# How many of these foods have you tried? (100 things) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462 "2012-01-14T02:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/141 "2012-01-16T20:05:56Z")
85 Never been offered: Pavlova-never heard of it before Currywurst- ditto Nettle tea- but had cooked nettles Dandelion wine Haven’t gotten around to: Absinthe Foie Gras Frog’s Legs Kangaroo Sea Urchin Squirrel No: Bird’s Nest Soup- A. It’s spit and B. It’s environmentally iffy Chitlins- they really do smell worse than tripe Crickets- not into eating entire animals Fugu- heard it’s pretty bland as fish go, so why risk it? Phaal- English style curry is good, what’s to be gained by making it painfully hot? Also, what’s a Facebook App? Like a web application that is embedded in Facebook? Does it generate ad revenue or something? The list appears to have no theme or criteria for inclusion, it just seems to be some guy’s idea of exotic or tasty foods. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/142 "2012-01-16T20:20:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The basic version is a bag of Fritos slit up the side. You then ladle in a bunch of chili and shredded cheese and eat with a fork while walking around a County Fair. The formal version is a casserole of the same ingredients. Then, I might’ve had it at a Country Fair. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/143 "2012-01-16T20:24:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I would count it. I’ve had phaal in England and, to be honest, the phaal I make is spicier than any English phaal I’ve had, although I can’t say I’ve tried more than three or four of them. None of the ones I had contained habanero or Scotch bonnets that I noticed, although the Wikipedia entry suggests that some do. Actually, the one dish that did kick my ass was a lamb vindaloo from a Pakistani place in Wolverhampton 15 years ago. Although my heat tolerance may not have been quite where it’s at today. > > [Here is a recipe](http://www.angelfire.com/country/fauziaspakistan/chickenphall.html) that will seriously deliver the heat and flavor. My phaal recipe is basically like that. 12 (!) Habaneros is a little out of my comfort zone. I think I used 2, with wearing gloves & sunglasses during the preparation and it was still too hot. Normally, I just scatter some of Penzey’s V. Hot crushed peppers over the curry, along with a dried Thai hot pepper. I much prefer flavor to sheer heat and—though purists will object—I’ve liked adding ancho chili powder or minced dried guajillo chilis to my curry. Assuming I just don’t use some of the Mae Ploy curry paste I have in the fridge. So, it sounds like phaal is not something then I’ll ever be having. Thanks for the recipe though; if I’m ever cooking for some chili-heads, I’ll keep it in mind for them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/144 "2012-01-16T22:13:43Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Pocky - I generally dislike all things Japanese I generally dislike all Japanese attempts at desserts, but Pocky are an exception. It’s basically just a non-salty pretzel stick dipped in chocolate-- There’s nothing funky in it like seaweed or soy or octopus, like you’ll find in many Japanese desserts. If an American cookie company had come up with the same idea, nobody would batt an eye over it. Oh, and though I haven’t had dandelion wine, I _have_ had dandelion salad, and in fact it’s one of my favorite foods. It’s highly seasonal, though-- There’s only about a month a year when you can make it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/145 "2012-01-16T22:27:47Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > 12 (!) Habaneros is a little out of my comfort zone. I think I used 2, with wearing gloves & sunglasses during the preparation and it was still too hot. Normally, I just scatter some of Penzey’s V. Hot crushed peppers over the curry, along with a dried Thai hot pepper. I much prefer flavor to sheer heat and—though purists will object—I’ve liked adding ancho chili powder or minced dried guajillo chilis to my curry. Assuming I just don’t use some of the Mae Ploy curry paste I have in the fridge. > > So, it sounds like phaal is not something then I’ll ever be having. Thanks for the recipe though; if I’m ever cooking for some chili-heads, I’ll keep it in mind for them. Like I said, the English version of phaal I had was nowhere near that hot. That’s as hot as I personally make it. Twelve habaneros. And, yes, I taste more than just heat. It’s just a matter of acclimation. My jerk paste also has 12-16 habaneros (or, preferably, Scotch Bonnets) in it. And a good bit of allspice to balance. But, like drugs, you get used to this stuff, and you need more and more to get that base heat flavor. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/146 "2012-01-17T00:02:57Z")
Hovering right around 50 for me and I’m disappointed. I love trying new stuff and hoped my number would be higher. Alas, there are a couple of things though that there’s no way I’ll try… Crickets – can’t get past the ick! factor or their little legs, so just no Durian – I know I wouldn’t be able to get past the smell Eggs Benedict – I can only stand my eggs scrambled, but if I were stranded on a desert island, I’m sure I’d give these a go Head Cheese – I’ll put it on this portion of the list, but I’m not so sure because the very idea just makes me so squeamish Kangaroo – irrationally, because they’re too cute :rolleyes::rolleyes: Phaal – way too hot Raw Oysters – it’s a texture thing in that I can’t eat something that’ll simply slide down the back of my throat Sauerkraut – My mind says it’ll be too much like cabbage, which I hate Steak Tartare – I don’t do raw anything Things I want to try, but haven’t gotten around to yet… Absinthe – I’m supposed to have some for my birthday! Black Truffle – sounds amazing Foie Gras – anything that melts like buttah is okay in my book Kobe Beef – if only it wasn’t so friggin’ expensive Pavlova – I’m interested just because of the name even though I don’t remember what it was Rabbit Stew – I like stew and the idea of eating something Davy Crockett probably did Zucchini Flowers – pretty! Other than that, there’s things I have eaten that I wasn’t especially impressed with. Like Pocky, for example. I’d heard so much about this, many years ago, that I specifically sought it out and was very disappointed. If that’s their version of dessert, they certainly don’t go for very sweet. And I’m really a heathen in that I won’t more out of lobster. It seems that what makes it edible is the butter dipping sauce, otherwise it’s nothing special taste-wise. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/147 "2012-01-17T03:01:51Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > **jjimm** , a point that (I think) **FGIG** is making is that much and possibly all “truffle oil” is somewhat-controversially synthetic in nature. > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/dining/16truf.html?pagewanted=all](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/dining/16truf.html?pagewanted=all) The stuff I have says “guaranteed infused white truffle” and has chunks of the stuff floating in the oil. Not sure if that is 100% true, but it was produced in the EU which has fairly strict laws regarding stuch statements. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/148 "2012-01-17T03:59:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I generally dislike all Japanese attempts at desserts, but Pocky are an exception. It’s basically just a non-salty pretzel stick dipped in chocolate-- There’s nothing funky in it like seaweed or soy or octopus, like you’ll find in many Japanese desserts. If an American cookie company had come up with the same idea, nobody would batt an eye over it. Then I just might have to try it given the chance. Sounds interesting. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/149 "2012-01-17T06:49:09Z")
I’ve had almost everything on your lists. I have also had cow brains, tongue and udders…oh and mountain oysters (Bulls’ balls) they are disgusting! I like lengua, a lot. Cow brain is eh…OK. I had it in Colombia and Mexico. OH! Has anyone had huitlacoche? It is delicious! [http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Mexican-Ingredients-1032/huitlacoche.aspx](http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Mexican-Ingredients-1032/huitlacoche.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/150 "2012-01-17T09:34:08Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Being alcohol-intolerant might not be compatible with consuming haggis. (Disclaimer: I’ve never eaten it either). It’s my understanding that even the Scots generally take several belts of scotch before tackling the haggis.😃 Nah. It is common in fish and chip shops as a takeaway food, for a start. Like probably a lot of things on the list, it is nowhere near as bad as the ingredients list suggests. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/151 "2012-01-17T10:09:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Then I just might have to try it given the chance. Sounds interesting. Not interesting per se, really mundane. But nice nonetheless. ::Nibbles furiously on a Pocky as he writes this, like Bugs Bunny demolishing a carrot:: ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/152 "2012-01-17T10:40:47Z")
I’ve had 9 of them: - Barbeque ribs Bellini (it means the peach and champagne cocktail, not something else, right?) Eel (never again! It tastes just like you would expect - slimy and muddy) Fresh spring rolls (as opposed to…stale ones?) Kangaroo (meh. Just tasted like beef) Paella Pocky Sauerkraut (eww!) Venison (see “kangaroo”) A lot of these things I’ve never heard of, and some I didn’t know were edible (honeycomb? squirrel?) Also, I never knew that fried green tomatoes were a thing, I thought it was just a film! To be honest, I’m not likely to try many more of the things on the list. I’m not very keen to try foods I’m not familiar with. Include one ingredient I’ve never heard of, and I won’t eat it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/153 "2012-01-17T12:27:01Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > Hostess Fruit Pie? Really?! Who made this list and decided that it deserved to be on there? They’re not _all_ culinarily exceptional things - some of them are just adventurous or nostalgic. I had a favourable association with the Fruit Pies growing up, because of their [alleged supervillain-foiling powers](http://www.seanbaby.com/hostess.htm). Suffice to say when I encountered the reality, I was…underwhelmed. I’ve eaten **everything** on that list, or a _very_ close equivalent (e.g. Haven’t actually had a _New Orleans_ Po’Boy, but I _have_ had a po’boy made by a Louisiana-native cook. I’ve eaten crocodile, not alligator.) or as close as I could make myself (Philly cheesesteak, made with an “authentic” recipe, just because I was curious. Ditto Jerk chicken. Or s’mores made with McVities…) The hardest things for me to get hold of were Durian fruit and fugu. The things I’m most surprised are _not_ on the list are [poutine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine) and [shark’s fin soup,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_fin_soup) because they seem to fit the “feel” of the list to me. **Der Trihs** : Two? Really? That’s something you should actively try and remedy, I think. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/154 "2012-01-17T12:36:25Z")
ETA - the worst thing on that list I ate was the pineapple-and-cottage cheese (which I had at a "[Regrettable Food](http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/index.html)party, along with some horror called a “Green Bean Casserole”, a “Jello salad”, and other foods inspired by that site. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/155 "2012-01-17T12:53:11Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I counted having had fried liver, or a kidney dish in Paris (“rognons de veau”), as “sweetbreads” from knowing that’s what it means, not from what the dish was called. No, sweetbreads is[specifically pancreas and thymus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetbreads) (and a couple other small glands if you’re liberal), not just any offal. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/156 "2012-01-17T12:58:28Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#): > > Bird’s Nest Soup- A. It’s spit and B. It’s environmentally iffy Most bird’s nests nowadays are farmed, not wild-harvested. There’s still the problem of wood harvesting to build the farmed nests, but it’s actually possible to get them sustainably sourced. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/157 "2012-01-17T14:29:32Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Christ. I counted 9. Results of poverty and southern cooking I guess. Yeah, I’m only at 17, but I can’t eat any type of fish/seafood so that cuts out a lot of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/158 "2012-01-17T15:05:57Z")
There are only 18 on here I have not tried. Most of those are because I refuse (crickets, Chitlins, Bird’s Nest Soup) or I know I won’t like them (I hate anise and licorice so no absinthe for me). It’s weird - the few things I dislike are pretty common flavors most people like. I hate pineapple, coconut, nuts of any kind, and raw carrots but I love all sorts of seafood and pickled items. I’ll eat pickled herring with gusto but will turn down a PB & J sandwich. :::shrug::: ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/159 "2012-01-17T18:53:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nope; I only got two; > > 1. Barbecue Ribs > > 2. Biscuits and Gravy Seriously? You must be a real joy to cook for. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462/160 "2012-01-17T19:22:22Z")
Only 60. A few of those things I’m allergic to, or I would have tried them. I’ve also had a few adventurous things that weren’t on the list (adventurous to me, though not to a lot of people. Cow tongue (cooked) Crab brain (raw) Roddy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-these-foods-have-you-tried-100-things/609462.md?page=9)