Originally Posted By Mr X Okay, well as you all know I live in Japan and have tried some weird stuff. I can even eat Natto (I'm going to spice up this topic by adding some hilarious descriptions I found on the net). ***Natto is one of the great mysteries of the food world. Why would anyone take perfectly good food — in this case, soy beans — and purposely let it rot before eating it? Granted, sometimes counterintuitive thinking leads to great consumables, such as cheese, beer or Pop Rocks. But with natto, you get exactly what you'd expect: wretched, smelly gloop. It's brown and granular, and it possesses an otherworldly stickiness. It smells like a French soccer team's locker room; and the taste, while not as bad as the smell, is like... well... rotten soy beans.*** So anyway, being brave from my Natto experiences, I subjected myself to an 8 course (6 fish, 1 veggie, 1 fruit for desert) Japanese meal at a fancy Japanese inn last night. Subjected isn't really the right word, my hosts insisted I "try" everything. And I did (with one exception I'll get to later). Here are three of the weirdest things I was subjected to (in fairness, some of the sushi and stuff WAS really tasty and the meal itself was a feast for the eyes like no other). KANIMISO. "Green contents of crab's head". For my meal, it was in pudding form for best gross effect. ***Imagine you come back from a successful fishing trip, and after scaling and cleaning your catch, you leave the waste outside in a bucket in the hot summer sun. A couple days later, you bring the bucket inside, dump it in to a blender, and puree it into a thick, gray paste. That pretty much sums up the look and taste of kanimiso. It is usually served atop sushi rice encircled with dried seaweed. The taste is quite strong, but those who enjoy it say it's better to nibble a little bit a time.*** I think THIS description is a tad generous, actually. I'll take Natto anyday. Anyway, on to the NEXT course. Shiokara. Salted squid entrails. In all honesty, rude as this might be, I had to (hopefully tactfully) spit it out into my napkin. ***Worms in pink mud. That’s what shiokara looks like. The worms are in fact slices of squid, which in itself is not too bad. Though it is very chewy, squid can easily be rendered edible and delicious. The pink mud is the source of this dish's potency: it is made of the squid's digestive system and whatever contents it may include. It is extremely salty, bitter and fishy. This powerful taste is augmented by the considerable time it takes to masticate the squid flesh. Long after a morsel of shiokara is swallowed, it's presence lingers in one's mouth and mind.*** And finally, what probably was the nastiest thing I ate (the shiokara was grosser, but like I said I couldn't choke it down), by the harmless sounding name of "Uni". Sea Urchin Gonads. ***Sea urchins are spiny, asexual ocean dwellers that errantly spew out their reproductive organs en masse in the hopes of reproduction. Many Japanese think it's a swell idea to eat this goop. It is a yellowish paste, and it's usually served atop sushi rice. It tastes like something you might hock up after a protracted cold. Uni is a favorite of many sushi aficionados, so if you mention to one of these people that you think uni is wretched, they will assure you that you have not had proper, fresh uni.*** This description is kind, lemme tell ya. And, I'm sure mine WAS "proper" and "fresh", as this was a very nice place in the seaside resort of Hakkone (famous for seafood, as was this particular place). As I've mentioned on LP before, I really hate seafood in general, but a lot of the stuff I tasted last night was quite nice (relative term though...would I prefer a big mac? YES!). Anyway, who else has gross (or at least, unusual) food stories?
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <A couple days later, you bring the bucket inside, dump it in to a blender, and puree it into a thick, gray paste.> Lumiere: "Try the gray stuff, it's delicious! Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!" (or "the Japanese") <It is a yellowish paste, and it's usually served atop sushi rice. It tastes like something you might hock up after a protracted cold.> <---has now sworn off "Uni" (thank you, Mr. X)
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>Sea Urchin Gonads<< *blech!* I have no gross food stories. I'm totally conservative when it comes to food. I don't think I've ever even tried LAMB.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo This takes the cake. Best I can go with is: Rocky Mountain Oysters - sheep testicles Chocolate Covered Ants Pickled Locusts Rattle Snake Whale Meat Kangaroo Fermented pickle and tomato soup Jellied Eels
Originally Posted By u k fan I have tried Kangaroo (it's very nice) and Jellied Eels (not so nice, but they are part of my Cockerney heritage!) One of the worst tasting things I've ever eaten are the salt flavored gummi candy that you can get at IKEA! And, while technically it's a drink, I can't believe no one has mentioned the evils of Beverley yet!!!
Originally Posted By Jonny626 Turkey Leg at DL....Churro's rule! lol Ok seriously I have tried: Rattle Snake Alligator Kangaroo Emu Snails Shark Swordfish Haggis
Originally Posted By Jonny626 All tastes like chicken. j/k I liked them all for the most part. I wasnt too fond of the haggis but it wasn't terrible.
Originally Posted By Mr X lol...I've heard people say that Haggis is the worst thing ever. I suppose I'm just adventurous to try it, at this point. Actually, got some pics back from the dinner...I'd put em up online to show you guys but that would totally kill my "gross out" effect, because ON CAMERA the meal looks absolutely scrumptious (and like I said, SOME of it was lol). Dave, you reminded me that I have tried whale (here in Japan, a couple of times) and kangaroo (at DisneyWorld no less!). I wouldn't be opposed to trying snake meat, I guess.
Originally Posted By Labuda Holy frijoles, Mr. X! I'd not have put a signle bit of that food into my mouth. Wouldn't even want to be in the same room as that stuff! lol For me, the grossest thing I've ever tried is fish. ICK!
Originally Posted By 4Disnee Our friend has a cattle ranch so we have had Rocky Mountain Oysters. My husband and love love Deer Heart. Yuck!
Originally Posted By 4Disnee LOL Bambi Burgers. I ment to say my Husband and Son love Deer heart. I dont think that they have had elk heart. But we have also had Bear meat and wild pig.
Originally Posted By smedley Hmmm I have had baby octopus, but in all honesty I really enjoyed it.. The grossest thing I've eaten is probably raw oysters, that squirming in the stomach... Ewwwww.
Originally Posted By officerminnie I'm not too adventurous with food and won't try anything very gross. Raw oysters are probably the worst I've hand, not just because of the taste, but the texture too. But I don't even like cooked oysters. Clams and mussels - yum! (steamed, of course). I have gone to lunch with a friend and watched her eat Menuda (while I had my very delicious, albeit boring, chicken quesadilla), which just about made me lose my appetite. She was very generous in offeing my bites of a cow hoof with all that rubbery looking stuff on it and of course the intestines and whatever else was in that bowl, but it all looked icky to me.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes I'm with smedly. Baby octopus is very good. I've had a lot of the other stuff mentioned (except kangaroo) but I'd guess octopus is the strangest to most Americans. I can't seem to get anyone to try it.
