# Which country has the worst cuisine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821 "2011-03-24T07:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/221 "2011-03-29T13:58:19Z")
I thought all British people ate fish for breakfast every day? Kippers, right? ::ducks and runs away giggling:: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/222 "2011-03-29T14:00:20Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I thought all British people ate fish for breakfast every day? Kippers, right? > > ::ducks and runs away giggling:: They have them in Texas, 'cause everyone’s a millionaire. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/223 "2011-03-29T14:06:11Z")
Five pages now and no agreement in sight. It just shows how varied people’s tastes are. Even within the same country you have varying tastes. Take broccoli for instance, I recall when President George Bush senior publicly proclaimed his distaste for this fine vegetable to the outrage of broccoli farmers. I certainly don’t agree with him. I think taste varies widely depending on what you are used to and what you have grown up with. I think much of it also has to do with how adventurous one is when trying unfamiliar food. With such variety, I think the question in itself is completely pointless. What you find disgusting is very likely comfort food to someone else. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/224 "2011-03-29T14:40:05Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > Five pages now and no agreement in sight. > It just shows how varied people’s tastes are. > Even within the same country you have varying tastes. > **Take broccoli for instance, I recall when President George Bush senior publicly proclaimed his distaste for this fine vegetable to the outrage of broccoli farmers.** > I certainly don’t agree with him. > I think taste varies widely depending on what you are used to and what you have grown up with. I think much of it also has to do with how adventurous one is when trying unfamiliar food. > With such variety, I think the question in itself is completely pointless. What you find disgusting is very likely comfort food to someone else. OMG, yes. I was stuck in the traffic between these huge truckloads of the stuff when they drove into DC to protest. What a nightmare! I love broccoli, but few things smell as bad as broccoli that’s been riding around on a hot truck for too long. . . ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/225 "2011-03-29T15:24:57Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > I’ve heard Mongolian food is an acquired taste. > **[All Mongolian Recipes - The Food of the Nomads](https://www.mongolfood.info/en/)** > > Cooking like the nomads of the mongolian steppe. > Recipes with detailed instructions and extensive illustrations. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/226 "2011-03-29T15:51:21Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > [All Mongolian Recipes - The Food of the Nomads](http://www.mongolfood.info/en/) Chanasan Makh: ketchup is usually added. You just can’t get away from it! ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/227 "2011-03-29T16:57:21Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > While fast food is pretty horrible, America absolutely cannot be on this list because Cajun cooking and southern cooking alone stand out so far ahead of the pack. I love all the snobbery about American fast food being so “Horrible!” I wonder who actually buys it if so many seem to agree that it’s so horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/228 "2011-03-29T17:01:38Z")
So stating a preference in a thread that solicits opinions is snobbery now? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/229 "2011-03-29T17:15:37Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > I love all the snobbery about American fast food being so “Horrible!” I wonder who actually buys it if so many seem to agree that it’s so horrible. Hey, got nuthin against American fast food here! Well, apart from Subway. Subway is unforgivable. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/230 "2011-03-29T17:18:24Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > I love all the snobbery about American fast food being so “Horrible!” I wonder who actually buys it if so many seem to agree that it’s so horrible. Lots of people eat fast food sometimes and are still aware that it is pretty bad. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/231 "2011-03-29T17:19:37Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > Five pages now and no agreement in sight. I don’t _think_ anyone has stepped forward to defend Icelandic cuisine yet. If I haven’t missed such a defense, I think that makes it the bottom of the heap right now. I mean, we’ve had someone pipe up for surströmming, but no one has spoken for hákarl (for hákarl has no tongue, sharks having a basihyal protrusion instead). We’re mostly going back and forth on matters of taste and recommending restaurants at this point, so perhaps it’s time to ask: Can we declare Icelandic cuisine the “victor”? Are there any lovers of rotten shark, birds fermented in seal blubber, and potato schnapps flavored with caraway seeds? To be fair, they also have smoked lamb, assorted non-rotten seafood, decent rye bread, and other non-actively horrifying food. I’m not sure that’s enough to outweigh the terrible stuff, though. What sayeth the Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/232 "2011-03-29T18:16:27Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > I love all the snobbery about American fast food being so “Horrible!” I wonder who actually buys it if so many seem to agree that it’s so horrible. Three reasons I can think of. 1. It’s not called fast food for nothing and when time is of the essence a quick burger on the go is convenient. 2. It’s cheap. 3. Some people do like it. If that is what you have grown up with, it would be your comfort food. And without a doubt, kids do seem to like it. Not sure what snobbery has to do with not liking American fast food though. > [@Balance](#): > > I don’t _think_ anyone has stepped forward to defend Icelandic cuisine yet. If I haven’t missed such a defense, I think that makes it the bottom of the heap right now. I mean, we’ve had someone pipe up for surströmming, but no one has spoken for hákarl (for hákarl has no tongue, sharks having a basihyal protrusion instead). > > We’re mostly going back and forth on matters of taste and recommending restaurants at this point, so perhaps it’s time to ask: > > Can we declare Icelandic cuisine the “victor”? Are there any lovers of rotten shark, birds fermented in seal blubber, and potato schnapps flavored with caraway seeds? To be fair, they also have smoked lamb, assorted non-rotten seafood, decent rye bread, and other non-actively horrifying food. I’m not sure that’s enough to outweigh the terrible stuff, though. What sayeth the Dopers? I’d say it’s likely we haven’t had an Icelander weigh in with an opinion. I’m sure there must be an Icelandic doper, but he or she has likely missed this thread. With a population of only 300,000 I doubt we are getting their side of the story. I’m sure a good deal of Icelanders quite enjoy their own food. As they are outnumbered 200 to 1 by Brits and a 1000 to 1 by Americans, chances are they just haven’t been heard. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/233 "2011-03-29T18:19:13Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > I don’t _think_ anyone has stepped forward to defend Icelandic cuisine yet. > … > Can we declare Icelandic cuisine the “victor”? Are there any lovers of rotten shark, birds fermented in seal blubber, and potato schnapps flavored with caraway seeds? To be fair, they also have smoked lamb, assorted non-rotten seafood, decent rye bread, and other non-actively horrifying food. I’m not sure that’s enough to outweigh the terrible stuff, though. What sayeth the Dopers? At least Iceland _has_ a little native agriculture and the products thereof. This post managed to incorporate a little backhanded defense, > [@anu-la1979](#): > > This is really hard, actually. My inclination is to say foods from northern countries where the focus is on whale/seal meat and there are few if any natural spices due to the climate are probably the worst. So I’m thinking Finland/Sweden/Iceland/Inuit etc. On the other hand, most of these countries seem to have good dairy and nice pastries. > … > However, if I had to pick one country, I’d say iceland, excepting skyr, which is wonderful. Scandinavian and even Icelandic cuisines aren’t like Inuit. I think **penultima** got it way back in post #5. > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Arctic cuisine where diets are high in seal/whale fats and they require narwhal skin for Vitamin C and food is mostly “eaten frozen, raw, or boiled, with very little mixture of ingredients and with very few spices added.” At least I can’t think of anything to beat that. Even the [Maasai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_people#Diet), also mentioned along the way, have diversified more in recent years as they’ve moved away from strictly pastoralist lives. And they’ve always traded with settled peoples, so they never really ate _only_ blood and milk. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/234 "2011-03-29T19:03:36Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > I’d say it’s likely we haven’t had an Icelander weigh in with an opinion. I’m sure there must be an Icelandic doper, but he or she has likely missed this thread. With a population of only 300,000 I doubt we are getting their side of the story. I’m sure a good deal of Icelanders quite enjoy their own food. > As they are outnumbered 200 to 1 by Brits and a 1000 to 1 by Americans, chances are they just haven’t been heard. I’m not a native Icelander, but I have been learning the language for three years, have made several trips there, and occasionally cook and eat Icelandic food here at home. Here are some observations: [ul] [li]There are actually two kinds of _hákarl_ (fermented (or “rotten”, if you prefer) shark): _glerhákarl_ and _skyrhákarl_. The latter is actually quite nice; it tastes like a very strong cheese. But the former tastes to me pretty much like badly decomposed fish doused liberally in ammonia. Neither of them is particularly popular among Icelanders; I suspect most of them haven’t tried them, and would be just as squeamish as foreigners about trying them. They’re available in supermarkets, but you’ll have trouble finding a restaurant with it on the menu. I don’t think it’s fair to judge an entire culture’s cuisine on the basis of a single objectionable dish which most people don’t eat anyway.[/li][li]So if you’re looking for an offputting Icelandic dish that people actually do eat, consider [_svið_ (singed and boiled sheep’s head)](http://www.nothingisreal.com/photos/Iceland_2010-01/food/tn/img_0797.jpg.index.html). The appearance may be revolting to some, and there’s not much meat on the face (apart from the tongue) but what little there is tastes good.[/li][li]Icelandic hot dogs (_pylsur_) are the best in the world, IMHO. They’re always made with a combination of lamb and one other meat (beef or pork), and served with a delicious mustard (_pylsusinnep_), remoulade, and fried-to-a-crisp bits of onion. The crunchy onions add a lovely texture. [/li][li]_Skyr_ is a sort of yogurty soft cheese which almost everyone loves to eat. It’s delicious—a bit tangier and creamier than yogurt—and available plain or in various flavours.[/li][li]Puffin and whale are commonly available, both in supermarkets and restaurants, and taste quite good.[/li][li]Anyone who loves seafood will find something to enjoy in Icelandic cuisine. If anyone’s interested in sampling it, there’s a restaurant in Reykjavík which has an enormous seafood buffet every night.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/235 "2011-03-29T23:21:30Z")
I’m actually going on holiday to Reykjavik over Easter. Where would you recommend eating? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/236 "2011-03-29T23:35:26Z")
To psychonaut: I am happy to say I have visited Iceland-fascinating place. Is there any shellfish available there? Or is the water too cold for clams, oysters, mussels, etc.? Icelandic cod is excellent. Never tried hakarl though! ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/237 "2011-03-30T17:49:38Z")
Thank you Psychonaut. I knew there had to be someone out there who liked Icelandic food, even though you aren’t actually Icelandic. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/238 "2011-03-30T17:51:19Z")
Without a doubt, Germany has the wurst cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/239 "2011-03-30T18:37:49Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > To psychonaut: > I am happy to say I have visited Iceland-fascinating place. > Is there any shellfish available there? Or is the water too cold for clams, oysters, mussels, etc.? I’m actually not sure—I don’t normally eat shellfish, so it’s not something I really look for on menus. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821/240 "2011-03-30T18:53:44Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Canadian cuisine is next to non-existent, and given this permanent inferiority complex my fellow countrymen have with regards to US and A, that deserves an HM. Such a lack of variety. The only things I could think of are: > > -Back bacon > -Poutine (Thick fries with gravy and white cheese curds) > -Sweet sauce donairs > -Whatever Inuit people eat > > Here in Ottawa people brag about Beavertails, but they’re basically an oval shaped langos, as per **puylkamell** ’s previous post, so I call ripoff. There may be more, but I can’t think of it! Butter Tarts! Nanaimo Bars! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-worst-cuisine/575821.md?page=13)