# What common food items have you never had? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749 "2016-08-04T16:37:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/41 "2016-08-05T01:36:17Z")
Nutella Pomegranate Turnips Liver Hard cider mmm ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/42 "2016-08-05T02:47:21Z")
I am a complete foodie and there are only probably a couple of things I haven’t tried. A few of them are bread, water, juice, vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/43 "2016-08-05T02:55:59Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Never had rice, pizza, lobster, crab, fish of any kind (except fish sticks), tasted shrimp once (one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten), tea, alcohol, lamb, any Mexican food, any Japanese food, and Mac and cheese. That’s an impressive list. How have you made it through life without ever having rice (one of the most common foods in the world), tea (one of the most common beverages), or pizza (one of the most common restaurant foods)? ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/44 "2016-08-05T03:12:35Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Never had rice, pizza, lobster, crab, fish of any kind (except fish sticks), tasted shrimp once (one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten), tea, alcohol, lamb, any Mexican food, any Japanese food, and Mac and cheese. > [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > That’s an impressive list. How have you made it through life without ever having rice (one of the most common foods in the world), tea (one of the most common beverages), or pizza (one of the most common restaurant foods)? I was going to ask, too. Just being nosy, but aside from lobster and lamb, those are some pretty basic food groups in my life. Was it a cultural thing? And no mac and cheese? Poor thing. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/45 "2016-08-05T03:26:38Z")
I don’t eat cheese, so I have never had mac and cheese, cheese sticks, practically anything with cheese. I have choked down Mexican food with cheese, but only if there is a LOT of sauce on it. And mozzarella doesn’t completely weird me out, so I do eat pizza. No sweetbreads, heart, kidney, brains. I have had liver, and detest it, and I had tongue once (on a sandwich, on a Lufthansa flight, they should have warned us.) I had one bite of alligator, Cajun style (they were only serving tiny bites), and didn’t hate it. I have had lamb, and didn’t like it, but never mutton. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/46 "2016-08-05T03:29:29Z")
Frog legs and bugs must be regionally considered common somewhere, but not here. I’ve traveled some, too, and have seen frog legs on maybe two menus. Never saw bugs on any menus, unless you count the water crustaceans like shrimp/lobster/crab and those I’ve had more than my share! For those who have not tried Nutella, I give you the Nutella Bar at Eataly Chicago: [http://www.neontommy.com/sites/default/files/Eataly\_Nutella\_680\_340\_85\_s\_c1.jpg?1386184126](http://www.neontommy.com/sites/default/files/Eataly_Nutella_680_340_85_s_c1.jpg?1386184126) ---
**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:** [August 5, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/47 "2016-08-05T03:41:16Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I was at a Bug Fair the other weekend, and they had a booth offering tastes of grasshoppers and meal-worms. I’m ashamed to say, I chickened out. The grasshoppers I ate tasted somewhat like crunchy peanut butter. And the caterpillars were freeze-dried, and tasted like Cheetos without the cheese. Oh, and I’ve never had green bean casserole or a corn dog. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/48 "2016-08-05T03:47:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > That’s about where I’m at. I’ve never eaten raw oysters. Or snails or frog legs. It’s got to be fairly exotic for me not to at least give it a try. I can’t think of any common food or drink I haven’t at least tried at some point. I don’t know if frog legs would be considered “common”, but count me among those who have never had them and would like to keep it that way. Note to all French people: frogs are not edible, and you need to understand that fact. 😉 Neither are snails, and disguising them under a pseudonym like “escargots” doesn’t help. I do like fresh raw oysters on the half shell, though, although I understand why some folks might find the texture off-putting. But I love sushi, and at a good sushi restaurant I’m a sucker for whatever an expert chef offers up. Eel, sea urchin, various exotic fish that I’ve never heard of – bring it on! If it’s expertly prepared and looks terrific, it’s always enjoyable. I’d even be willing to try [fugu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugu), but so far have never had the chance. (It’s not really a sushi dish, but a famed Japanese delicacy nonetheless.) On the subject of common foods, I think I’ve successfully avoided Taco Bell all my life. I like good Mexican food, but WRT Taco Bell, I feel no sense of loss! ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/49 "2016-08-05T04:14:55Z")
Grew up in the midwest and basically ate beef, pork, potatoes, basic vegetables, fruit, soft drinks, and milk. Never developed a taste for the other foods and never liked foods that were a mixture of multiple foods. And just as a side note, I’ve never used an ATM, never twittered, never text messaged anyone, and only E-mailed 3 times in my life. Am I normal? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/50 "2016-08-05T04:21:21Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Grew up in the midwest and basically ate beef, pork, potatoes, basic vegetables, fruit, soft drinks, and milk. Never developed a taste for the other foods and never liked foods that were a mixture of multiple foods. And just as a side note, I’ve never used an ATM, never twittered, never text messaged anyone, and only E-mailed 3 times in my life. Am I normal? No. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/51 "2016-08-05T05:09:36Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I never had a Big Mac either . You need an extended visit to your elderly Japanese relatives who feed you nothing but “traditional heritage meals”, consisting of many varieties of whole fish. Mostly dried. All with huge eyeballs that stare at you as you try to gag them down. After weeks of that, escape to Tokyo, get off the bullet train and see a huge poster for a “Mega Mac” (two Big Macs piled atop one another). Be filled with longing for home, dead cows, and that Special Sauce… Ahhhh… you people don’t know what you’re missing. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/52 "2016-08-05T05:21:53Z")
I’ve never eaten Nutella, but it would probably be better made with filberts instead of hazelnuts. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/53 "2016-08-05T05:27:08Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Never had rice, pizza, lobster, crab, fish of any kind (except fish sticks), tasted shrimp once (one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten), tea, alcohol, lamb, any Mexican food, any Japanese food, and Mac and cheese. Jesus, what did your parents feed you, bread and water? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/54 "2016-08-05T05:32:57Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/55 "2016-08-05T05:34:15Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I’ve never eaten Nutella, but it would probably be better made with filberts instead of hazelnuts. ^^^ Hear, hear! ^^^ ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/56 "2016-08-05T08:45:59Z")
Went through 60 of my 61 years without ever eating Spam. Then, one day, I thought I’d give it a try. Why not? How bad could it be? So I tasted some Spam, and wished I hadn’t. I’d have to be starving and near death before I’d eat that stuff again. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/57 "2016-08-05T09:48:44Z")
> [@appleaday](#): > > Went through 60 of my 61 years without ever eating Spam. Then, one day, I thought I’d give it a try. Why not? How bad could it be? So I tasted some Spam, and wished I hadn’t. I’d have to be starving and near death before I’d eat that stuff again. And that shit ain’t cheap either. I swear their entire market is people like yourself who’ve never tried it and go, ‘How bad can it be?’ Then they wait for the next sucker… ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/58 "2016-08-05T10:01:47Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten tapioca or sago, but if I have, they have been entirely erased from my memory. I know for a fact I’ve never tried tripe. My mother tried to tempt me once, but when I raised the fork to stick in her eye, she relented. Fennel: it is on my list of ingredients to use, but Ive just never gotten around to it yet. Venison, croc and hare are looooxury foodstuffs here in Australia. Unless I win a lottery, there’s little chance of me trying them. Everything else? Provided it’s affordable and available, I’ll give it a shot…at least once. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/59 "2016-08-05T12:19:00Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Never had rice, pizza, lobster, crab, fish of any kind (except fish sticks), tasted shrimp once (one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten), tea, alcohol, lamb, any Mexican food, any Japanese food, and Mac and cheese. > [@Vicsage](#): > > Grew up in the midwest and basically ate beef, pork, potatoes, basic vegetables, fruit, soft drinks, and milk. Never developed a taste for the other foods and never liked foods that were a mixture of multiple foods. And just as a side note, I’ve never used an ATM, never twittered, never text messaged anyone, and only E-mailed 3 times in my life. Am I normal? > [@Leaffan](#): > > No. Way to break it gently, **Leaf**! 🙂 **Vicsage** , how old are you? ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749/60 "2016-08-05T12:22:59Z")
62 years old. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-common-food-items-have-you-never-had/761749.md?page=4)