The Omnivore's Hundred is an eclectic and entirely subjective list of 100 items that Andrew Wheeler, co-author of the British food blog Very Good Taste, thinks every omnivore should try at least once in his life. He offered this list as the starting point for a game, along the following rules:
1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4. Optional extra: post a comment on Very Good Taste, linking to your results.
1. Venison
In a restaurant in Poland, for the first time. I hated it. With friends, in Paris, for the second time. A better experience, I might try it again.
2. Nettle tea
Usually have them for breakfast at least once when we drive down to Mexico.
Surprisingly not, as much as I have a weak spot for raw meat.
5. Crocodile
But why not ...
6. Black pudding
At least my home country's variety. Don't really care for it.
7. Cheese fondue
Mais bien sûr!
8. Carp
I believe I did, although I'm not a hundred percent positive. When I eat out, I'm always tempted by fish names I didn't try before, so I've covered quite a lot of species ...
9. Borscht
In Poland, of course, I did not like it at all. I love beets, however.
10. Baba ghanoush
I did. I even made them myself at home, for a theme cuisine party. Usually love everything Middle Eastern too.
That's a given. Calamari is a standard appetizer in these parts, and we typically have some if we're hungry after a stroll down by the harbor on a Sunday afternoon.
12. Pho
Love it! Had it EVERY SINGLE DAY for breakfast when I was in Vietnam, and sometimes twice a day. It's a brilliant meal!
13. PB&J sandwich
One of those things I do not understand about American food. I ate it only once in my life, and that was only because I was 1) too polite to say no to it, when it was offered to me by my hosts, and 2) ferociously hungry, and a little bit cold, after a long hike in the Colorado mountains. Under any other circumstances I would not have touched it. It is brilliant hiking food however, and I admire people who can live on it.
14. Aloo gobi
Love it! Love everything Indian and everything potatoes ...
15. Hot dog from a street cart
Of course. Grew up on them. The best one is the one you have after swimming, as you get out of the pool.
16. Epoisses
I believe I did. It's the stinky cheese that 'foreigners' are not allowed to eat in France, because it will make them sick. Once you've lived in France for a given many years however, like I had, you may try it. I do not have a leaning towards particularly stinky cheeses, but I can usually handle them in moderation.
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
Such as an Austrian pear wine?
19. Steamed pork buns
I gather this is referring to pork buns like in Dim Sum?
20. Pistachio ice cream
Oh, yeah. That's a great flavor. I wish it was more common here ...
They're the best, organic or home grown. Makes you not want to eat other tomatoes again ...
22. Fresh wild berries
Especially blueberries.
23. Foie gras
Mmmm, and with brioche and Sauterne wine ...
24. Rice and beans
Not sure, is that a dish? Or does it just refer to eating rice and beans together. Like you do all the time, in Mexico, for instance?
I love the one from my home country (made from lamb heads). It's also considerably better than the French version (one that is, I believe, made from pork).
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
Can you ever get enough of oysters? Have eaten myself full on nothing but oysters. The best are to be found in Brittany, France, of course.
29. Baklava
Sure, was not aware it was a rarity.
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
Haha, we sometimes buy them in bulk.
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
Sure.
No, not salted, but we often get the sweet one, if we eat Indian ...
Don't particularly care for it, but it's okay. Usually got it in France.
35. Root beer float
That's a surprisingly good one!
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
I believe we did, in the most unexpected place once, the village of Idyllwild in the San Jacinto mountains. We got scones, clotted cream and lemon custard however, not jam.
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
As a grad student, obviously. I think the idea is pretty gross, but they are treacherous, you wouldn't necessarily realize you were having alcohol ...
39. Gumbo
Would really like to try it. Is it very different from paella?
40. Oxtail
Only in soup.
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
I think I'll pass on this one.
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
No. But love goat cheese!!!
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
The only way I would drink whisky, as part of a degustation.
46. Fugu
I don't need that in my life.
Like it.
48. Eel
Smoked, fresh and in sushi.
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
It's disgusting.
50. Sea urchin
Actually not. Had a friend once who fished them though.
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
I might have, but I'm not sure. Had a lot of strange pickled fruits and veggies in Japan, and didn't know their names. Might just have had one in a Bento box.
53. Abalone
These used to be very common here in San Diego, but I think they are near extinct now.
54. Paneer
In vegetarian stews, but not by itself.
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
Does this need commenting on?
56. Spaetzle
They're a type of dumplings that we had in the Czech Republic.
57. Dirty gin martini
The martini, yes, but dirty? No.
58. Beer above 8% ABV
Hooray, for the Czech Republic again.
59. Poutine
I actually find the idea of this quite revolting. But, maybe one should give it a try ...
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
What's the big deal? Americans are weird ...
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
In France, yes, but unexpectedly it was in a Vietnamese restaurant that I first had them.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
Had beignets, churros, funnel cake. Nothing to write home about. Actually, I would tend to avoid them.
68. Haggis
Never imagined I would say this, but the haggis I had in Scotland was actually delicious!
African friend made them for me a few times. Not bad.
Disgusting. By the way, they also smell like a barn.
71. Gazpacho
Don't know what I'm waiting for.
And I find them okay, nothing more. I'd gladly have blini however with creme fraiche and tarama.
I think I overate on it as a kid. Thus, could not eat it for a long time afterwards. It's kinda too sweet for my taste.
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
I think I got a bottle of this from Japan once. But I gave most of it away, didn't really care for it myself, no more than I usually like strong liqueur.
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
Nor did I try the twinkies, and I'm not tempted. Americans have a weird fascination for this food however, they must all have been deprived of it when they were children ...
78. Snail
In Angouleme, in the culinary region of Dordogne, France. Remember eating these with my brother for the first time.
79. Lapsang souchong
I think I just might have, with my colleague at work, but I can't be quite sure. It's smoky.
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
Sure.
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
But I could not care less.
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
Several different versions.
88. Flowers
Does violet ice cream count?
89. Horse
Grew up on it, more or less.
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
Disgusting.
92. Soft shell crab
Mmm, love crab.
93. Rose harissa
In what way is that different from regular harissa?
94. Catfish
Of course.
Tried this and other moles, they can be quite good.
Well, this is very common where I come from ...
98. Polenta
Like it.
Yeah, so?
100. Snake
Does snake wine count?
