What Are The Most Exotic Foods You've Tried?

[seoulsearch]

Hello Everyone!

I grew up in the middle of NoWheresVille, USA, where "exotic food" meant you opened a can of La Choy chop suey for dinner.

I've tried to expand my horizons over the years, though I'm not nearly as brave as some of the people I've been surrounded by. I have a relative who is willing to try anything, including an open-air market in another country that specialized in cutting off a piece of a live octopus (and they say you can literally feel it crawl down your throat as you ingest it. )

A long time ago, I was in a situation in which one of the delicacies offered was... a plate of mini-octopi (?) that were battered and fried... and I could see the "suction cups" right through the batter. As much as it pained me , I had to take a pass. I can't bring myself to try anything that I can readily recognize. Let's just say that I survived on rice. A LOT of rice.

Perhaps the most "exotic" thing I've ever tried was alligator tail--and that was just a bite stolen from a friend who was brave enough to order the entire dish. All I remember is that it was literally like chewing on a rubber band. If I would have actually ordered that as my meal, I'm pretty sure I would have been chewing well into the next week until I could actually digest it.

One of the things I wouldhope to do with a significant other is explore other cultures through food--whether we go to a specialty place, or try cooking it ourselves (maybe it would be best if I just offer to do dishes. )

What kinds of exotic foods have you tried, or would like to try?

One of the things I enjoy about the term "exotic" is that everyone will have their own definition of what it means... Which will make all of your answers even more interesting.

 

[Huglife]

Grass is an exotic food ^_^

 

[seoulsearch]

Grass is an exotic food ^_^

Lol, Hug.

I'm thinking, Well, it depends on what kind of grass...

But never mind.

I won't even go there!

 

[NoNameMcgee]

glutten free pizza?


uhhh tofu?



hmmmm

i mean

ive tried a lot

i worked in culinary for 7+ years

country clubs, fancy places a place with its own farm


i dont know what counts as exotic


like strange?

cause most foods we eat come from other lands


i could be like ohh chinese food

cause its so far

 

[Magenta]

Good morning Kim

I had turtle soup and goat stew while on Grand Cayman Island...

That's the most exotic place I have been, also

Though I really like East Indian food if it is not too spicy

Deep fried spicy rock salted squid is probably my favorite Asian food

 

[renewed_hope]

Would dragonfruit be considered exotic?, I tried some yesterday and loved it

 

[PrynceNY]

Well i love Shish kebabs, idk if that would labeled as "exotic" though lol. I've seen exotic food people eat in other countries and i must say it's pretty gross, lol.

 

[NoNameMcgee]

ohhhh ya know what

i refused to try blue cheese my whole life


and a girl named Angel (ironically) from a country club

was like " i made some whip cream from scratch wanna try it?"

i was like "nahhh i dont like whipped cream"

she gave me the puppy eyes like "pleeeaaase"

i was like "ooooh kayyyy"

i downed a whole shot of it in a ramequin

almost threw up

it was whipped blue cheese

and she was laughin at me so hard she was crying....

 

[seoulsearch]

glutten free pizza?


uhhh tofu?



hmmmm

i mean

ive tried a lot

i worked in culinary for 7+ years

country clubs, fancy places a place with its own farm


i dont know what counts as exotic


like strange?

cause most foods we eat come from other lands


i could be like ohh chinese food

cause its so far

This is a good question, Mr. Mcgee .

I guess I would define an "exotic food" as something you're not used to having very often or haven't had at all.

That's why I think it's such an interesting question--the answers are completely subjective, and there are no right or wrong answers.

For people on the other side of the world, "mac and cheese" might be considered "exotic."

Good morning Kim

I had turtle soup and goat stew while on Grand Cayman Island...

That's the most exotic place I have been, also

Though I really like East Indian food if it is not too spicy

Deep fried spicy rock salted squid is probably my favorite Asian food

View attachment 170260

Oh my goodness, Lady Magenta.

You are a whole lot braver than I am!!! What a cool adventure!

Turtle soup... I have to admit that I would be thinking of sea turtles the whole time and... I just couldn't.

It sounds like you had an amazing time! And I wish you many more.

 

[zeroturbulence]

When I was a kid we went to this smorgasbord (all-u-can-eat-buffet) called the Collegeville Inn in Pennsylvania and it was a really nice place, in fact it was still in business until just a few years ago. It was the sort of place you'd get dressed up for... Anyway, I saw a tray full of little fried chicken wings so I grabbed a bunch and ate them and they were good... And then I went back for more and noticed that the little label on the tray said "frog legs". I thought someone just put it there as a joke, but it wasn't a joke..

 

[Huglife]

I once saw pig feet at the grocery store. Toe nails and everything. I legit almost retched. You will never get me to go into the meat department at the store. Never.

 

[seoulsearch]

When I was a kid we went to this smorgasbord (all-u-can-eat-buffet) called the Collegeville Inn in Pennsylvania and it was a really nice place, in fact it was still in business until just a few years ago. It was the sort of place you'd get dressed up for... Anyway, I saw a tray full of little fried chicken wings so I grabbed a bunch and ate them and they were good... And then I went back for more and noticed that the little label on the tray said "frog legs". I thought someone just put it there as a joke, but it wasn't a joke..

I tried frog legs as a kid... and if I remember correctly... They REALLY DO taste like chicken.

I've also tried lamb but that was years ago. As I've gotten older, I've also discovered that I can't digest animals that I consider to be too cute, too familiar, or too domesticated.

My ex-husband grew up in a country where it was normal to cook and eat dogs (but he never tried it himself.)

I could never get myself to knowingly ingest a cat, dog, or rabbit.

 

[Jennie-Mae]

Crawfish from the nearest ditch is fairly exotic if you're not from certain places in a certain state squeezed in between Georgia and Mississippi.

 

[seoulsearch]

I once saw pig feet at the grocery store. Toe nails and everything. I legit almost retched. You will never get me to go into the meat department at the store. Never.

A long time ago, I was in a market in another country where men were carrying scores of slaughtered pigs on their backs.

So not only did you get a close-up of the feet and hooves... but also the heads... ears... and everything else.

But of course, in that culture, it was normal. They wouldn't have considered it exotic at all... It was just... dinner.

 

[seoulsearch]

Crawfish from the nearest ditch is fairly exotic if you're not from certain places in a certain state squeezed in between Georgia and Mississippi.

I've always been curious...

Do they taste like shrimp?

Or fish...

 

[Jennie-Mae]

I've always been curious...

Do they taste like shrimp?

Or fish...

I don't think they taste like shrimp. They taste like the sauce you're using lol.

 

[CallmeQ]

Exotic is a hard thing to define since it depends on region, culture, family etc.

For me a few some might consider exotic are: rattlesnake chili, sashimi and sushi, frog legs, dolmades, schnitzel.

 

[imfinallyfree]

Im from alaska so for me its SOP but many people think that fish eggs(not cavier),squid,octipus,fish head stew(one of my favorites),whale blubber(not my thing) are exotic.

Its all relative to the person.

 

[Jennie-Mae]

Exotic is a hard thing to define since it depends on region, culture, family etc.

For me a few some might consider exotic are: rattlesnake chili, sashimi and sushi, frog legs, dolmades, schnitzel.

How about Rattler Stew sprinkled with Diamond Back tail rings?

 

[CallmeQ]

How about Rattler Stew sprinkled with Diamond Back tail rings?

Never had it but sounds good to me. My freind takes trips to the south every year and brings back rattlesnake, wild boar, alligator and a few other things. I made the chili myself. The alligator i did a slow roast to try to cut through the toughness and greasiness.