation undeservedly because they are just very foreign to western pallets.
 
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Originally posted by: sisq0kidd
Balut

I use to eat this when I was small. Well, the yolk only, but most people eat the entire thing sans the beak.
Click to expand...


Like the blog I posted said and I'm not surprised it tastes fairly bland really. Most "infamous" dishes get their reputation undeservedly because they are just very foreign to western pallets.
Click to expand...

Whoops, didn't see that. I usually make a lime sauce and dip the yolk in there.
 
swallows nest. thats very weird, i had it in a soup once. its nests made from bird saliva. u think omfg thats gross. but really it just looks sorta like vermicelli😛 not something i'd eat regularly though. just for kicks.

and yea thosuand year old egg. its ok in congee as flavouring agent for me. eating a peice isn't something i like though. i found it funny that it was on fear factor. i'd eat it for money lol🙂 but yea, its somsething to scare the white people with

theres always beef tongue or snails. both ok when prepared right.
 
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Durians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

Probably the most banal of the adventurous foods. I've eaten it many times and while I can't say I love it I can see why other do despite it's pungent aroma. It has a very creamy rich texture, very much like a thick pudding. The flesh has a delicate spiced flavour, it's sort of like a cross between cream cheese and a soft pear.
Click to expand...

I know this one... it smells like jackfruit (?), only a million times more pungent. If you consume it with alcohol, you may die. In Singapore, its banned in all public places coz of the pungent aroma. Tastewise, it's ok, thought it's not something I would eat voluntarily.
 
It's not banned in all public places. Don't exaggerate. And I've certianly eaten it with beer and I'm still alive. It is however, very "heaty" (go look up chinese medicine if you dunno what I'm saying).

In Singapore, durians are banned on public transport and inside taxis, and probably most air-conditioned buildings, but that's out of consideration to other people. If it were banned in public places, where would I go to buy one? 🙂 I can certainly find it being sold just outside my neighbourhood grocery.

ANd OP, you've obviously not had a better durian. Or you wouldn't say it's bland. Only the cheap ones or those frozen and shipped overseas taste bland. If you're ever in SouthEast Asia, ask for a D24. 🙂
 
Oh, and century eggs are the best.

My wife makes a really good porridge/congee using regular eggs, salted eggs and preserved century eggs.

I'm guessing my cholesterol just burst my blood vessels.
 
Harðfiskur, or hard fish
http://www.isholf.is/gullis/jo/dry_fish.htm
take a pack, pack of butter, scissors and enjoy 🙂 one of the most protein rich foods you can have.. if you skip the butter, but with butter it is just soooo goood

Skyr
http://www.isholf.is/gullis/jo/Miscellaneous.htm#skyr
This one is one of my favorite diary products, sortof like yogurt but not quite

Hangikjöt, smoked lamb
- this is just juuuuummmy
Svið
- Half a sheep head, would never eat this.. ever
Saltkjöt, salted lamb
- Pretty good and special
Bjúgu
- Think of a normal hot dog, make it alot bigger and have it contain more fat, very good
Slátur
- Blood sausage and Slátur goes hand in hand. Read "Blood and liver puddings" 😛 still good, but not for everyone
More detailed information about those here http://bondi.is/landbunadur/wgbi.nsf/key2/shoppersenska

 
In southern Mexico, I had some bulger wheat, with orange juice, honey, bee pollen, and cilantro mixed in, served in a glass. It didn't taste particularly bad, but I couldn't eat much before I felt like I was going to puke. Wish I could remember what the name of it was 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Lutefisk

Personally, I refuse to EVER eat anything that any culture considers a "delicacy".
Click to expand...


Huh interesting one. I like the fact that you first have to make the fish toxic then soak out the lye over several days 🙂 There is some kind of plant eaten in, I think Asia, which is very poisonous fresh. It needs to be prepared by repeated soakings until the level of poison in the plant has been lowered to a consumable level. Can't remember the name of it.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
swallows nest. thats very weird, i had it in a soup once. its nests made from bird saliva. u think omfg thats gross. but really it just looks sorta like vermicelli😛 not something i'd eat regularly though. just for kicks.
Click to expand...

Yes I know of swallows nest. The way you had it, in soup, is the usual way of preparing it. Isn't it a really expensive dish?

and yea thosuand year old egg. its ok in congee as flavouring agent for me. eating a peice isn't something i like though. i found it funny that it was on fear factor. i'd eat it for money lol🙂 but yea, its somsething to scare the white people with

theres always beef tongue or snails. both ok when prepared right.
Click to expand...

Ah yes escargot, another I'll have to try one day.

 
Originally posted by: dopcombo
It's not banned in all public places. Don't exaggerate. And I've certianly eaten it with beer and I'm still alive. It is however, very "heaty" (go look up chinese medicine if you dunno what I'm saying).

In Singapore, durians are banned on public transport and inside taxis, and probably most air-conditioned buildings, but that's out of consideration to other people. If it were banned in public places, where would I go to buy one? 🙂 I can certainly find it being sold just outside my neighbourhood grocery.

ANd OP, you've obviously not had a better durian. Or you wouldn't say it's bland. Only the cheap ones or those frozen and shipped overseas taste bland. If you're ever in SouthEast Asia, ask for a D24. 🙂
Click to expand...

I did not say bland but banal, meaning common and not very startling. What I meant is that Durian isn't really an adventurous food in many ways, a hell of a lot of westerners have tried it.
 
Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Durians:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

Probably the most banal of the adventurous foods. I've eaten it many times and while I can't say I love it I can see why other do despite it's pungent aroma. It has a very creamy rich texture, very much like a thick pudding. The flesh has a delicate spiced flavour, it's sort of like a cross between cream cheese and a soft pear.
Click to expand...

I know this one... it smells like jackfruit (?), only a million times more pungent. If you consume it with alcohol, you may die. In Singapore, its banned in all public places coz of the pungent aroma. Tastewise, it's ok, thought it's not something I would eat voluntarily.
Click to expand...

I love jack fruit!! But no it doesn't smell like jack fruit. When fully ripe and in a hot environment Durian smells more like excrement or rotting flesh.

 
Originally posted by: Czar
Harðfiskur, or hard fish
http://www.isholf.is/gullis/jo/dry_fish.htm
take a pack, pack of butter, scissors and enjoy 🙂 one of the most protein rich foods you can have.. if you skip the butter, but with butter it is just soooo goood
Click to expand...

Hmm sounds yummy!

Skyr
http://www.isholf.is/gullis/jo/Miscellaneous.htm#skyr
This one is one of my favorite diary products, sortof like yogurt but not quite

Hangikjöt, smoked lamb
- this is just juuuuummmy
Svið
- Half a sheep head, would never eat this.. ever
Saltkjöt, salted lamb
- Pretty good and special
Bjúgu
- Think of a normal hot dog, make it alot bigger and have it contain more fat, very good
Slátur
- Blood sausage and Slátur goes hand in hand. Read "Blood and liver puddings" 😛 still good, but not for everyone
More detailed information about those here http://bondi.is/landbunadur/wgbi.nsf/key2/shoppersenska
Click to expand...

 
I ate Balut and Durian before...kinda tasty. Balut taste like chicken ^_^ and of course my mom's family are fillipino..(runs away)
 
Originally posted by: Powermoloch
Balut taste like chicken ^_^
Click to expand...

That's because chicken is the default taste. It gets hit if there are no matches against any other configured taste policies. Since the concept of eating balut is so damned strange, they didn't think to install a taste policy to cover it. The Intelligent Designers, that is.. Not so intelligent, were they?
 
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