Bucket List Foods


Are you an adventurous eater or the "stick to what you know" type?  

I grew up in a 'gourmet' family myself, where each of us would cook a meal and see who could outdo the other with wow factor and delectable flavor.  We had several favorite meals that we would team up for and each take a part in and also specialties that dad or sibling number two or three were especially known for.  

We were definitely a family that would try anything once.  I mean anything.  We've had everything including chocolate covered grasshoppers.  I remember our family being invited to dinner at a fellow workmate of my dad's house and they served Liver Pate on these fancy little dishes.  My whole family except for my mom, who savors a plate of liver and onions, were dreading the moment when we had to touch this delicacy to our lips.  Being the gracious guests that we were, we were determined not to let on that liver was not on our list of welcomed foods.  Then, low and behold, all but the youngest, were pleasantly surprised with the new taste sensation.  Really, I'm not kidding.  We even had a little scuff as to who would get to eat my little brothers uneaten portion.  (We we also a very frugal family and didn't throw ANYTHING away.)  
Just a few "different" foods
Now this list below has a lot of old favorites but is also full of things I never heard of, at least not by that name - but each of them are on my "to try" list.  Some of the dishes sound like it would involve a little world travel to even find such a thing.  Anyway, it was fun seeing how many I knew of and had tasted so test your eating habits and see how adventurous you are and let us know if any of these favorites are on your bucket list in the comments.

Just for kicks I've highlighted all the items I've tried in this list of 100 foods to try before you die.

1. Abalone-a seafood shellfish that also provides us with 'mother of pearl' jewelry
2. Absinthe-an anise flavored spirit beverage
3. Alligator- (tough and chewy but tasted okay)
4. Baba Ghanoush- always wanted to try but didn't ever have the chance
5. Bagel & Lox- what self respecting NuYawker has had it?
6. Baklava-sweet Greek pastries
7. BBQ Ribs-this is a given
8. Bellini-??
9. Birds Nest Soup-an edible birds nest is made into an Oriental broth
10. Biscuits & Gravy-hasn't everyone had these?
11. Black Pudding-??
12. Black Truffle
13. Borscht-beet soup, eaten cool-not my favorite
14. Calamari, seafood with tentacles, squid
15. Carp-goldfish
16. Caviar-fish eggs, come in red or black and very salty-good on fancy crackers
17. Cheese Fondue-warmed cheese to dip bread cubes or other items in
18. Chicken & Waffles-can't believe I've never had this combo
19. Chicken Tikka Marsala-not sure
20. Chile Relleno - love,love,love
21. Chitlins-pig intestines, not tried although I have tried cow intestines and stomach lining
22. Churros- Mexican long pastries
23. Clam Chowder- had the red Manhattan and the white new England style
24. Cognac- liquor
25. Crab Cakes-yum
26. Crickets
27. Currywurst
28. Dandelion Wine
29. Dulce De Leche
30. Durian - ???
31. Eel
32. Eggs Benedict
33. Fish Tacos
34. Foie Gras- duck or goose liver
35. Fresh Spring Rolls- oriental
36. Fried Catfish- Straight from the Creek
37. Fried Green Tomatoes-tangy and delicious
38. Fried Plantain-with butter and caramelized sugar
39. Frito Pie
40. Frogs' Legs-they really do taste like chicken
41. Fugu
42. Funnel Cake -at every festival in Texas
43. Gazpacho-just can't like the idea of a cold soup
44. Goat-Cabrito, makes a great combo with pintos and maize
45. Goat's Milk
46. Goulash-several varieties
47. Gumbo-only dish I like okra in
48. Haggis -????
49. Head Cheese-disgusting
50. Heirloom Tomatoes-not for a long time
51. Honeycomb
52. Hostess Fruit Pie- used to be a lunch staple in grammar school
53. Huevos Rancheros-once a week
54. Jerk Chicken
55. Kangaroo
56. Key Lime Pie
57. Kobe Beef- too expensive
58. Lassi- Is this the dog?
59. Lobster-makes my mouth water to think of it
60. Mimosa -champagne with citrus juice
61. Moon Pie
62. Morel Mushrooms-always wanted to try these, never see them
63. Nettle Tea
64. Octopus-a little leathery and the tentacles feel weird in your mouth
65. Oxtail Soup-Dad's favorite
66. Paella-spanish seafood stew
67. Paneer
68. Pastrami on Rye
69. Pavlova
70. Phaal
71. Philly Cheese Steak
72. Pho-pronounced Fa with a soft A, oriental soup
73. Pineapple & Cottage Cheese
74. Pistachio Ice Cream
75. Po' Boy
76. Pocky
77. Polenta-cornmeal usually formed into a patty shape
78. Prickly Pear-cactus fruit, minus the stickers
79. Rabbit Stew
80. Raw Oysters best with a little Tabasco on the side
81. Root Beer Float
82. S'mores-I operate a campground, need I say more?
83. Sauerkraut-the juice is the best part, I could drink a glass full
84. Sea Urchin-hmm, unusual
85. Shark-pink fish steak
86. Snail, they're okay but it's mostly the delicious garlic butter that i taste
87. Snake-of the rattle sort is what I've tried, a little leathery
88. Soft Shell Crab, along with lobster, my favorite fruit of the sea
89. Som Tam-???
90. Spaetzle- little tiny dumplings
91. Spam- yuck, although it's not too bad fried with and egg
92. Squirrel- in a stew they're good
93. Steak Tartare- raw, very lean ground beef, mixed with scallions salt and pepper
94. Sweet Potato Fries-a la Paula Dean
95. Sweetbreads-glands of a calf or lamb, pancreas, thymus, etc.
96. Tom Yum ??
97. Umeboshi  ??
98. Venison- not my favorite but my hubby makes a wicked chicken fried steak with it
99. Wasabi Peas-crunchy peas with wasabi, a salty flavoring on them
100. Zucchini Flowers- delicious and tender, great sauteed or raw 

Now it's your turn.  Have you tried any of these unusual foods or think there's something that needs to be added to this list?  Let us know in the comments.

2 comments:

  1. Though I've tried most of the things you have tried, I have also eaten this as well........
    Ostrich-Tastes just like the best cut of beef you ever had
    Cougar
    Bear
    Horse
    Kagogi- Korean Dog
    Kangaroo
    Shark
    Swordfish
    Yellow tail
    Deep Fried Oysters, Clams, Mussels
    Squid-Korean Ojingo Bokum (hot spicy squid with vegetables), and Dried Seasoned Squid (we call it Korean Beef Jerky)
    Octopus
    Sea Urchin
    Eel- Unagi
    Ahi-tuna
    Mahi Mahi- Dolphin (not the intelligent one, the fish one)
    Hawthorn Syrup-make this
    Rowen Syrup- make this too (Berries from the Rowen tree called Mountain Ash in the US)
    Earthworms
    Ants
    Crickets
    Sushi-most any raw fish and fish roe
    BBQ Rabbit (tastes just like chicken, only better)
    Caviar- one of my favorites
    Curry Wurst
    Lamb Vindaloo-made with curry
    Puffballs-a type of fungus that looks like a huge ball
    Pocky- Chocolate, Strawberry, Green Tea
    Matcha Ice Cream (Japanese Green Tea Powder)
    Korean Plum Wine
    Sake
    Jager Meister- tastes like Vicks Formula 44 (litterally)
    Abalone
    Duck
    Goose
    Blood Sausage- (Blutwurst, black pudding)
    Bread pudding
    Spaetzle-(means little sparrows) a small egg noodle/dumpling (I make these and make a venison stroganoff)
    WASABI!!!! On sushi or fried peas
    Kimchi- (I make this too)
    Kombucha-drink this
    Kefir
    Chia Pudding
    DE-Diatomaceous Earth (every day)
    Gizzards-Fried of course
    Liver and Onions-(rarely)My dad loved this dish and my mom would cook this for him a lot, I liked the gravy the best.
    Spam and Egg sandwhiches (a camping favorite for my family), Spam and Spaghetti-O's, Grilled Spam and Cheese sandwhiches (bacon flavored is best) Spamity Spam Wonderful Spam...........Bloody Vikings.









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    Replies
    1. Thanks for adding to the list, Gerda. Many of those I've tried but many will be added to my personal bucket list of foods. Diatomaceous earth?? You can eat that? I use it in my garden! It's sharp, minute edges cut the mouths of garden bugs (I think). How would you prepare it? Would love to try ostrich but have never seen it. You'd have to trick me into eating dog but it may be okay. What's in chia pudding? Some great additions.

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