Eat, Eat!
Wed., January 5, 10:19 AM
Yes, I’ve shamelessly stolen this list from Golfwidow.
According to the BBC, these are the fifty foods to eat before you die (the idea is to cross out the ones that you've eaten). GW adds, don’t cross off anything if you haven’t eaten it under the listed name. She also added personal comments, which is what tempts me to imitate.
Fresh fish
How fresh? I’ve only had freshly caught fish if someone else went fishing. But a good fish department can provide nice fish too. With lemon butter and fresh herbs, what’s to be bad?Lobster
We’re not supposed to eat it because it isn’t kosher, so I never had it till I was grown up (and making my own rules). Usually it’s not worth the time and trouble, or the cost, but I’ve been known to enjoy it if someone else is paying for it. Particularly if that someone else is more than a little “frugal.”Steak
I’ve always liked broiled beef, even the cheaper cuts. We went through about ten years when circumstances – money, small kids, Husband’s teeth – precluded steak. It was ground meat, chicken, the occasional turkey. That could be why two of my kids now enjoy steak so much. (Don’t ask about the vegetarian.)Thai cuisine
Good stuff. And I can’t imagine cooking it myself.Chinese Food
Can’t remember when I learned to love this. I do remember when I felt adventurous enough to try making it myself – simple chow mein to start with. And I think you may have noticed my mentioning Royal Palace.Ice cream
This is my absolute favorite comfort food. I’m sure it’s tied up with the fact that it was always supplied by my Dad, who sold ice cream to stores and restaurants for years.Pizza
The second most perfect food (after ice cream). There are so many variations that you can usually please everyone as well as include a fairly well balanced diet.Crab
I like crab but pretty much stopped ordering it because I’m usually served fake crab. But I’ll still order crabcakes.Curry
When my mother used curry, I hated it. (Maybe she didn’t have fresh spices.) But I’m very fond of Indian cuisine.Prawns
Uh, nomenclature? Aren’t they the same as shrimp? That’s probably my favorite seafood. Try it Chinese style, in garlic sauce.- Moreton Bay Bugs
I never heard of these; they could be something like shrimp. (In parts of the rural United States, shrimp are called bugs – “mighty good bugs.”) Clam chowder
I also like fish chowder, prepared New England-style (creamy, not tomato).Barbecue
I’m not an expert on this, but I like it. Preferably beef, because that’s how I grew up.Pancakes
I used to make very good pancakes – and waffles – not to mention blintzes. Haven’t had them in years, as they are not good for diabetics.Pasta
That’s what I call a great invention. What a great way to convey nutrition to the body (especially for those of us who don’t like cereal). I like it with red sauce – or alfredo sauce – or with oil and vinegar prima vera – or in macaroni salad, which is a real winner in our house.- Mussels
I know I must have eaten them – because I will try almost anything once – but they certainly didn’t appeal to me enough to eat them again! Cheesecake
Rule of thumb: a cheesecake is good if it’s worth getting sick over. (Dietetic cheesecake isn’t worth the trouble.) For sheer bliss, try pumpkin cheesecake.Lamb
When the kids were little – when there was no way I could afford lamb chops – ground lamb was a bargain, and it made a good stew for little mouths. Mentioning lamb stew – “little meatballs” – was a great way to get their attention. Nowadays, I buy one chop; Husband doesn’t eat them.- Cream tea
I don’t think so. I don’t like milk, although I like dairy products like sour cream and cheese. Why spoil a perfectly good tea? - Alligator
You have got to be kidding! I can’t imagine eating a carnivore. Oysters
Not on the half shell. But in a chowder…- Kangaroo
No, I don’t think so. I don’t eat bunnies, either. Chocolate
Are you sure this is a food and not a drug? It has great healing effects.Sandwiches
Are we limiting these to bread? If I put a spoonful of tuna salad between two lettuce leaves, that’s a sandwich too. How about some ice cream between two cookies?Greek food
Oh yes, I’m glad there are restaurants in the area owned by Greek families. They’ll describe their menu as “American,” but then you’ll find something like lemon chicken soup. If all mamas served spinokopita, you’d never hear a kid say “I don’t like spinach.”Burgers
Once again, it’s grilled beef, one of the world’s great flavors. We didn’t do a lot of fast food when the kids were very little, because it ran into money for five people. I still prefer home-grilled burgers. Thank you, George Foreman.Mexican food
You may have heard mention of a little place in West Haven called El Gallo. Tacos as good as I could make myself.Squid
Rubber bands in sauce?American diner breakfast
As far as I’m concerned, the best restaurants are the ones that will let me order breakfast for supper – eggs, breakfast meat, toast. No potatoes for me any more, although I may scrounge a few from someone else’s plate.Salmon
Fresh salmon, grilled. Canned salmon, as salad, with either vinegar and pepper or mayonnaise. Canned salmon baked. High protein, omega-threes. What could be bad?- Venison
See kangaroo. - Guinea pig
I don’t even like them as pets. - Shark
Never had the opportunity. Sushi
I’ve always liked it, but this past year, when I couldn’t eat raw food, I really craved it. (Perverse.) Chopsticks be damned, I usually eat it with my fingers.Paella
I wouldn’t turn it down, but it’s not exceptionally better than some other starch dish.- Barramundi
Since it’s fish, I’d probably try it, but they don’t have it around here.
A doctor once asked Mother her favorite food, and she said fish. “What kind?” he asked. “All kinds,” she replied. She was sure he was trying to find out her heritage. “Oh,” said my brother, “he asked the wrong question. It’s ‘what day?’” This joke may be obsolete; let me know if you don’t get it. - Reindeer
See Venison. Or Kangaroo. Kebab
That’s something broiled on a stick; it doesn’t have to be lamb. In California forty years ago I was served something they called a steak kabob, and I’ll have another, thank you.Scallops
They’re good breaded, and they’re great in soups and stews. (For example, hot and sour seafood soup.) I once breaded some scallops with matzo meal, because that was the only crumbs I had; unorthodox – in more than one sense of the word – but quite good.- Australian meat pie
Is that more like a pot pie or a pasty? In any case, I’ve never been offered any. Mango
Lovely, fragrant fruit. But how do you justify the expense of an exotic when only one person in the house will eat it – and that one person can’t finish it before it goes bad? I will order it in a restaurant, or share it at someone’s home.- Durian fruit
I’ve seen this discussed on television. I can’t imagine trying to get past a bad smell in order to eat something that might taste good. Octopus
I’ve eaten little ones floating in soup. They weren’t as rubbery as squid.Ribs
Being me, I prefer beef. But I will eat barbecued pork on occasion. Also Chinese ribs.Roast beef
Prime rib, first cut. Thank you.- Tapas
I don’t think it counts if all you’ve had are a couple of samples distributed in the food market. - Jerk chicken/pork
It’s never been offered to me. I just don’t get out enough, I guess. - Haggis
I've never had it, but I don’t think it would be bad. But it’s a meal for a large feast, not something you’d serve to a group of five or six. And I don’t think you can walk into a restaurant, even in Scotland, and ask for a single slice of haggis. Caviar
Fishberry jelly, according to Auntie Mame. I’ll have some of that.- Cornish pastry
Is that supposed to be pastry or pasty? In any case, I’ve never had it.
I look at this list and I feel stifled. I used to love to try new foods, and now circumstances prevent it. I don’t suffer, you understand. There’s plenty to eat, and there is certainly variety, although if it’s something unusual, I may be eating alone. Husband is less and less inclined to try anything new. He’ll have a burger, or an egg, or spaghetti and meatballs. How dull!
Well, my complaints are, no doubt, fodder for another day.
