#43 - Eating Bugs

I have previously expressed myself on the subject of bugs and the eating of bugs . But my buddy John recently called my attention to the excellent website, Very Good Taste, and their list of 100 Foods Every Good Omnivore Should Try. The idea of the list is that people with websites will copy the 100 items, bold the things they've eaten, and also indicate any items they'd never even try.

Honestly, I would like to be the kind of fearless person who will eat anything, and while I'm a pretty brave eater, there are certain lines I won't cross. Bugs represent the starkest of those lines and they're the only thing on this list I wouldn't eat. (I would also decline a cigar and cognac, but that's only because I don't smoke.)

Here are my results. Things I've eaten are in bold, things I haven't tried are in CAPS with my thoughts.



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 I had to look this up. It seems it's an Italian fondue type deal where you dip raw veggies into a spicey broth. I say bring it on, baby!
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 Can I just get two cognacs?
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. WHOLE INSECTS No sir!
43. PHAAL This is supposed to be the world's spiciest curry. I'd take a crack at it.
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. FUGU That poisonous sushi fish. I'd take a chance.
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin 51. Prickly pear
52. UMEBOSHI A little red fruit that's pickled. No problemo.
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. POUTINE These are French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy and eaten by Canadians. Doesn't sound wonderful, but I'd sample it.
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. KAOLIN I can't even find out what this is.
64. CURRYWUSRT A German sausage in a curry sauce. Sure. Why not?
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 I'd eat it. Do lobsters get hit by cars?
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. BELLINI This is some kind of fruity wine drink. Bring it!
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 A spicy South American Chili paste with rose petals. I'd give it a whirl.
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Here's one more food I wouldn't eat:












Nothing about that is right. Initially, I assumed this was a product manufactured in China and the name was just some kind of translation mangling, but it turns out this comes from ENGLAND! What the hell?

PS: Just for kicks, from my Bro Andrew, who promises he's working on his reply to that email scammer, here's an interesting, sort of racist, anti-racism toothpaste ad from Japan. Enjoy!