food you never tried because you don't know how to eat it

[Gatopescado]

@kaylasdad99

I’m never sure what to do with the outside parts after I peel my m&ms…

I don’t know what to do with the insides of bananas and oranges.

[Just_Asking_Questions]

The ortolan.

[Push_You_Down]

@Channing_Idaho_Banks

I finally learned how to peel a mango, now I love them.

True story… I decided to just eat a mango one day without peeling or slicing. Perfectly fine with no ill effects. Now I only peel and slice because otherwise people look at you like you are crazy.

[Poysyn]

@John_Mace

Inside the body is the best part. And the worst part (aka, “guacamole”). Crab claws, like lobster claws are considered the lesser meat. The other legs are, I think, somewhere in between, but with those huge Alaska crabs, the legs might be the best part. For lobsters, the primo stuff is the tail.

I thought that was “tamale”

[jnglmassiv]

Not that I don’t know how to eat it but rather how to ask for it. There’s a few Polish groceries near my place with one I go to semiregularly, especially during these colder months. There’s a prepared foods and meat counter with many tempting items. However, they announce the Now Serving numbers 100% in Polish and I’m too shy to ask for help.

I didn’t expect to see ribs in this thread. Eat the meat, discard the bones.

@kanicbird

Bought soft shell crab has to be prepared by removing part, some stores will offer this service, then it can be fried and eaten.

Yep, cut off the face and sweep out the gills. They can be fried or sauted.

[beowulff]

@Just_Asking_Questions

The ortolan.

You eat the whole thing, head and all.
But, since it’s illegal, you need to be a former French President to get it served to you.

[beowulff]

Decades ago I was on a business trip to Japan, and I was by myself in a restaurant, and none of the servers spoke any English. There were some intricate carved vegetables on my table, and I was unsure if they were supposed to be eaten, or if they were just decoration. I eventually decided to try some, and they were delicious - pickled and flavorful.

[Chronos]

Ice Planet is problematic.

[araminty]

@Push_You_Down

True story… I decided to just eat a mango one day without peeling or slicing. Perfectly fine with no ill effects. Now I only peel and slice because otherwise people look at you like you are crazy.

You were lucky. Others might not be so. Mango skin contains urishol, the same irritant as poison oak/ivy. Mango Skin Allergy Mimics Poison Ivy | The People's Pharmacy

[kanicbird]

@jnglmassiv

Not that I don’t know how to eat it but rather how to ask for it. There’s a few Polish groceries near my place with one I go to semiregularly, especially during these colder months. There’s a prepared foods and meat counter with many tempting items. However, they announce the Now Serving numbers 100% in Polish and I’m too shy to ask for help.

I didn’t expect to see ribs in this thread. Eat the meat, discard the bones.

Yep, cut off the face and sweep out the gills. They can be fried or sauted.

You forgot to say to remove their naughty bits too.

[kanicbird]

@Johnny_L.A

Why not eat the tails? If it’s fried shrimps, the tails are perfectly good to eat. A Vietnamese restaurant served shrimp-onna-stick that had the tails and heads on, but the shell removed from the meat part of the tails. I’d eat the heads first (much, for some reason, to the disgust of my coworker), then the tails (fins), and then the meat.

You could and I have, but took it more as a handle, but yes you can.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@SanVito

Getting the seeds out is the tough part. easiest way is to cut them in half, cup the half, open side down, and bash the top with a rolling pin. The seeds will all fall out (eventually).

I always found that method ruptured too many seeds, making a stained mess and cutting down on the delicious delicious juiciness.

I find it soothing to cut a circle around the crown, removing it. Then make an X incision across the excised crown, each leg about 2 cm long. Then pull the pomegranate in half, then into quarters, and sit, relax, and pop the seeds out into a cup. Then binge on a cupful of pomegranate seeds. Or toss some into my plain yogurt. Or both.

Costco is selling them a dozen to the box, and the Mrs. and I have been binging. Yummmmm!

[pulykamell]

@Poysyn

I thought that was “tamale”

Spelled “tomalley.” I don’t know if that’s what Johnny is talking about, but tomalley is considered a delicacy by many shellfish connoisseurs. (I’m okay with it, but prefer it when used as an ingredient.) But there are some health concerns with it related to heavy metals, as they can accumulate there.

[Johnny_L.A]

@pulykamell

I don’t know if that’s what Johnny is talking about…

No, I was talking about shrimp/prawns skewered lengthwise on a bamboo stick and grilled. I’ve never heard the insides of a prawn’s head being called ‘tomalley’.

[River_Hippie]

I went to a Greek festival and they had whole fried octopus. I wanted to try it so I looked around to see how and which parts other people were eating and didn’t see anybody. I guess I could have asked the lady selling them but didn’t think to. What do you eat? Just the legs? The whole thing?

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@River_Hippie

I went to a Greek festival and they had whole fried octopus. I wanted to try it so I looked around to see how and which parts other people were eating and didn’t see anybody. I guess I could have asked the lady selling them but didn’t think to. What do you eat? Just the legs? The whole thing?

The muscular bits. Which are mostly in the tentacles, but not quite completely.

At least that’s been my approach.

[salinqmind]

@Johnny_L.A

No, I was talking about shrimp/prawns skewered lengthwise on a bamboo stick and grilled. I’ve never heard the insides of a prawn’s head being called ‘tomalley’.

Tomalley is the green goop inside a steamed lobster. The liver, I think. Some people eat it.

[flaming_yawn]

The first time ever at a sushi bar we felt very noobish when we were smearing the wasabi on the rolls and then dunking in the soy sauce. People next to us gave us a look then explained to flavor the soy with the wasabi and then dunk. They were super nice so I didnt take offence then they proceeded to share their sushi with us as they had more adventurous stuff …those big orange fish egg things ( I passed Mr Yawn tried and liked).

I really do wish restaurants would add more of an explanation to some dishes ethnic and not. Then I would not have to ask people at my table if the chinese dish I was getting was slimy noodles or not.

[hogarth]

@flaming_yawn

Thanks to a nice waitress we discovered 'HotPot" and you treat it like a soup not a fondue.

If you’re talking about Chinese hot pot, most people I know do not drink the soup. You’re usually given a ladle that allows the soup to drain out for fishing the solid bits out of the soup.
E.g. https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/sunwealth-hot-pot-ladle/6000134101356

[flaming_yawn]

@hogarth

If you’re talking about Chinese hot pot, most people I know do not drink the soup. You’re usually given a ladle that allows the soup to drain out for fishing the solid bits out of the soup.
E.g. https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/sunwealth-hot-pot-ladle/6000134101356

thats what I thought until she said " you’re not going to eat the broth?" and basically she said that is the best part …going to go again this weekend so I will scope it out.