The List, part 1

Mondays at the office are like some kind of bad energy tornado, so I try to keep my head down make myself look super annoyed and busy, thank you George Costanza. Best thing to do is read from the proliferation of food-related websites and blogs (it looks vaguely work-related in case anyone catches a glance at my screen). This list came up and I cannot resist. Of course, I have to put my 2 cents in, so the back half of the list will follow in another post.

The Omnivore's 100
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 here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
But never truly wild venison. Hunters, please contact me. You kill it, I'll cook it.
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos Rancheros
A good option on otherwise lacklustre brunch menus.
4. Steak Tartare
Horse tartare is better
5. Crocodile
6. Black or blood pudding
We grew up on this, but my sly parents called it by its French name, boudin, to trick us into loving it. Worked.
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ganoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
I live in a wonderful city where pho is one of the cheapest eats available.
13. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
To truly represent the genre, it must be on uber-processed white bread with uber-processed Kraft peanut butter and grape jelly.
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
One of my favourite eats on a NYC weekend
16. Epoisses de Bourgogne
If it was hygenic or in any way seductive to slather this on myself, I would gladly do so. Nothing so stinky ever tasted so sublime.
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
Sure, but why? Grapes do just fine.
19. Steamed pork buns
Excellent hangover food.
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
Out of the garden, still warm from the sun, dribbling down my face....yes.
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
We nibbled through a tasting menu of foie gras a few years ago (not recommended for those with heart conditions or weak stomachs). My favourites were the simple applications like torchon with rhubarb compote, or seared in a mofo hot pan till it's all yummy crusty on the outside and wobbly melty on the inside. But foie gras cheesecake? No thanks.
24. Rice and beans
YES!!
25. Brawn or head cheese
Veal head cheese from the Testaccio market in Rome, eaten with a plastic fork in the square. Bliss.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
Raw Caraquets from New Brunswick are my favourites, but battered in panko, deep fried and served with jalapeno mayo at Oyster Boy also floats my boat.
29. Baklava
Used to make this by the 2ft x 4ft slab for a catering company. Bleh.
30. Bagna Cauda
Whenever I make this it splits. Help?
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
Mrs Jackson, my "second mom" (our neighbour and my mom's best friend) came from German stock. Her mom, the formidable Mrs Spindin, made a freezerful of sauerkraut every year.
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
A "Top 10 Meals of My Life" list will come eventually, but a sneak preview: gnocchi with braised oxtail at Sora Marguerite in Rome.
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
Once I unwittingly swallowed half a spider out of my oatmeal (3 of his legs remained in the bowl). And I'm pretty sure I ate a fried cricket from a street stall in Bangkok.
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
One new year's eve I was back in my university town (population 1500 souls) and we gathered at our old pub. For some reason they were selling Johnnie Walker Blue (upwards of $200/ 750 mL) for $5.95 a shot. I am proud to have become intoxicated on such lovely booze.
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin