New foods (for me, at least)

[Bungleau]

At a Toastmasters meeting tonight, a club member from the Philippines gave a speech on balut, which has been featured as a Fear Factor eating challenge as well as the number one exotic food on a Food Channel top ten program.

It was very educational, his speech about how duckling eggs are prepared until just a couple of days before they hatch. And then eaten, duckling and all.

Kindly, he brought several balut eggs with him, in case anyone wanted to try one.

At the bar after the meeting, having thought about this for quite a bit, I decided I would probably never have another chance to try something this strange without having to worry about the implications of eating (or not eating) it.

So, I tried one (along with two other brave and foolish souls) and made it partway through. It wasn't bad, but reminded me a little too much of liver.

Oh, forgot to mention: apparently, one of the side effects of eating balut is something like a 24-hour viagra kick We'll see if it happens.

He also brought some 100-year-old egg, which is actually only about 20 days old. It sits in a pile of mud out in the yard, mixed with salt and hydrogen peroxide, curing naturally until it's ready to eat. Not cooked, cured. It was a lovely shade of blue and black, and tasted a whole lot like egg (which it is, of course). That was much easier to eat.

I'm now sitting down in the basement, wondering if I dare go to sleep tonight in case either one decides to disagree with me in the wee hours of the morning...

I know we had a thread on disgusting foods a while back, and I'm sure these were on there (or should have been). Still, I thought I'd share while the experience (and the taste) are fresh in my mind.

Enjoy. Anyone hungry?

[Kakero]

Mmmm...I feel hungry already. Last Sunday I had a Cat Paw Soup in the local exotic restaurant. It was very nice. That was my first time eating a cat paw. might try other part later.

[Jorath Calar]

After seeing a blooper on Icelandic tv featuring a can of Swedish Surströmming (3 years past it's expiration date), opened, and basicly explode all over the studio... and one of the tv person throw up at the smell, I have come to the conclusion that nothing is as bad... even fermented sock juice sounds nice... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Who are these mysterious "Toast-Masters" you speak of?

[Bungleau]

Toastmasters is an organization that helps people become better communicators -- better public speakers. You practice giving speeches on a variety of topics (that you choose), and get feedback on how to be most effective. I've been doing it for almost seven years, and while I was comfortable speaking in front of groups of people before, I now do it because it's fun, and because I know that even if I mess up, I can still be in control of the situation and get my message across.

It has little to do with the art of giving a toast, although that is one of the many speeches you can do. It has less to do with the Toastmasters company, manufacturers of fine kitchen appliances. And it has even less to do with those folks who live in the kitchen and create the finest slightly burnt bread the world has ever seen [img]smile.gif[/img]

[The Hierophant]

Well done Bungleau! It must've taken alot of intestinal fortitude to stomach all of that hearty 'cuisine'. You've got guts, which, incidentally, you may very well be seeing the contents of sometime tonight [img]smile.gif[/img]

the 100 year old egg, are supposed to be really good bu ive never had them T_T

balut eggs? what the heck?>

[Link]

Come on guys! I was just about to go make myself a sandwich!

[Tyrion]

Originally posted by Jorath Calar: After seeing a blooper on Icelandic tv featuring a can of Swedish Surströmming (3 years past it's expiration date), opened, and basicly explode all over the studio... and one of the tv person throw up at the smell, I have come to the conclusion that nothing is as bad... even fermented sock juice sounds nice... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Surströmming is a Swedish tradition, so i guess if its tradition to those who eat the stuff it tastes better. I like surströmming, and it is SUPPOSED to be past the expiration date!

[Bungleau]

Well, I made it through the night with my stomach contents where they were supposed to be. And no *special* aftereffects, either

Hierophant, I've been to enough different places that I'll try things outside the norm, just to see what they're like. My usual rule is to try it twice, just to make sure that I didn't get a bad one the first time (like I'd know what bad balut tastes like [img]smile.gif[/img] ).

Now, when I'm trying it, I may be saying something in my mind... *it won't kill me... it won't kill me... it won't kill me... keep it down... keep it down...*

You can't tell yourself "don't throw up" because your brain can't process negatives well (just watch any child), and it hears "... throw up ... throw up" [img]smile.gif[/img]