7 Wonders of the Food World That Make Me Wonder

While I like to pretend that my gaping maw is adventurous, I admit that I have my limits. Some of the following dishes definitely look better than others. Some even push the definition of “edible“.

Which ones would you try or have you tried? What is the most unusual food you have ever eaten?

1. Biltong - South Africa

Biltong is a cured meat process that originates from South Africa - it is commonly made from cuts of beef, but can also be made with venison and ostrich (a version with fish is called bokkums.) Biltong differs from jerky in that the meat strips are a bit thicker and vinegar is used in the cured process. If you happen to be in Brooklyn, you could get a gander at some by visiting the Madiba restaurant.

Chance of me eating this bad boy: 75% (this looks worthy of my gullet.)

2. Tea With Yak Butter - Tibet

Okay, I could not help but include this one since I have actually tried it. Truthfully? I liked it. An odd concoction, to be sure, it was milky, salty and a little “oily” — which is an interesting addition to one’s tea. Definitely not a tea you would be served at Buckingham Palace, although if you happen to be in the Boston area, Martsa on Elm will serve it to you. And mostly likely with far less attitude than the Queen…….

Chance of me slurping this again: 100%

3. Century Egg - Asia

Century eggs actually arose as a solution to a common sense problem - how to keep a precious food from going rotten in times of hardship. Generally, century eggs are duck, chicken or quail eggs that are preserved in a “mixture of clay, ash, salt, lime, and rice straw for several weeks to several months, depending on the method of processing.” If you are in San Francisco, you are in luck because the Grand Palace just happens to serve these babies. Let me know how that goes because personally? I prefer my eggs not to be featured in odd hues of green.

Chance of me eating this bad boy: 0% (although admittedly, the odds would be greatly improved should I ever find myself faced with a Triple Dog Dare while plied with booze.)

4. Durian - Asia

Obviously, any fruit that gets itself banned from mass transportation is worthy of some sort of title. However, it is not clear whether it is the actual stench or the fact this fruit looks like a lethal weapon that prompted such a ban. In that vein, the durian is probably the Official Stinkbomb of the fruitworld. As such, Wikipedia had this to say regarding the durian:

The unusual flavour and odour of the fruit have prompted many people to search for an accurate description, with widely divergent and passionate views expressed, ranging from highly appreciative to deep disgust.

In NYC, you can find at least 15 different places serving this smelly delectable. I will admit that I am curious enough to try this.

Chance of me eating this bad boy: 90% (Why not? At least it did not once have a heartbeat, right?)

5. Ants

Actually, ants are eaten in a variety of locales all over the world including Australia, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, Columbia, etc. (the ones pictured are Honeypot Ants which are eaten by Australian Aborigines). I remember reading about this as a kid, so perhaps this is why it does not freak me out nearly as much as say, a roasted tarantula.

Chance of me eating these bad boys: 90% (Not much would be needed to bolster my gastronomical resolve on this one.)

6. Sannakji - Korea

I will never forget when my Korean marketing professor in college told our class about his favorite dish, sannakji, a food that he missed desperately from back home. In short, this consists of eating octopus while it is still alive. He even giggled when he described how the tentacles would stick to the inside of your mouth. Oh sure, I love me some squid/octopus, but I would rather my food not be able to mount a rising protest while I am consuming it. If you have a hankering for such fare, there are 6 spots in New York City that will serve you. However, you might need to hit that before PETA gets a whiff of this potential animal rights violation.

Chance of me eating these bad boys: 0% (Consuming food as it is fighting for its life is simply not my Thing.)

7. Balut - Asia

File this under the “Interesting in Theory, Not So Much On My Plate” category: balut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg that has not quite completed its development, much less hatched. While it is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia including the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam, I hesitated including this stomach-turner. However, it won out in the Interest of Interesting, although I did decide to spare you the pictures (click the link if you have a strong stomach.) Oddly, I could not find any restaurants serving it in NYC, Boston, SF, Chicago or DC. I wonder why.

Chance of me eating this bad boy: 0% (Dude. No WAY.)