Because This Is Easier than a Real Blog Post

First, I wanted to give my endless gratitude for all those who came and took a turn slaving on the Great Wall. It's now mostly finished, with just capstones and one tricky corner left to tackle. Most of the bricks are out of the neighbors' yard, and though the house is still a catastrophe, at least there isn't an insurmountable project hanging over us. So many, many thanks to Holly and Joseph, to Herr Eldevik, to Ben and Debbie, to Gimli and Frodo, and to my old man for helping out in various and highly needed ways.

Now, on to the easy bit:


From the blog, Very Good Taste

Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.


My results:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (Well, actually, alligator, but I consider another large, water-borne reptile close enough)
6. Black pudding (Ah, British cuisine... Bring it on.)
7. Cheese fondue (Is there anyone born in '70s America who hasn't had this?)
8. Carp
9. Borscht (Not quite stroganoff, but still good stuff.)
10. Baba ghanoush (I'm kind of shocked I haven't had this yet.)
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi (I might have had this at one of my visits to Indian restaurants in England, but if I can't remember for certain, I won't claim it. Sounds yummy.)
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses (Man—why haven't I had this yet?)
17. Black truffle (I wish.)
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns (Huzzah for dim sum!)
20. Pistachio ice cream (But why pistachio? Is it magic or something?)
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries (Stealing blackberries from the neighbor's yard is fun.)
23. Foie gras (A bit cruel, but what can you do?)
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (Can't say I'm all eager, but I'd give it a shot.)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (Wowsers!)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (Actually haven't had these; again, I'm not going to run out and find them [especially after watching Mr. Bean eat them], but I'd try them out.)
29. Baklava (Oh, mama.)
30. Bagna cauda (Sounds yum.)
31. Wasabi peas (Though I can't imagine eating one again.)
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (Yes!)
33. Salted lassi (Sounds weird, but okay.)
34. Sauerkraut (I don't generally eat it unless threatened, however.)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (Sadly, not at the same time. Have to rectify that.)
37. Clotted cream tea (Oh, man. Don't get me started on clotted cream.)
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O (Never did a shooter. Can't quite see the point, since drunkenness is not my aim.)
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail (Do yourself a favor: eat this.)
41. Curried goat (Smelled it every day coming out of our apartment in Toronto, but never actually got around to eating it.)
42. Whole insects (On purpose? If pressed, I suppose.)
43. Phaal (Holy moly. Well, okay.)
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more (Not as of yet, but I'd sign on.)
46. Fugu (More of a legend than a dish; there's no way I'd ever afford this, but if someone I knew and trusted gave me some, okay.)
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel (They used to raise these by the ton in the canals of Edinburgh, so how could I say no?)
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut (Waaay too sweet, but I've eaten them, yes.)
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi (Gah. Our Japanese exchange student had us try these, and laughed his head off at our reactions. If you like squishy, slimy balls of salt, knock yourself out.)
53. Abalone (Ah, but they weren't illegal when I was a boy. Not bad.)
54. Paneer (If it's cheese, please put it into my mouth.)
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal (Sadly, yes. Many a time.)
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (Never done the martini thing. Gin and tonic works wonders, though, save that it puts me to sleep almost instantly.)
58. Beer above 8% ABV (I'd try it, but I'm no fan of beer.)
59. Poutine (Sounds like we're making a road trip now.)
60. Carob chips (Not sure why you'd want to, but yes.)
61. S’mores (Too sweet and messy. I eat the components separately, usually.)
62. Sweetbreads (Meh. Why not? Might take some mental gymnastics, but I'd put it in my mouth.)
63. Kaolin (This the one I came closest to crossing off. Just... Why? If you are not poor and mineral deficient or pregnant, then why?)
64. Currywurst
65. Durian (Heard of this one—Guess I'd have to smell it to know for sure.)
66. Frogs’ legs (I'm pretty positive we had these in the South somewhere; if not, I'm still in.)
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (Yes, please.)
68. Haggis (So want to try this, and so jealous of all the Burns Dinner folks. Joanna wasn't quite up to it, though.)
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette (Sir, I'll have you know that chitterlings kept my family alive during the War!)
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (Not at the same time, though. Blini, yes—always. Caviar, only in tiny bits—in the immortal words of Scott Nelson, "It's like licking a pier.")
73. Louche absinthe (After watching Moulin Rouge, who wouldn't want to try this? Wee little Kylie Minogue fairy, here I come!)
74. Gjetost, or brunost (Cheese, so yes, please.)
75. Roadkill (Not yet, but kill a deer with a bullet or a bumper—it's all good.)
76. Baijiu (Don't see why not.)
77. Hostess Fruit Pie (I sometimes suffer cravings that can only be satisfied by a Fruit Pie the Magician apple infusion.)
78. Snail (Eating escargot is like eating a sponge full of garlic butter.)
79. Lapsang souchong (Sounds excellent.)
80. Bellini (The Italian physicist? Oh, the drink. Well, sure.)
81. Tom yum (Getting past the prawn head would be the challenge, yes.)
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky (Heard of it, even seen it, but never had any of it.)
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant (I wish.)
85. Kobe beef (Again, I wish.)
86. Hare (Not yet. Rabbit's fine, but I hear this is a different beast entirely. Never got over to Wales for the rarebit.)
87. Goulash (Oh, yes.)
88. Flowers (Candied orchids at my Elizabethan murder party. Tasty, if a bit chewy. Also, we used to eat the vinka flowers from the garden.)
89. Horse (Garrett swears up and down that this is fantastic; I'd give it a try.)
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (Are you kidding, Marilyn? A little fried Spam is heaven for breakfast. Or a lot of fried Spam. Spam eggs Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam and Spam for me!)
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa (More willing to try this as my taste for hot things grows.)
94. Catfish (Not my favorite.)
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox (Once. Not again, save under duress.)
97. Lobster Thermidor (Oh, I wish.)
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (Any coffee is good coffee.)
100. Snake (Rattlesnake is fine.)