Pie Lady wrote:

12345ne wrote:There are a number of foods that I will retry ever few years to see if I like them: any type of melon, pickles (or cucumbers for that matter), lobster, oysters. I still don't like any of those.

My friend! I hate melon too! Yes, even watermelon.

But the key is that you've tried them! I found your other examples to be interesting because (in at least the case of the apricots) you'd developed an opinion about them without actually ever tasting them.

Among the more common veggies, I haven't eaten brussel sprouts, rutabagas, Swiss chard, or sorrel. Looking at this list of vegetables, there's even more that I haven't eaten than I thought. Don't even get started on the fruit!

Stevez, have you eaten anything else at McDonald's, or just not a burger? I'm actually jealous of anyone who's been spared anything at McDonald's (except their fountain Coke- I didn't notice it until someone else pointed it out, but whatever mixture they use in the fountains seems to be better and unique from any other place- perfectly fizzy, nicely sweet, even with the HFCS.)

I'm curious about the milkshake-less life you've led, janschher. Lactose-intolerant?

Meat-wise, I've had beef, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, buffalo. No ostrich, elk, boar, alligator, rattlesnake, pheasant, squab, ortolan, etc. Of the ones I've tried, I've never done any organ meats. I think if I wasn't told it was organ meat, I probably would eat it, but I don't know if it's something I'd seek out. Actually, I had liver once, when my grandfather ordered liver & onions in a restaurant, but I didn't really like it.

Seafood, I've had relatively little. Tried eel, wasn't my thing. Love sushi, but I stick to salmon, tuna, shellfish, etc. Don't know why. I've had red snapper sashimi, but it just didn't taste like much to me. I love octopus and squid (only had it as corfu salad and calamari, though.) I've never had snails. I tried raw oysters and the texture was just not my thing. I've had them in stuffing and seafood stew, and it was fine in there.

Texture isn't usually a big deal for me, but there are some extreme examples- raw oysters; my mom made a spaghetti sauce with chopped bacon in it that was just...wrong. I have a friend who doesn't like any pudding-like textures. We once convinced him to try creme brulee at an Italian restaurant, because what's not to like, and he just about turned green.

Is it kona crab that's really difficult to eat because of all the shell fragments you have to work around? I ordered it once at Bob Chinn's and Bob happened to be passing by- he stopped and said I must be up for a challenge. If chicken wings and cherries are too much work, I'd advise against the Kona crab!

I knew about pluots, but I didn't know about all those other variations- fascinating!

Annabelle raises an interesting point -- how many lthers might enjoy trying new foods if they could be part of a group that includes coaches?

Perhaps a series of events could be scheduled where the purpose is to help people who have never eaten something learn from people who have.

For example, the first session might be seafood and the lesson would be: how to order and eat lobster, crab, clams, mussels and oysters -- both raw and cooked (talk about your different textures!). The reward for the newcomers is obvious, but think about how much fun it would be for the coaches to see people enjoy something for the first time.

Pick a casual place, where everyone can dig in and get messy. Sounds like fun.

jimwdavis wrote:Annabelle raises an interesting point -- how many lthers might enjoy trying new foods if they could be part of a group that includes coaches?

Perhaps a series of events could be scheduled where the purpose is to help people who have never eaten something learn from people who have.

For example, the first session might be seafood and the lesson would be: how to order and eat lobster, crab, clams, mussels and oysters -- both raw and cooked (talk about your different textures!). The reward for the newcomers is obvious, but think about how much fun it would be for the coaches to see people enjoy something for the first time.

Pick a casual place, where everyone can dig in and get messy. Sounds like fun.

Finances permitting, I'd totally be up for "beginner's nights"!

Timing permitting, I'd be very happy to be schooled in the art of various foods by people here.

jimwdavis wrote:Finances permitting, I'd totally be up for "beginner's nights"!

Me too! Include apricots.

Just wanted to post "The Omnivore's Hundred" that's been making its way around the blogs:

originally from http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/
Not doing too bad with the list, actually.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Hi,

What I have not eaten on that list:

2. Nettle tea (I probably have, just not 100% sure)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
43. Phaal
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
57. Dirty gin martini
63. Kaolin (what is this???)
74. Gjetost, or brunost
80. Bellini
93. Rose harissa
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

Most of what I have not tried falls mostly into the categories I don't especially favor: alcohol, coffee and capsaicin. Fugu and Gjetost have not been tried because they simply haven't crossed my path. Now if someone could explain what is Kaolin, I would appreciate it.

My score: 87%

Regards,

I think kaolin is a type of clay, not uncommonly consumed by people with geophagia. It's also used in some toothpastes. Also, if you've ever taken Kaopectate ...

What is phaal? Baiju?
Except for these, roadkill, insects, and clay*, I think I've covered the list. That is, unless rose harissa is made from actual roses.

* Does Play-doh count? Love it.

Annabelle wrote:Timing permitting, I'd be very happy to be schooled in the art of various foods by people here.

Ask and you shall (maybe) receive: Lobster College!

Cathy2 wrote:
My score: 87%

How was the roadkill? Raccoon or Rabbit? You're not cheating with the Moto roadkill, are you?

Hi,

Long before I knew any of you, I was driving on a country road between here and Champaign. There was a freshly killed female pheasant on the road. Fresh enough her blood was still wet. I picked her up the tail and put it in the trunk.

Cathy2 of January 31, 2006 wrote:I did a bit of amateur taxidermy some years ago. I came across a road kill pheasant, which I carefully extracted from its' feathers. I then called a taxidermist* who kindly explained how to prepare the carcass. For my feathered beast it meant washing it with Dawn dishwashing detergent, then blow drying it with a drier. Remove as much protein as possible, then packing it with Borox including a dusting of the feathers to diminish interest by insects. After 6 weeks on the front enclosed porch it was ready to hang. I've had it 13-14 years without it dropping one feather.

The next day I cooked the pheasant's meat. So yes, I did eat genuine roadkill collected fresh from the road.

*It still amazes me to this day the taxidermist didn't yell something unpleasant and hang up on me.

Regards,

2. Nettle tea
8. Carp
17. Black truffle
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
30. Bagna cauda
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
43. Phaal
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
58. Beer above 8% ABV
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
68. Haggis
73. Louche absinthe
76. Baijiu
80. Bellini
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
93. Rose harissa
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

If I can count alligator as crocodile and a few other slight differences, I'm at a paltry 80% - much of the shortages on my predicated by economics (though I also don't do spicy, though for some reason I like Scotch Bonnets and might be willing to take that on) and several left on the list I've wanted to try but haven't had the opportunity.

However, it's a big world, and there's a lot of things to try - I've always made an effort to try as many new foods as possible - I've been trying to find snake for a while (still annoyed I missed that particular GNR dinner!) I also go back and try things I don't like periodically, in case my tastes change.

Mhays wrote:
I've always made an effort to try as many new foods as possible.

Like...roadkill!

So what's your story?

Not many things I've missed on that list:

14. Aloo gobi
25. Brawn, or head cheese
33. Salted lassi
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
46. Fugu
50. Sea urchin
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
59. Poutine
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
73. Louche absinthe
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
93. Rose harissa

Nope - never had a Big Mac. The only thing I eat at McDonald's is the Filet o' Fish, with the accompanying fries. Very tasty, if you're in the right frame of mind.

I think it would be quicker to list the things I *have* eaten on that list; I've only tried 31 of them. I'm going to get myself kicked off LTH with confessions like that, aren't I?

Me too- Annabelle. Here's what I have eaten:

1. Venison
4. Steak tartare
7. Cheese fondue
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
15. Hot dog from a street cart
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
24. Rice and beans
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava-- made it myself, in fact!
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
41. Curried goat
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
58. Beer above 8% ABV
61. S’mores
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
69. Fried plantain
71. Gazpacho
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
92. Soft shell crab
94. Catfish
96. Bagel and lox
98. Polenta

A little less than half- better than I thought I'd do....it counts if you only had a bite or two, right? I think I've had one piece of eel and didn't really like it, as I mentioned before.

OK, I do have to admit I don't have C2's roadkill story, and yes; that's one of the ones I'd be giving a loose definition, so I don't have a story about something I killed with my car. I have, however, foraged by the side of the road for for fish, frogs, crayfish and various veggie goodies. And who can say how Cathy2's racoon met its demise, right?

My mother has a terrific story from when she was growing up: they hit an armadillo with the car, got out, collected it, and tossed it in the trunk to dress when they got home. They opened the trunk, only to find the critter had disappeared...a search of the area found him quite alive, hiding inside the spare tire.

He was invited for dinner.

Me three. Things I've eaten:

1. Venison
5. Crocodile (just one bite, but still!)
7. Cheese fondue
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
15. Hot dog from a street cart
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras (if sausage counts)
24. Rice and beans
27. Dulce de leche
29. Baklava
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried Goat
47. Chicken tikka masala
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
60. Carob chips
56. Spaetzle
61. S’mores
65. Durian
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears - not funnel cake
69. Fried plantain
71. Gazpacho
77. Hostess Fruit Pie (but the chocolate pudding one is best!)
82. Eggs Benedict
85. Kobe beef
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
91. Spam
94. Catfish
96. Bagel and lox
98. Polenta

And I've had clam chowder and sourdough bowls, caviar and blini, just not together, so does that count as things I've eaten?

Still, pretty sad.

Ill chime in, the ones I have eaten on the "list", 41 items.

1) Venison
3) Huevos Rancheros
5) Crocodile
7) Cheese Fondu
11) Calamari
13) PB & J Sandwich
15) Hot Dog from a street cart
17) Black Truffle
19) Steamed Pok Buns
20) Pistachio Ice Cream
21) Heirloom Tomatoes
22) Fresh wild berries
24) Rice and Beans
26) Raw Scotch Bonnet Peppers
27) Dulce de Leche
28) Oysters
29) baklava
32) Calm Chowder in a sourdough bowl
34) sauerkraut
35) rootbeer float
36) Vodka Jello
39) Gumbo
44) Goats Milk
49) Krispy Cream
55) Big Mac Meal
61) smores
66) frog's legs
67) beignets, churros, elephant ears, funnel cake
69) fried plantain
71) gazpacho
72) caviar
77) hostess fruit pie
82) eggs bennedict
85) kobe beef
87) goulash
88) flowers
92) soft shell crab
94) catfish
95) mole poblano
97) lobster thermidor
98) polenta

Woohoo! A purity test for food nerds! Shallow and mostly meaningless but still fun! It's like I'm 14 again

My omissions:

2. Nettle tea
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
63. Kaolin
68. Haggis
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
89. Horse
93. Rose harissa

89%. Unless we're considering alligator and crocodile distinct (I realize they are from a biological standpoint), in which case 88%.

Spicy fried snake in China was awesome. Fugu was... a fish (the version I had was in a soup).

I'm ambivalent. I'm enjoying reading everybody's lists (and roadkill stories!), but another part of me wants to say to the guy that made the list, "Who the hell are you to say I'm not well-rounded if I haven't eaten these foods!?!?!?" It's like that "cultural literacy" book that came out in the nineties, which said you couldn't consider yourself an acceptable member of society without a passing familiarity with the checklist. I know it's all in fun (and the guy himself doesn't mean his list to be taken too seriously), but the grumpy curmudgeon inside me is getting rubbed the wrong way.

No eaten:

30. Bagna cauda
46. Fugu
52. Umeboshi
63. Kaolin
75. Roadkill
80. Bellini
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
90. Criollo chocolate
93. Rose harissa
97. Lobster Thermidor
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (Blue Mountain "style" is as close as I've gotten)
100. Snake

So 88% here. Is there any place in Chicago that has snake on the menu? I've always been curious about it.

Josephine wrote:What is phaal? Baiju?

Phaal--at least if it's what I'm thinking of, though I've seen it spelled phal or phall--is an ultra-hot curry, hotter than vindaloo. I don't think I've ever seen it on an American menu, but it's quite common in the UK.

Baiju is a Chinese alcoholic drink--I think of it as Chinese vodka.

Oh, and if anyone's curious about gjetost, it's pretty easy to find across the border in Wisconsin. I think it's rather lovely--sort of what you would get by crossing a mild semi-soft cheese with plain (non-chocolate) fudge. Is there anyone here who has gjetost? I don't think I've ever found it in Chicago.

Binko wrote:Oh, and if anyone's curious about gjetost, it's pretty easy to find across the border in Wisconsin. I think it's rather lovely--sort of what you would get by crossing a mild semi-soft cheese with plain (non-chocolate) fudge. Is there anyone here who has gjetost? I don't think I've ever found it in Chicago.

Binko,

A quick google of gjetost popped up this blog with a picture I immediately recognized as having seen Sunday at Marion Street Cheese Market. Jazzfood recommended purchase, but I become distracted and did not purchase.

Enjoy,
Gary

Marion Street Cheese Market
100 S. Marion, Oak Park
708-848-2088
Open every day, 9AM-9PM

Mhays wrote:I have, however, foraged by the side of the road for for fish, frogs, crayfish and various veggie goodies.

Where I grew up, we called that hunting. Or rustling depending on how the neighbors define livestock. It seems that you'd have to kill something with a vehicle to meet the roadkill definition, although I compliment you on creative foraging.

That said, I think a lot of the things on this list are silly (who really cares if you've eaten a Big Mac or not) but the one thing that I would REALLY like to try is a good haggis. Anywhere around here that it can be found?

Binko wrote:So 88% here. Is there any place in Chicago that has snake on the menu? I've always been curious about it.

Casa de Samuel in Little Village has rattlesnake on the menu. Don't know if it's always available, but I suspect it's frozen, and so should be.

gleam wrote:

Binko wrote:So 88% here. Is there any place in Chicago that has snake on the menu? I've always been curious about it.

Casa de Samuel in Little Village has rattlesnake on the menu. Don't know if it's always available, but I suspect it's frozen, and so should be.

We had a smoked rattlesnake sausage with blueberry crème sauce and smoked gouda at Hot Doug's on the Tour de France LTH-style.

Like the superfoods list, it skims the surface, and includes a lot of stuff that doesn't seem really important to me - there's also a lot of things (criollo chocolate) that you may have eaten without being aware; check your recent high-end chocolate purchases.

I've never forgotten this scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom:

The women bring in a bowl from which they scoop tiny portions of grey gruel onto three plates. To this the women add a few grains of yellowed rice and a withered ,molding piece of fruit. Willie looks aghast at the unappetizing combination.

WILLIE
(quietly)
God, I am starving, but I can't eat this...
INDIANA
That's more food than these people eat in a week.
(pointedly)
They're starving, too...

It's an odd bit of movie to have affected me so, but I never want to be that kind of American, no matter where I am; to me, that means I need to learn as much as I can about food whenever I have a chance - if I don't like something, at least I can say so with experience, but I've yet to meet a food I can't somehow choke down. Of course, the upside is that I've met many a food that's become a friend for life...