# What Mainstream Food Item have You Never Tasted? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 29, 2018, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463 "2018-08-29T12:53:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/221 "2018-09-04T17:33:07Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Rock lobsters and freshwater crayfish aren’t nearly as good as north Atlantic lobster. If you haven’t had it, and if you like crab and shrimp, it’s worth giving them a try if you are in New England or the Canadian Maritimes. But lobster and crab don’t freeze or travel very well. Lobster and crayfish are both excellent but are prepared in very different ways. Prepare one like the other and you’ll have a mess. I’ve lived in both New England and South Louisiana and so have had them both prepared properly. And they travel to New York just fine which is where I had them growing up. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/222 "2018-09-04T17:55:01Z")
Maybe I just don’t care for how crayfish are served. I’ve only had them in South Louisiana, and I really wanted to like them, but I didn’t. Atlantic lobster is best served steamed with seasoning, imo, and I don’t bother buying it in NY, although if you pay enough, you could get it there in decent shape. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/223 "2018-09-04T17:57:34Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Atlantic lobster is best served steamed with seasoning, imo, and I don’t bother buying it in NY, although if you pay enough, you could get it there in decent shape. IMO Atlantic (or Caribbean) lobster tastes best when halved and broiled. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/224 "2018-09-04T18:35:28Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I have not had the pleasure of eating quinoa yet. It tastes like wet dog. I’ve tried to used it a few different ways and I cannot seem to develop a tolerance (much less taste) for it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/225 "2018-09-04T19:09:17Z")
The one thing I’ve learned from this thread is I have to eat a meal with Ukulele Ike. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/226 "2018-09-04T19:24:52Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Maybe I just don’t care for how crayfish are served. I’ve only had them in South Louisiana, and I really wanted to like them, but I didn’t. > > Atlantic lobster is best served steamed with **NO** seasoning, imo, and I don’t bother buying it in NY, although if you pay enough, you could get it there in decent shape. Oh wow, serious typo. > [@kayaker](#): > > IMO Atlantic (or Caribbean) lobster tastes best when halved and broiled. It’s okay like that, too. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/227 "2018-09-05T02:19:54Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > It tastes like wet dog. I’ve tried to used it a few different ways and I cannot seem to develop a tolerance (much less taste) for it. Quinoa by itself is not very appetizing; it’s meant to be combined with spices, vegetables, etc. or made into bread or pasta. Pasta made from quinoa is as close to wheat pasta without being it as I’ve tasted. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/228 "2018-09-05T04:10:36Z")
I like plain quinoa. It’s better if you cook it in broth, but I find it quite nice just by itself. It’s sort of nutty, and richer than most quick easy starches. We eat it a lot. I like plain rice, too. If it’s bitter you may not have rinsed it adequately before cooking it. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/229 "2018-09-05T04:41:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Maybe I just don’t care for how crayfish are served. I’ve only had them in South Louisiana, and I really wanted to like them, but I didn’t. > > Atlantic lobster is best served steamed with seasoning, imo, and I don’t bother buying it in NY, although if you pay enough, you could get it there in decent shape. When I was a kid in NY the supermarket had tanks of lobsters. I picked them up for my mother, and they seemed to be in pretty good shape - they tried to climb out of the basket of my bike. Not to expensive either, back then at least. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/230 "2018-09-05T05:59:50Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Quinoa by itself is not very appetizing; it’s meant to be combined with spices, vegetables, etc. I’ve had a quinoa salad that was very nice. I can’t remember what it had in it, could have been pumpkin (and other stuff). ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/231 "2018-09-05T15:52:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Well, if the burgers tasted like beef, they wouldn’t have to cover up the flavor under all that crap. 😉 The problem with McDonald’s burgers is that the meat is dry and has very little taste. The Big Mac does a great job in compensating for that. The predominant flavors are the tartness of the pickles and the thousand island dressing playing off the sweetness of the three slices of bread. The crispness of the thousand island soaked lettuce and the pickles is also contrasted with the softness of the bread. The savoriness of the beef and cheese are background compliment to the other flavors. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/232 "2018-09-05T16:32:28Z")
…or you could just go to Five Guys and order a double cheeseburger with raw onion, pickle, mayo and ketchup…and get all those pleasant sensations while consuming bread and beef that is closer to actual food. And you could get mustard on it, too, another big plus. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/233 "2018-09-05T18:41:58Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > …or you could just go to Five Guys and order a double cheeseburger with raw onion, pickle, mayo and ketchup…and get all those pleasant sensations while consuming bread and beef that is closer to actual food. > > And you could get mustard on it, too, another big plus. Five Guys doesn’t send me. Their burgers aren’t bad. They’re about as good as at Wendys. That said, they are pretty far from being really good burgers. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/234 "2018-09-06T00:08:50Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > The problem with McDonald’s burgers is that the meat is dry and has very little taste. They had this thing here where they cooked a burger fresh, and you could choose what you had on it. They were very good (cost more, of course) so of course they stopped doing it. They kept some of the varieties, but they aren’t as good when the meat is nuked in the microwave than fried on the griddle. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/235 "2018-09-06T02:11:29Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Five Guys doesn’t send me. Their burgers aren’t bad. They’re about as good as at Wendys. That said, they are pretty far from being really good burgers. I used to like Wendy’s, when I was a teenager…considered it several steps higher than McDonald’s. Haven’t had it in many many years. I’m on record around here as the Shitheaded Fast Food Spoilsport, so I’m laying myself open as enjoying Five Guys. Sure, I’d rather eat a homemade or diner burger. But I relish an occasional Five Guys. With the mustard. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/236 "2018-09-06T03:22:34Z")
Nah, Five Guys is a great burger. A bit pricey for what you get, but great. No In n Out, though. 🙂 I’m not a fan of most diner burgers, though. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/237 "2018-09-06T03:36:03Z")
I was worried there for a minute. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/238 "2018-09-06T03:46:19Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Yeah, I’m noticing that the seafood-haters are mainly from landlocked states, where raw oysters and steamed clams and boiled lobster would be a luxury item. > > If you live on the coasts and grow up with them, they’re more “normal.” Guess again. I know tons of seafood haters born and bred here in New England. I’m one. I’ve never had lobster because other than fried clam strips - which have a moderately strong but not fishy taste - I have never, ever enjoyed any type of seafood people have given me. Not even salmon, not even Ahi tuna…I’m not paying what is still a fair amount of money even here for yet another type of seafood I’m more than likely not going to enjoy. Other than not eating many fish, I’m also not terribly adventurous when it comes to veggies. I’m a super taster and many, many vegetables taste bitter to me. Most of the ones I like, besides some literal salad greens ironically, are non-green vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and corn. So…there are dozens of vegetables I’ve never been brave enough to try yet. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/239 "2018-09-06T03:57:00Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Guess again. I know tons of seafood haters born and bred here in New England. I’m one. I’m also on the coast. When I was a kid, we caught crayfish (rock lobsters) and we went crabbing. We went fishing, we had fresh fish and fresh shellfish and it was all just about free (minus expenses like petrol for the boat, or petrol to drive down to Mandurah). I didn’t like shellfish when I was a kid, and I still don’t like it. I like normal fish, just not shellfish. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463/240 "2018-09-06T19:37:55Z")
Are artichokes mainstream? If so, I’ve never had one. Not because of any particular aversion, I’ve just never been served one. I actually tried to prepare one once, but the result was a total disaster, and even with the instructions I couldn’t figure out how you’re supposed to eat the damn thing. It really seems like this is a thing that if you see someone do, it’s totally easy and if you’re reading it in a book, never having seen someone do, it’s an impenetrable mystery. Or maybe I’m just a dumb ass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mainstream-food-item-have-you-never-tasted/820463.md?page=13)