# "You're gonna eat that?!?" Raw, aged or otherwise 'extreme' foods others consider 'gross' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [July 2, 2026, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353 "2026-07-02T13:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/61 "2026-07-03T17:03:10Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > I’ve had balut on the streets of Angeles. Didn’t particularly like it, but it didn’t gross me out. I found the embryo part to be unpleasantly gristly. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/62 "2026-07-03T17:14:03Z")
Now I have to go find a place that has good fermented sushi > **[Narezushi (lactic acid fermented sushi) ｜ Our Regional Cuisines : MAFF](https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/k_ryouri/search_menu/4707/index.html)** > > ページ説明 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/63 "2026-07-03T17:24:51Z")
I once got a chicken foot in a bowl of soup in Guatemala. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/64 "2026-07-03T17:26:45Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > balut Copilot says balut has a slightly gamey taste. The closest thing to “gamey” that I’ve ever had was wild hare, shot by a Scottish pen-pal’s father on the estate he managed and then left to hang outdoors for several days. It was okay when doused with Worcestershire sauce and stewed, but I still remember that strong flavor of air-aged meat. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/65 "2026-07-03T17:27:39Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I once knew a gentleman (an American) White guy? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/66 "2026-07-03T17:31:57Z")
I have roots (and family) in Mie, but I didn’t know that narezushi was a regional thing there. I have never had it, not even when we visited the home village. I guess the cousins thought it was more impressive to serve us watermelon (it was, and I think still is tremendously expensive compared to the US) than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/67 "2026-07-03T17:53:43Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > gamey I’ve never understood what that is supposed to mean. I’m a hunter and I eat a lot of wild game, but I wouldn’t describe any of it as “gamey”. A lot of people also describe unusual foods as tasting “like chicken.” I would describe balut as tasting like chicken and an egg yolk. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/68 "2026-07-03T18:07:42Z")
He was white, yes. I met him in Moscow, but I believe he was also a long-time resident of Thailand. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/69 "2026-07-03T18:12:37Z")
I was served domestically-raised rabbit for Christmas in Czechoslovakia. It did indeed have a mild flavor very much like chicken. But the wild hare that I had in Scotland had a much stronger, earthy taste. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/70 "2026-07-03T18:25:30Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > I would describe balut as tasting like chicken and an egg yolk. I agree; the taste was very much like boiled poultry and boiled egg. It was the gristly texture I found off-putting. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/71 "2026-07-03T18:43:34Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > It was the gristly texture I found off-putting. The sensory experience that is balut can vary a lot depending on how developed the embryo is at the time it gets cooked. Very young embryos are much like rubbery boiled eggs. Those embryos that are closer to hatching are a little more of a challenge, texture-wise! I’ve had balut, and would eat it again as long as somebody else is buying. Not worth my money, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/72 "2026-07-03T18:54:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > But hunks of fat on a steak or other meat literally makes me gag i Ah, here is my trick- cut them off, and fry them a bit before putting the steak in. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/73 "2026-07-03T18:57:02Z")
You would think a guy named @Chefguy would know every culinary trick in the book, as well as having invented a couple of his own. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/74 "2026-07-03T18:57:59Z")
Good point. But others reading this might not have the same expertise. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/75 "2026-07-03T18:58:23Z")
Just joshin’ you, my man. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/76 "2026-07-03T19:00:07Z")
Good one. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/77 "2026-07-03T19:19:47Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Those embryos that are closer to hatching are a little more of a challenge, texture-wise! I would say about 40% of the egg I ate was duck “meat”. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/78 "2026-07-03T19:24:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I once got a chicken foot in a bowl of soup in Guatemala. My first sight of that was 40 years ago. We were with a friend in Seattle, and had gone to a dim sum restaurant - the kind where they wheel around carts and you point to what you want. They hadn’t come around in a few minutes and we were hungry, so we pointed to the first thing we saw, having no idea what it was. The waiter put it on the table and we stared at it. My friend finaly said “I… think I know what this is. I think it’s chicken feet…”. We all tried it, but really didn’t see the point, I think it was coated in some batter and fried then coated in sauce, so I guess you are supposed to nibble the batter off the foot? No meat of any kind on it of course. And the texture was vile. A decade or so ago I was talking about this with some colleagues and we were going to a dim sum restaurant near our office. It was a weekday so you had to order what you want. We got a dish of chicken feet just so they could say they’d tried it. It was no more edible than 20 years earlier. Chicken feet may be great to add when making soup stock (to add collagen), but I just don’t see the point of attempting to “eat” them. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/79 "2026-07-03T19:24:54Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I’ve never tried beef tongue, but I have heard it’s delicious. In Soviet Russia, food tastes YOU! ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353/80 "2026-07-03T19:38:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I once got a chicken foot in a bowl of soup in Guatemala. My wife’s company had a Chinese New Year banquet with multiple courses. One of the courses was chunks of fried chicken. One of the (non-Chinese) people at our table grabbed a piece from the communal dish and I asked her “Are you sure you want the head?” Upon further examination, she noticed the beak and eye sockets beneath the batter and she decided to put it back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-gonna-eat-that-raw-aged-or-otherwise-extreme-foods-others-consider-gross/1031353.md?page=5)