A few weeks ago a list was thrown out into blogging cyberspace called The Omnivore’s 100 by the 
food/wine blog Very Good Taste. I’m gonna preface this by saying that I can’t stand lists, so it’s not an exclusive rant at the author. Even things like “Top 10 Desert Island Albums” drive me nuts because, as a music collector, my pick of 10 would change from week to week, depending on my mood. Lists are a way for people to try to impose unnecessary order.
Anyhow, the list was of 100 things that the author thinks every “good omnivore” should have tried at least once in his/her life (being good was never one of my finer traits). And while I do happen to agree with their premise that an omnivore “should really try it all” they’re sorta contradicting themselves by telling us we should try it all, but then telling us that these are the 100 we should REALLY try. Try it all means try it all, end of story, no list needed. Nothing more to see. Move along. Thank you. Have a great day. And while I certainly have priorities as to what I want to try before I kick the bucket, I’d never presume to dump that list on you as a “suggestion”. Although I may be jonesing to try, oh, I dunno, bugs let’s say, (please remember that I tend to be ironic) that might not make someone else’s list, and instead they might think a White Castle burger is a must.
So, you’re supposed to bold all the items you’ve eaten, cross out any items that you would never consider eating and post the results. Most bloggers found this to be a lot of fun—just the kind of introspective stuff they think you’d like to read about. But I’ve got my pitchfork out today and I’m wanting to poke, so here we go. I will not bore you with what I have and haven’t tried, and if you’d like to see what someone else thinks you should eat, go hunt the list down like an angry wife at a go-go bar. Instead, I think it would be more fun to discuss (not list) what we, as food lovers and wine enthusiasts have ingested in the name of “gotta try it at least once” and HATED. My vote, in case you care, begins with head cheese and Fish Eye merlot.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
i tried carrots …. this nice american made them specially for me to eat his way … the first time acually they were nice they tasted sweet – but i think i have this anti-veg stomach and the last time he did them for me after the fifth bit of carrot my taste buds were going into rejection mode
sorry Anthony at least i tried…
did get him to eat mussels though…:o)
last night at work i dried freeze dried rambutan–that stuff is vile.
For those who don’t know, rambutan is a fruit related to the lychee, the longan and the mamoncillo…from SE Asia. And it’s DEFINITELY a love-it-or-hate-it kinda food! Nice one Tory!!
i love mangosteens – ooooooooooh talk about a perfectly flavoured fruit hidden behind such an unusual shell – its like finding a small treasure inside a huge box or in this case a thick tough casing
short of navel oranges and norfolk strawberries i cant think of a nicer fruit
Many years ago. I tried raw fish, may colors and sizes – It gave me an indigestion that lasted for two days – but since then I became
a Sushi lover….
Cured salmon. The survivalist inside of me thought, “this is how I would have to eat, if I were roughing it in the Yukon”. So I checked it out to see if I would like it. The taste was very smokey, which was good…but had a tough time getting over the “gummy-bear” texture. I was able to get through a few pieces, but no more. My conclusion was: “I could do it if I had too, but for purely pleasure based reasons….no way.”.
-That’s pretty much as extravagant as it gets for me. The philosophy of tasting something in the name of trying something new is flawed in its logic. Case in point: Andrew Zimmer, who would eat c0w$h!t slathered in formaldehyde just to cite his personal experience with it. Sorry bud, keep it to yourself. I really don’t want to know.
On my first trip to Moscow, some co-workers took me out on the town and to one of the best caviar places in the city. In the center of the table, the waitress placed two bowls: black and salmon caviar. I tasted the black first. “Ugh!how terrrible”! I thought to myself and smiled at my company. After tasting the salmon caviar, which I almost had to spit out, I smiled at my company once again and, in a courteous and gracious manner, I asked: “Is there a steak house we can go to?” I apologize to those who have a more “refined” taste. I’m just a very simple person! Caviar – not for me!
One word – BEETS! Ugh…
And I also honestly think I would have to be absolutely starving to death to resort to head cheese.
But another VERY cool article!
I am one of those foodies who knows my limitations and never wants to hurl in public so I steer clear of what I am sure I will hate!
I hate olives, wow isn’t that interesting.
Wonder how you would feel about the delights of the british food known as faggots.
lol
basically a large meatball using pork, offal and herbs – the local pork butcher near me does yummy ones – best when slightly over-cooked because the outside is really crusty
they also do ‘head cheese’ as Jeff refers to above – its not something I have tried though!
Have heard of it, Lindsey, but never tried it….gotta get across the pond and try some! I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) that they use a membrane casing on them (much like a hot dog or sausage) which may be why it gets that nice crust on it. Sounds good to me, but NO head cheese!!!
yes katie they do sometimes – the butchers that I get them from doesnt – he cooks his like blocks together then they get cut apart when sold
another one though is haslet – which is pronounced hay-slet – that is covered in a membrane and eaten cold and sliced and also pork based
i am tempted to buy the ‘head-cheese’ just once to see what its like now – brawn though which its also known as is a much better name hehe