Foods; List the unusual things you've tried

[contender]

We went to dinner last night with some friends to a wonderful restaurant. This place serves a lot of wild game. Ostrich, New Zealand stag, kangaroo, venison, bison, antelope, elk, quail, duck, to name much of it.
Our dinner conversation drifted around to the odd or unusual foods out there. Not the variations of such stuff as BBQ,, but truly different foods.

We got to discussing "mountain oysters" and I was trying to remember the name of a similar dish,, but from goat or sheep. I could not remember the name of it.

So, I figured I could throw out the question here,, AND,, have folks post stuff they have tried that were truly ODD, or UNUSUAL & not normally served foods.

Let the fun begin!

 

[hittman]

Some of these aren’t unusual to me but may be to others.

Kiwi - the bird not the plant
Bison
Squirrel
Racoon
Calamari
Pickled pigs feet
Pig ears
Beef brain and tongue
Liver cheese
Mountain oysters

 

[nekvermont]

We used to catch fresh water eels and eat them.
Raccoons are good.
There was always a big jar of pickled lamb tongues at a little hole in the wall bar I used to go to when I was a lot younger. We had a lot of fun with those. Don't like them as much anymore.
Frog legs.

 

[turd]

Most of these were years ago at wild game feeds, or friends gatherings:

• rocky mountain oysters
• bear
• rattlesnake
• raccoon
• alligator
• carp (smoked)

All the above were good, and no they don't taste like chicken. I've eaten bison quite a few times, different steaks, roast, and burgers. It is available locally in grocery stores and some local restaurants. Very good, but kinda pricey.

 

[375hh1973]

Dog
Raccoon
Possum
Muskrat

 

[Kevin]

In Bulgaria, brain and tongue used to be common dishes in restaurants. Not so much anymore. Lamb Tongue is very tender. Brain wasn’t my favorite at all.

I’ve also tried rattlesnake and squirrel. But those were many years ago. Not sure I’d eat them these days.

 

[hittman]

Kevin’s snake comment reminds me we used to catch an occasional eel on a line we ran in the Mississippi. So, add eel to mine too.

 

[Dan in MI]

Whatever was on the plate in China. 😯 Two that stand out. Fish jello. 🤮 A quail egg that was florescent green. (a superball wouldn’t be as chewey)

All but about two things listed above.

 

[eveled]

Saw these in a store and had to buy a jar. Anyone recognize them?

 

[nvbirdman]

Back in the seventies my friend actually found a small can of whale meat at the grocery store. Tasted like beef.

 

[Danjet500]

Spent two weeks in South Africa several years ago. I had crocodile meat, warthog stew and mopane worms.

 

[GypsmJim]

Years ago while working on a job in Texas, we had a Saturday off. We were invited to a rattlesnake roundup that afternoon, and a BBQ in the evening.

The food served was of course beef, but the appetizers were snake meat and mountain oysters.

I DID try them both, but only to be polite. Neither tasted like chicken, and in fact were downright nasty. I truly believe THEY don't like it either and its simply a rite of passage.

 

[sfhogman]

Rattlesnake
Ostrich
Squirrel

 

[RoninPA]

Well,
In Iceland, hotdogs made from sheep (lamb?)
Egypt, Sheeps eye balls - no taste, bad mouth feel (for me at least)
Egypt, camel meat - ahhhh, so so depends on who cooked it
Spain, calamari (squid) and octopus
China - didn't ask, just ate (some type of meat and it was good)
China, balut (fertilized developing egg embryo that is steamed and eaten from the shell) one - once and only ONCE
Mexico, roast baby goat (very good)
Colorado, Rocky Mountain Oysters (ehhh, different)

 

[cellar701]

Just a few additions:

Turkey fries - Midwest
Chicken feet - China
Quail hearts - China

All pretty interesting!

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Warthog is excellent, as is eland, kudu, and impala. Mopani worms weren't as bad as expected, especially texture-wise. Coon is palatable, I slow baked it in BBQ sauce. Ostrich was unimpressive, crocodile and alligator are good. I like venison heart a lot, and like to head or neck shoot my deer so I get a nice whole heart for eating. I love calf liver and onions, and like chicken livers with Loisiana hot sauce on them. Raw oysters, yes.

 

[Far North Collector]

Whale meat (muktuk) pickled northern spotted seal (ugeruk) smoked muskox (very good).....I had the life of traveling in Far North Alaska. the Alutht...inupuck...and Athabaskin hunt and fish the sea,s. I've been to a few of there hunting camps. its an eye opener...

 

[Robb Barnes]

Conch, capybara, opposum, lynx, cougar and sea turtle are about as off the road as I’ve gotten food wise.

 

[Bob Wright]

Round green peas.

Bob Wright

 

[wolfsong]

Not so much unusual but hard to come by these days - abalone.