# Common Foods I Have Never Eaten **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843 "2005-05-14T17:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/41 "2005-05-15T20:34:27Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Here in Chicago, a lot of Eastern European food that I’d never heard of growing up in California is “comfort food”. Like pierogies, never had those, but I’ve had friends nostalgically discuss their grandparents’ versions. **Kyla** , let me specifically invite you to try pierogies ASAP. Not all are made with meat, and [these](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5890474&postcount=23) are loverly. Not precisely lowfat, but loverly. 😃 (You did say vegetarian, not Vegan, right? So you will still consider cheese and butter, right? If not, don’t look at the link, please.) ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/42 "2005-05-15T20:56:31Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > You had more than one? > > The only relativly common food I’ve never had is (this was in Singapore) fish head curry Heh. I haven’t either, but that’s because it’s full of stuff that I don’t like, namely okra and eggplant (or Lady’s Fingers and Brinjal). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/43 "2005-05-15T23:16:32Z")
Organ meats. I have never tasted liver, kidney, gizzard, lung, brain, tongue… I enthusiastically eat muscle meats and things in casings, but eating actual identifiable organs? No. I think there are a lot of mushrooms I have probably never had–and I resent the fact. Basically, if it isn’t a button mushroom or shiitake, I haven’t had it. Maybe I need to splurge on fancy mushrooms at the grocery this week? Some of the more “exotic” things on this list, I haven’t had because I’ve never been offered them. Jellyfish, fertilized duck eggs. I turned down steak tartare in France last summer, on grounds that I was already feeling queasy. Oh, and swordfish. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten swordfish. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/44 "2005-05-15T23:45:44Z")
Vegetable-wise, I’ve never partaken in okra, parsnip, spaghetti squash, or endive. And I think the only turnip I’ve ever had was pickled and stuffed into a falafel pita. I’ve never tasted a currant on its own, though I might’ve had blackcurrant jam once. Same story for the gooseberry. On to meats: I’d really like to try venison one day. I had an opportunity last night to order rabbit at a Hungarian restaurant, but I chose the wiener schnitzel/chicken paprikash combo instead. I’ve also never drank bourbon - though it seems to be a more common drink in the States than here in Canada. But I believe the most common food I’ve never consumed - and I’m not losing any sleep over it - is Spam. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/45 "2005-05-16T00:19:46Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > Personally i’ve never tried the following: Marmite, veggiemite, peanut butter, \*\*cockles, mussels, \*\*oysters. I’m sure the list is much longer than that but that is all I could think of off the top of my head. Oh my, oh my oh! Molly Malone notwithstanding, what’s a cockle? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/46 "2005-05-16T00:28:08Z")
I’m fairly old and I’ve never drank my first sip of coffee. Just never looked or smelled good to me. I ate a bite of coffee flavored ice cream once, that was enough. I’ve never tried hot tea and only enough iced tea to know I didn’t like it. Love caffine though, Mountain Dew is like heroin to me! ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/47 "2005-05-16T00:36:00Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Molly Malone notwithstanding, what’s a cockle? A cockle is a slimy seafood abomination, resembles an oyster only smaller and firmer. I couldn’t find a decent picture of one but [here](http://www.martins-seafresh.co.uk/Shopping/Images/cocklesEng.jpg) is a bag of the little blighters. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/48 "2005-05-16T02:12:35Z")
> [@mittu](#): > > A cockle is a slimy seafood abomination, resembles an oyster only smaller and firmer. I couldn’t find a decent picture of one but [here](http://www.martins-seafresh.co.uk/Shopping/Images/cocklesEng.jpg) is a bag of the little blighters. [more cockles](http://heyadriene.com/cockles.jpg) [a naked cockle](http://www.ministry-of-information.co.uk/blog1/images/cockles3.jpg) (work safe!) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/49 "2005-05-16T02:20:58Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Never had kiwi I assume you mean the fruit. I’m pretty sure that all species of the bird are protected and are unlikely to be on anyone’s menu. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/50 "2005-05-16T05:36:58Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > **Kyla** , let me specifically invite you to try pierogies ASAP. Not all are made with meat, and [these](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5890474&postcount=23) are loverly. Not precisely lowfat, but loverly. 😃 > > (You did say vegetarian, not Vegan, right? So you will still consider cheese and butter, right? If not, don’t look at the link, please.) That sounds tasty tasty! If I ever stop being so lazy, I’ll give it a shot. A Polish coworker told me she likes dessert pierogies best (I guess they’re like crepes?) and said she’ll bring some in for me when next she makes them. I look forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/51 "2005-05-16T12:44:27Z")
I don’t eat any kind of internal organ. I’m usually fairly daring in trying new foods but that’s beyond my capacity. I’ve never even tasted any. My mother adored raw oysters. I could not even stand the sight of them. So one drunken night I was talked into trying them, and my drunken taste buds decided they were wonderful. I ate about a dozen. I got hepititis. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/52 "2005-05-16T14:05:22Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > Well, considering that cow’s stomach is sold (tripe) I can’t think of any particular reason why sheep’s stomach would be off limits. Having said that, I do know that the USDA refuses to allow the sale of lungs, which does limit the availability of proper haggis here in the States. I think that’s the sticking point too. I think you can buy canned haggis here though. :eek: Actually, the funny thing about haggis (had it in Edinburgh) is that the really truly nasty part of the meal isn’t the haggis, it’s the “neeps” that they serve along with it. Unseasoned mashed parsnips aren’t very tasty at all. The “tatties”, which are mashed potatoes are ok. Haggis just tasted a lot like peppered ground mystery meat to me. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/53 "2005-05-16T15:23:30Z")
Well, if it makes you feel any better, 90% of the items you listed SUCK like a hoover anyway. Keep away from prepared meats as much as possible. The preservatives they use always give me a headache. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/54 "2005-05-16T15:24:00Z")
I’ve had every single food mentioned in this thread. But there are a few whose taste I wish I could delete from my memory: haggis, Spam and Limburger cheese. In all three cases, I had to literally force myself to swallow one bite, and keep it down. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/55 "2005-05-16T16:05:22Z")
> [@inkleberry](#): > > Here’s a list of other common things I have never tried, off the top of my head: > > - Bologna > - a Big Mac > - Salami > - Pimento Loaf, or any type of loaf meat > - Duck > - Jerky > - Slim Jims > - Pepperoni > - Goose > - Quail > - Buffalo > - Those very tiny chickens, Cornish hens > - Orange Ruffy > - The McRib sandwich - Bologna - Not a big deal; not one of the better cold cuts. - a Big Mac - a mediocre burger in its own right, but it has a very unique taste due to the “special sauce” (really Thousand Island dressing) and tiny chopped onions; worth trying one just so you aren’t tempted by it anymore. - Salami - AWESOME. I love a sandwich made with Italian genoa or hard salamis, preferably with provolone cheese, onions, tomatoes, and spicy brown mustard. - Pimento Loaf, or any type of loaf meat - feh, you’re not missing a thing. - Duck - tender and juicy, but extremely fatty. - Jerky - if you’re still iffy on meats, don’t bother, but I love it. Very salty and extremely chewy, but jerky provides a delicious high-protein snack and is perfect for long car trips, camping, etc. - Slim Jims - highly-processed beef jerky; the “real” stuff is much better. - Pepperoni - another pork sausage similar to salami, but spicier. Again, I love the stuff, and I prefer it cold and sliced in a sandwich to crispy on pizza. Also adds a ton of flavor to sauces, like an Italian meat sauce. - Goose - never had it. - Quail - never had it. - Buffalo - similar to beef, but leaner. There are definitely different flavors at work; some describe it as “gamey.” I’ve only had it as a hamburger, which was good. - Those very tiny chickens, Cornish hens - Not bad, depends on how they’re prepared, but very hard to eat. - Orange Ruffy - it’s “roughy” (but yours made me laugh, like a great name for an orange cat), and I’ve never knowingly had it. - The McRib sandwich - DELICIOUS, but highly processed. Some people are totally grossed out by it, but I wish McDonald’s carried it all year round, so I could treat myself every month or two. ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/56 "2005-05-16T16:28:52Z")
I have never had brussel sprouts, foie gras, escargo, raw oysters, bamboo shoots, shark, veal, or turnips. And unless I had one as a child before I can remember, I have never eaten a hot dog either. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_Chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/76d3ee/32.png) [@Patty\_Chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_Chuck)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/57 "2005-05-20T23:04:42Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Never had a **fertilized duck egg** either, tho I hear they’re popular. Where? (So I don’t go there by mistake). For me: not cooked oyster. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/58 "2005-05-20T23:18:55Z")
> [@Snakescatlady](#): > > I don’t eat any kind of internal organ. I’m usually fairly daring in trying new foods but that’s beyond my capacity. Unless you’re a vegetarian, I don’t see how this is possilbe. (Are muscles ‘external’?) ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/59 "2005-05-20T23:34:19Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > You know that green-bean-and-shoestring-potato casserole? Never had it. Never even been _offered_ it. Ew, somebody makes it with shoestring potatoes? They’re supposed to be french-fried onions. I love a good green bean casserole though. I like your username, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843/60 "2005-05-21T00:19:16Z")
I’ve never eaten scallops or jello. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-foods-i-have-never-eaten/303843.md?page=4)