strange or exotic food?
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omg, i've always wanted to try ostrich eggs - mainly because they so huge! haha...
some of things that i've had include:
1) whale
2) armadillo
3) bear (i know...sad)
4) raw horse
5) crickets
6) bee larvae
7) stingray
8) raw chicken
9) and yeah...i've had dog
i know what some of you are thinking...ewwwwww. but, actually, everything was great except the bees (they were a little too mushy!)
has anyone tried rat? i saw it in vietnam but just couldn't do it!
some of things that i've had include:
1) whale
2) armadillo
3) bear (i know...sad)
4) raw horse
5) crickets
6) bee larvae
7) stingray
8) raw chicken
9) and yeah...i've had dog
i know what some of you are thinking...ewwwwww. but, actually, everything was great except the bees (they were a little too mushy!)
has anyone tried rat? i saw it in vietnam but just couldn't do it!
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In all my time in VN I still haven't tried the rat. Keep in mind it's country rat not the city variety. I've passed on the cat, but I have had dog. Also had bat once up in Da Nang. When were you here? Where in VN did you go? Any impressions?
hey philsaigon,
yeah, i only saw rat on the menu in the Can Tho and at a nightmarket in southern China (forgot about that). but, vietnam was a really interesting place and i had a great time. i visited a lot of places there including: Can Tho, Saigon, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi An, Cat Ba Island/Halong Bay, Hanoi. i would've like to visit Sapa, but no time! anyway, i was there just this past summer for a couple of months and it was clearly the hottest place that i'd ever been!
honestly, my favorite places were Saigon and Nha Trang - mostly because the food was sooooo good in both places and we got scammed significantly less! but Dalat provided a much appreciated break from the heat and it's really cute. overall, i enjoyed my time in vietnam. i miss "trying" to drive a motorbike around Saigon! frightening and liberating at the same time!
yeah, i only saw rat on the menu in the Can Tho and at a nightmarket in southern China (forgot about that). but, vietnam was a really interesting place and i had a great time. i visited a lot of places there including: Can Tho, Saigon, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi An, Cat Ba Island/Halong Bay, Hanoi. i would've like to visit Sapa, but no time! anyway, i was there just this past summer for a couple of months and it was clearly the hottest place that i'd ever been!
honestly, my favorite places were Saigon and Nha Trang - mostly because the food was sooooo good in both places and we got scammed significantly less! but Dalat provided a much appreciated break from the heat and it's really cute. overall, i enjoyed my time in vietnam. i miss "trying" to drive a motorbike around Saigon! frightening and liberating at the same time!
Maybe it makes me an "ignorant American" or whatever, but I was always under the impression that modern Asia had sort of advanced beyond eating household pets and vermin, except in remote villages and the like (of course, I'm assuming, cats and dogs aren't pets there). Sort of like eating some of the more, "out there", meats in America (like squirrel, raccoon, etc) are still seen in some areas, but not on menus in restaurants. At least, that's the way it was explained to me when I worked for an engineering firm that had many Asian employees.
Yes, people eat emu. It's not that common or widespread, but it's actually a very lean form of red meat alternative, I guess you could say. There are people who raise emus for money, b/c their meat can be sold, and a lot of products are made from emu oil, and I think even something to do with the feathers.
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Hey, didn't the "what have you eaten" thing just get talked about, like 3 weeks ago?
Yes, people eat emu. It's not that common or widespread, but it's actually a very lean form of red meat alternative, I guess you could say. There are people who raise emus for money, b/c their meat can be sold, and a lot of products are made from emu oil, and I think even something to do with the feathers.
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Hey, didn't the "what have you eaten" thing just get talked about, like 3 weeks ago?
Maybe it makes me an "ignorant American" or whatever, but I was always under the impression that modern Asia had sort of advanced beyond eating household pets and vermin, except in remote villages and the like (of course, I'm assuming, cats and dogs aren't pets there). Sort of like eating some of the more, "out there", meats in America (like squirrel, raccoon, etc) are still seen in some areas, but not on menus in restaurants. At least, that's the way it was explained to me when I worked for an engineering firm that had many Asian employees.
You're right. These animals are not eaten as a staple. The usual fare is pretty normal rice, noodles, pork... Eating dog is a male thing and the men here believe it promotes male virility and bravado. It's a special occasion kind of food. It's much more common in the north of VN (Hanoi), as I believe they got it from the Chinese. The one time I did eat dog, it was in a remote village, but there are many specialty restaurants here in the city that offer it. Unfortunately, it is also common to hang the dogs up and beat them to death with sticks, (in order to make the meat more tender?). These dogs are raised for the purpose of consumption, they are not peoples kidknapped pets
. More and more, people DO keep pets here. As for rat - large field mice is probably a more accurate term, and this is eaten in the countryside probably due both to tradition and also it's cheap and available. The other crazy foods like cat, raccoon, bat etc are eaten here in the city and totally for shock value by drunken idiots as amusement after a long day at the office. There are quite a few beer/food places that have strange animals locked up in cages that you see when you walk in and they are all available to eat. It's pretty stupid imo.
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I hear Chillen eats live babies
yeah, well i know a lot of people, whether they are asians or asian americans or not asian in any way who look down on people who eat dog or cat or whatever. but, in china, it's just out and about on the streets in some cities. those people clearly don't have a problem with it and it's not reserved for any particular segment of society. but, for others who are more westernized or who don't (or no longer) live in areas where it's eaten, it's can sometimes be a sort of a status thing -- like "only low class people eat dog" (which can also be translated as poor or rural). at least, that's what i get told over and over again...(this is just from my own experience with this topic)
but, the few times that i had dog were actually when i was a child and i had it in the US. i don't know if it matters at all, but i'm half asian and even within that culture, there is dispute about whether it's actually still eaten or not...
i'm not saying that all asians eat dog or cat but at the same time, i don't attach the same emotional sentiment to the whole thing. i also eat cows, pigs, lambs etc.
the time that i do get emotional is rat -- i just couldn't do it!!!
but, the few times that i had dog were actually when i was a child and i had it in the US. i don't know if it matters at all, but i'm half asian and even within that culture, there is dispute about whether it's actually still eaten or not...
i'm not saying that all asians eat dog or cat but at the same time, i don't attach the same emotional sentiment to the whole thing. i also eat cows, pigs, lambs etc.
the time that i do get emotional is rat -- i just couldn't do it!!!
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So you go in, and pick out your bat/cat/raccoon for dinner, sort of like choosing your lobster or something. Well, at least it's fresh.
I always think that's interesting what is considered more normal in some places and absolutely crazy in others.
I love love love crawfish (I believe it's technically crayfish). Anyway, we have "crawfish boils" down here - all day party events with HUGE pots over propane burners where we boil them with tons of really really spicy seasonings, and usually throw in some red potatoes and small corn cobs for "sides", and drink lots and lots of beer. We had one at my house last April with people from my dh's work - we cooked around, I believe, 350 pounds.
One guy that works there transferred from California. He had no idea that people ate those, didn't know at all what gumbo or boudain was either. I knew that it was regional cuisine for the most part, but I didn't know that some people had never even heard of it.
I always think that's interesting what is considered more normal in some places and absolutely crazy in others.
I love love love crawfish (I believe it's technically crayfish). Anyway, we have "crawfish boils" down here - all day party events with HUGE pots over propane burners where we boil them with tons of really really spicy seasonings, and usually throw in some red potatoes and small corn cobs for "sides", and drink lots and lots of beer. We had one at my house last April with people from my dh's work - we cooked around, I believe, 350 pounds.
One guy that works there transferred from California. He had no idea that people ate those, didn't know at all what gumbo or boudain was either.
I knew that it was regional cuisine for the most part, but I didn't know that some people had never even heard of it.
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Nothing too weird:
Frog
Snails (escargot)
Jellyfish
Goat
Now, I didn't know I was eating the jellyfish when I was eating it. It was mixed in with some kind of Japanese seaweed salad, and I found out there was jellyfish in it after I had already eaten it. It was a little strange.
A similar thing happened with the goat. I was at an Indian buffet, and all of the names of the dishes were in an Indian language with English in tiny subtitles. I scooped something that looked good on to my plate. When I was eating it, I thought it was really strong flavored lamb. Then, my dad went back up to the buffet and told me that what I had eaten was goat. I didn't really like it. It was a bit too strong for me.
Frog
Snails (escargot)
Jellyfish
Goat
Now, I didn't know I was eating the jellyfish when I was eating it. It was mixed in with some kind of Japanese seaweed salad, and I found out there was jellyfish in it after I had already eaten it. It was a little strange.
A similar thing happened with the goat. I was at an Indian buffet, and all of the names of the dishes were in an Indian language with English in tiny subtitles. I scooped something that looked good on to my plate. When I was eating it, I thought it was really strong flavored lamb. Then, my dad went back up to the buffet and told me that what I had eaten was goat. I didn't really like it. It was a bit too strong for me.
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One guy that works there transferred from California. He had no idea that people ate those, didn't know at all what gumbo or boudain was either.
Well, this is definitely not a reflection of all Californians. You can find Cajun food at just about any big event in which caterers sell food. It very popular, and very liked in these parts. I actually play guitar in a restaurant that serves only Cajun ad southern food. I always get the gumbo. That guy must have been living under a rock his whole life if he didn't know what gumbo was.
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i love jellyfish. it's one of my favorite things when i have chinese. i haven't had it in japanese food. i love the texture! yummers. haha...
anyway, i totally echo spicypumpkin's last comment. (i'm also from california). in fact, my boyfriend used to fish for crayfish in the bay area and tahoe and then eat them...of course.
anyway, i totally echo spicypumpkin's last comment. (i'm also from california). in fact, my boyfriend used to fish for crayfish in the bay area and tahoe and then eat them...of course.
hey philsaigon,
but, vietnam was a really interesting place and i had a great time. i visited a lot of places there including: Can Tho, Saigon, Dalat, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi An, Cat Ba Island/Halong Bay, Hanoi. i would've like to visit Sapa, but no time! anyway, i was there just this past summer for a couple of months and it was clearly the hottest place that i'd ever been!
honestly, my favorite places were Saigon and Nha Trang - mostly because the food was sooooo good in both places and we got scammed significantly less! but Dalat provided a much appreciated break from the heat and it's really cute. overall, i enjoyed my time in vietnam. i miss "trying" to drive a motorbike around Saigon! frightening and liberating at the same time!
Sounds like a good trip and all the good places. Sapa and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. SG and NT are my fav places too. Good work on riding the motorbike...believe it or not it does become second nature. By liberating you mean the fact that 'rules of the road' don't exist? :yelrotflmao: Too bad I didn't know you then, I could have showed you some hidden gems...
I agree with you
One guy that works there transferred from California. He had no idea that people ate those, didn't know at all what gumbo or boudain was either.
I'm a yankee (Chicago), but I know what Gumbo is. boudain though?
oh yeah, and i forgot to mention that dogs and cats are also pets in Asia, even in places where dog is eaten.
yeah, that's exactly what i meant by liberating! haha...but darn, i really wish i knew you too because it was a bit tough finding hidden gems. but, as time went on, we did start to release ourselves from the guidebooks and ended up finding some amazing local spots. getting on the motorbike helped with that a lot too because we could explore the outskirts of the smaller cities and get away from the tourist hubs. gosh...i'm starving right now just thinking about the food over there!
(btw, did you say you are moving to japan soon? where?)
philsaigon;227367 I'm a yankee (Chicago) said:boudain[/B] though?
It's a rice dressing/dirty rice type of stuff. It's in a casing (like sausage) and made with rice, seasonings, and pork/liver, and can be spicy, depending.
I'm curious as to how the gumbo in California is made. What's in it, and how is the roux done?