For those living in poor regions or less developed countries, food choices may be influenced more by economics than taste preference. Additionally, some culinary preferences are based on peculiar cultural beliefs related to superior health and sexual prowess.
Whatever the reason, bizarre foods and bizarre food eating has been popularized by Andrew Zimmern’s documentary-styled travel and cuisine program called Bizarre Foods. Zimmern features cuisine from around the world perceived by American viewers as gross and bizarre.
Here is lists of the top 20 grossest foods. The first two listed are just plain high-tech culinary insanity:
20. Tuna Mayonnaise Doritos
Japan’s idea of taste novelty — corn chips with an odd blend of mayo and fish. Some say the chip odor is so offensive, they can’t eat them. So if you are bored of your old regular nacho cheese Doritos, this may be just for you.
19. Chocolate and Strawberry covered Cheetos
Cheetos dipped in chocolate or strawberry frosting. Another favorite in Japan.
Just the thought is nauseating; sickening. Fake cheddar cheese covered in chocolate? Even worse, covered in strawberry flavors? I have no idea who would eat this and I do not care to find out.
18. Cow Brains
Beef brains or calf brains are used in the cuisines of France, Italy, El Salvador, Columbia, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, and the United States. Cow brains are usually flavored with sauces or baked somewhat like a quiche. We’ve heard they are delicious.
17. Chocolate Covered Crickets
Considered an exotic snack, crickets are oven roasted, covered with chocolate and then individually wrapped. Turns out crickets are low in calories and have tons of protein and iron. Ants and meal worms are also available although I’m not too sure about their nutritional content. Entomophagy is just not for me.
16. Pig Intestines
The viscera intestines of a pig are most commonly referred to chitterlings in the U.S. Chitterlings are also popular in most parts of Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, where dishes such as Mondongo are prepared.
15. Bee Larvae
Bee Larvae and partially formed baby bees which are very popular in Thailand. The larvae are eaten raw or deep fried and seasoned. Some wrap pieces of the bees nest in banana leaves and roast them. Bee larvae are also popular in China and Japan. There are some problems with the bee population so I’ll be staying away from those.
14. Sea squirts
A barrel-shaped animal with a thick covering, the sea squirt is a marine invertebrate that preys on plankton. Eaten in Japan, Korea, Chile, Europe, and parts of Aboriginal Australia. Traditionally eaten raw, over rice, or in heavily spiced stews.
13. Balut
A balut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a nearly-developed embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Popular in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Balut are most often eaten with salt, lemon juice, and ground pepper.
12. Head Cheese
Made by skinning the head of a sheep, pig or cow and removing all organs; the head is boiled in water and allowed to cool. The entire mixture congeals into a solidified gelatin that is sliced and served.
11. Offal
Offal refers to the entrails and internal organs of a butchered animal and include the scrotum, brain, feet, heart, head, kidney, liver, lung, testicles, tongue, snout, reticulum, and maws.
10. Blood Pudding
Popular in Europe, Asia and other regions. Blood Pudding is made with animal blood, sausage, grains, or potatoes and made into a meat patty. Served with eggs, bacon, tomatoes, and toast. In Taiwan, blood pudding is made from rice cooked in pork blood and covered with peanuts and cilantro.
9. Frog Sashimi
Live frog served while its heart is still beating. The rest of the frog is sliced up on a plate and served as uncooked frog flesh. Big surprise, this dish is quite popular in Japan. I’ll stick to cooked frog.
8. Lutefisk
Lutefisk is made from cod prepared in a solution of lye — sodium or potassium hydroxide. The fish swells into a jelly-like consistency and is then soaked in water for several days before cooked. Popular in Norway.
7. Fried Spiders
Fried Spiders and insects are considered delicacies throughout South-East Asia and Cambodia; in Cambodia, women carry large trays full of fried Skuon Spiders. Some say Cambodians began eating spiders during the Khmer Rouge when the population was starving.
6. Fried Rats
These are eaten deep fried and seasoned in Vietnam and Thailand. It reminds us of the Cuy (Guine Pig) eaten in Peru.Think we’ll leave ours at the NYC subway.
5. Turtle Flesh
A live turtle is prepared with seasonings and herbs then boiled alive and allowed to soak in a pan of water before its served.
4. Snake Blood
Snake blood is prepared by cutting off the snake’s head and allowing the blood to drain into a glass. The bile is also added. Snake blood is believed to enhance male potency and served in Taiwan.
3. Escamoles
Escamoles are the eggs of the giant black venomous Liometopum ant, which live in the roots of maguey and agave plants. Eaten in tacos with guacamole, escamoles have a cottage cheese like consistency are considered a delicacy in Mexico.
2. Baby Mice Wine
Baby mice wine is a traditional Chinese and Korean beverage. Baby mice wine is brewed by drowning live baby mice in rice moonshine and allowing them to ferment in the bottle for a year.
The wine is believed to be a panacea.
1. Monkey Brains
Popular in southern China, some restaurants have specially designed tables to allow monkeys to be restrained and their skulls opened. The money brains are eaten while the monkey still alive.
For photos of the foods? Go to : http://blog.friendseat.com/gross-food/
Whatever the reason, bizarre foods and bizarre food eating has been popularized by Andrew Zimmern’s documentary-styled travel and cuisine program called Bizarre Foods. Zimmern features cuisine from around the world perceived by American viewers as gross and bizarre.
Here is lists of the top 20 grossest foods. The first two listed are just plain high-tech culinary insanity:
20. Tuna Mayonnaise Doritos
Japan’s idea of taste novelty — corn chips with an odd blend of mayo and fish. Some say the chip odor is so offensive, they can’t eat them. So if you are bored of your old regular nacho cheese Doritos, this may be just for you.
19. Chocolate and Strawberry covered Cheetos
Cheetos dipped in chocolate or strawberry frosting. Another favorite in Japan.
Just the thought is nauseating; sickening. Fake cheddar cheese covered in chocolate? Even worse, covered in strawberry flavors? I have no idea who would eat this and I do not care to find out.
18. Cow Brains
Beef brains or calf brains are used in the cuisines of France, Italy, El Salvador, Columbia, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, and the United States. Cow brains are usually flavored with sauces or baked somewhat like a quiche. We’ve heard they are delicious.
17. Chocolate Covered Crickets
Considered an exotic snack, crickets are oven roasted, covered with chocolate and then individually wrapped. Turns out crickets are low in calories and have tons of protein and iron. Ants and meal worms are also available although I’m not too sure about their nutritional content. Entomophagy is just not for me.
16. Pig Intestines
The viscera intestines of a pig are most commonly referred to chitterlings in the U.S. Chitterlings are also popular in most parts of Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, where dishes such as Mondongo are prepared.
15. Bee Larvae
Bee Larvae and partially formed baby bees which are very popular in Thailand. The larvae are eaten raw or deep fried and seasoned. Some wrap pieces of the bees nest in banana leaves and roast them. Bee larvae are also popular in China and Japan. There are some problems with the bee population so I’ll be staying away from those.
14. Sea squirts
A barrel-shaped animal with a thick covering, the sea squirt is a marine invertebrate that preys on plankton. Eaten in Japan, Korea, Chile, Europe, and parts of Aboriginal Australia. Traditionally eaten raw, over rice, or in heavily spiced stews.
13. Balut
A balut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg with a nearly-developed embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Popular in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Balut are most often eaten with salt, lemon juice, and ground pepper.
12. Head Cheese
Made by skinning the head of a sheep, pig or cow and removing all organs; the head is boiled in water and allowed to cool. The entire mixture congeals into a solidified gelatin that is sliced and served.
11. Offal
Offal refers to the entrails and internal organs of a butchered animal and include the scrotum, brain, feet, heart, head, kidney, liver, lung, testicles, tongue, snout, reticulum, and maws.
10. Blood Pudding
Popular in Europe, Asia and other regions. Blood Pudding is made with animal blood, sausage, grains, or potatoes and made into a meat patty. Served with eggs, bacon, tomatoes, and toast. In Taiwan, blood pudding is made from rice cooked in pork blood and covered with peanuts and cilantro.
9. Frog Sashimi
Live frog served while its heart is still beating. The rest of the frog is sliced up on a plate and served as uncooked frog flesh. Big surprise, this dish is quite popular in Japan. I’ll stick to cooked frog.
8. Lutefisk
Lutefisk is made from cod prepared in a solution of lye — sodium or potassium hydroxide. The fish swells into a jelly-like consistency and is then soaked in water for several days before cooked. Popular in Norway.
7. Fried Spiders
Fried Spiders and insects are considered delicacies throughout South-East Asia and Cambodia; in Cambodia, women carry large trays full of fried Skuon Spiders. Some say Cambodians began eating spiders during the Khmer Rouge when the population was starving.
6. Fried Rats
These are eaten deep fried and seasoned in Vietnam and Thailand. It reminds us of the Cuy (Guine Pig) eaten in Peru.Think we’ll leave ours at the NYC subway.
5. Turtle Flesh
A live turtle is prepared with seasonings and herbs then boiled alive and allowed to soak in a pan of water before its served.
4. Snake Blood
Snake blood is prepared by cutting off the snake’s head and allowing the blood to drain into a glass. The bile is also added. Snake blood is believed to enhance male potency and served in Taiwan.
3. Escamoles
Escamoles are the eggs of the giant black venomous Liometopum ant, which live in the roots of maguey and agave plants. Eaten in tacos with guacamole, escamoles have a cottage cheese like consistency are considered a delicacy in Mexico.
2. Baby Mice Wine
Baby mice wine is a traditional Chinese and Korean beverage. Baby mice wine is brewed by drowning live baby mice in rice moonshine and allowing them to ferment in the bottle for a year.
The wine is believed to be a panacea.
1. Monkey Brains
Popular in southern China, some restaurants have specially designed tables to allow monkeys to be restrained and their skulls opened. The money brains are eaten while the monkey still alive.
For photos of the foods? Go to : http://blog.friendseat.com/gross-food/
