No Picky Eaters

Overly picky eaters drive me nuts. I recognize that “overly picky” is a subjective term, but if you’re the type of person who only feeds your kid mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and plain cheese pizza, then you’re part of the problem. If you’re the type of adult who eats only those three meals then, well, I have no words for you.

Now, with that said, I have to make an admission: there are certain “common” foods that I don’t like. They include cauliflower, most sushi (although I love a lot of sashimi) and many curries. But I am almost always willing to try something new. That’s important for travel. Food is a social lubricant, a way of learning about cultures and showing that you respect them. It’s also thrilling to find a new ingredient, dish or cuisine that you like. Furthermore, if you’re the dude who will only eat hamburgers, at some point you’re going to inconvenience your travel mates. If you have allergies, or religious or ethical reasons for not eating something, that’s fine, but otherwise it’s important to at least be open-minded.

Across our many trips, we’ve tried some things that looked gag-worthy and ended up being great, and others that sounded innocuous and made us throw up a little bit in our mouths.

In Japan, Seiji Kato and Ty Ono of Jackall Lures took us out for an incredible meal of Korean barbecue, with one small exception: an appetizer of raw liver (presumably beef, although I’m not entirely sure) in a teriyaki marinade. I gulped one down and forced a smile. They took that as a sign that I liked it and offered me several more. Luckily I’d had enough to drink that it wasn’t all that hateful.

Not all uncooked foods prove unpalatable. On our honeymoon in Tahiti we enjoyed several meals of poisson cru, raw tuna in coconut milk and lime juice, with spices and vegetables. The lime juice “cooks” the fish and it is delectable.

In Japan, we also went to a nine-course tofu dinner (left us all hungry) and visited the famous Tsukiji Fish Market early in the morning. Surprisingly, we’re not big fish eaters, but there are several fish dishes we’ve tried that have left us wanting more. In Manaus, Brazil, Steve Yatomi took us for the ribs of the tambaqui, a fruit-eating fish. As you might expect, these ribs – which look like chicken meat on baby back bones – are remarkably sweet. If you ever get a chance to eat them, jump on it.

Another Amazonian fish that we love is piranha, sautéed whole. You have to watch out for bones, but the meat is white and flakey.

Another food that Steve introduced us to, albeit on another continent – Africa – was biltong. It resembles jerky in many ways, but is spiced and processed differently. Served with a “Sundowner” while watching wild game, I could eat pounds of it.

Steve was also there when we had our first barbecued turtle on a beach of the Rio Araca, a tributary of the Rio Negro in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It’s chewy as hell, and I stuck to the sausage, ribs and beef, instead. Apparently it is an acquired taste, because later that evening we saw the houseboat staff come to near blows to get the best cuts for themselves.

Caiman, on the other hand, is delectable.

Of course, what is advertised may not be what you’re actually getting. In Victoria Falls, we stopped for lunch at a café that offered “Zebra Burgers” Oddly enough, they tasted just like the hamburgers you’d get at McDowell’s (even down to no sesame seeds on the buns).