Question du jour

[vanillafluffy]

What food traditionally considered to be a delicacy are you quite sure you can live without ever trying? Similarly, what food or drink have you always wanted to try but haven't had the chance to yet?

Spare me anything on the half-shell, and you can throw in escargot for good measure. Also, I'm underwhelmed by the idea of eating anything's liver. Yuck.

I'd like to try more kinds of fish. I've heard of tilapia, orange roughy and mahi-mahi, but I couldn't pick them out of a lineup. The only fish I'm really familiar with are tuna (canned), salmon, and cod ala fish sticks. Nothing exotic, like swordfish (although I hear mercury can be a problem with that one, so moderate moderation) or shark. Heck, I've barely even tried common catfish!

I'm self-taught when it comes to the consumption of mushrooms. Growing up, my mother was highly suspicious of any such fungi, and they did not appear on our table in any form, not even white buttons. Finally, during my twenties, I realized that I'd never heard of anyone croaking from eating cultivated 'shrooms, and I got tired of picking them off my pizza. I even progressed to the point of liking grilled 'shrooms with a burger, or stuffed at a buffet and occasionally sampling a grilled portobello. There are others out there, I know, what I'd love to try some day: shitakes and criminis and chanterelles. (Now I'm thinking about that organic mushroom risotto again....)

I'd also like to sample interesting veggies prepared by someone who knows what they're doing. Things like jicama, which is fun to say---is it as much fun to eat? Or fennel, which I hear has a mildly licorice flavor, which predisposes me to like it anyway. I've never had eggplant, but with a layer of parmesan, sure, bring it on. I wouldn't mind investigating various kinds of squash, or root vegetables. Maybe I'd even like sweet potatoes if they were prepared and presented in an appetizing way.

That's kind of the point: I'm clueless when it comes to cooking fresh veg, and I watch all these cooking shows wistfully thinking that they make it look so easy. They make all these "Mmm nommy!" noises as they taste their creations, and I feel like I'm missing out. My attempts are clumsy and disappointing; in the immortal words of George Carlin, "Is there a picture of it in the cookbook? I bet it doesn't look like that!"

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Comments

[adventurat.livejournal.com]

First time I ever had jicama was a couple of summers ago, in this Southwestern Fruit Salad. It's fantastic - mild flavour, juicy, crisp, with a texture a bit like a Chinese apple-pear - and I need to incorporate it into more things. I've seen a recipe recently that uses slices of jicama in lieu of tortillas, for tacos. (For those of us who are grain-free.)

Eggplant has a curious texture, and I don't like it as a side dish, but it's good IN things, and as baba ganoush. I'm making moussaka tomorrow, and that involves eggplant slices.

Sweet potatoes are utterly gorgeous peeled, cut into slices or large chunks (like regular potatoes), tossed in oil, and roasted. Top with butter and a pinch of cinnamon... OMG LOVE.

I'm with you on trying more kinds of fish; I've had few more kinds than you have, but my favourite is still salmon. Shark is meh - in countries where it's plentiful (like Australia) it's the cheapest fish around, and in Aus they call it "flake" when it's in fish & chips. You're on the Atlantic coast - you do get haddock in fish and chips - does that beg the question? - or is it too much a northern fish? Haddock is the best fish for fish & chips - om nom!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

My mom adored eggplant parm, but if she ever offerred me any, I don't recall it. Sweet potatoes were another thing I never saw til I was in my teens and never developed a taste for---they sound like I should like them, though.

Jicama is definitely on my list, though. Epicurious.com also has an array of yummy-sounding recipes.

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[msretro.livejournal.com]

I love jicama. I usually slice it and put it on raw veggie or fruit platters. It has a mildly sweet taste, so it works with either one.

I like sweet potatoes best when they are served in savory ways. I like to add them to curry, or roast them and eat them with butter and black pepper.

Tilapia is a very mild fish, and not a bad place to start if you aren't used to eating fish. I bread it, fry it and serve it with a Piccata sauce like you'd use on chicken or veal.

Foods I have never had but want to try: truffles! I have never had fresh ones (just had truffle butter and truffle oil) and I've been intensely curious about them for years. Would also love to try huitlacoche, a mushroom-like fungus that grows on corn. I've only ever seen it canned, though, which I understand is not its best presentation.

As far as delicacies I can live without? I've heard that fugu, tastewise, is just a very plain white fish sushi. So, not worth dying for. Also really not interested in eating certain wild game, like lion burgers. Eating predatory mammals just sounds gross.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've definitely got to try jicama. And your idea for savory sweet potatoes has merit; my primary exposure has been sweet potato casserole, complete with gooey marshmallows, which IMO is horrible stuff. Something with a salty, spicy contrast, on the other hand, sounds good.

Tilapia...*adds to list* I'll have to see if I can work it into my menu soon!

Truffles! *nods* I've had chocolate "truffles", but never the real thing, which, now that you mention it, also goes onto my list.

The corn fungus sounds interesting. If I ever make it to Mexico....

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[ladyjane]

I find the best place to get interesting veggies prepared in delicious ways is a vegetarian restaurant.

Southern Living magazine has some fabulous recipes. There are old-fashioned southern dishes, updated classics, and many family-taste-tested recipes from readers. The photos are lovely, and there are HOW-TO videos for recipes and kitchen tips.

ETA

[ladyjane]

I forgot to answer the main question. I'm willing to try just about anything. Although, I'm still working up the courage for sushi. I'm haunted by those pictures in Nat. Geographic back when mercury poisoning in fish caused nasty birth defects in Japan.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I like Southern Living and pick it up once in a while. I *think* there's a vegetarian Indian restaurant locally, tho' I've never been there, but not much else.

Mb is fond of sushi, and I've nibbled experimentally but...meh. I think cats are the only ones who really LIKE raw fish.

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[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

I love any kind of fish except canned tuna and bluefish. i especially love sushi and shellfish, particularly soft shell crab.
Mushrooms and eggplant are two of my favorite vegetables. I like eggplant cooked in Italian and Middle Eastern and my favorite, Chinese style.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Thanks to my folks, who were into stir-fry before it was mainstream, I love vegetables associated with Chinese cuisine. Water chestnuts are my #1 favorite, but I'm also enthusiastic about snow peas, bean sprouts, bok choi, bamboo shoots and baby corn. Mmm, now I'm hungry!


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[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

I was born in Asia and I've known how to make my own Chinese food for years. It's fun, and cheaper than if you ordered the same food out.

[candesgirl.livejournal.com]

Doing a major catch up on lj and this caught my eye! (Food talk usually does)

Tilapia is super mild, and most things that you make with cod you could make with tilapia. I make tilapia fish sticks for my kid, and he loves 'em. (Cut up the fish, bread it or coat it in ritz crackers, fry or bake it. It's a good way to try it for your first time.) Orange roughy is pretty mild too.

I love, LOVE fennel. I like it raw or cooked, and it definitely has a licorice flavor to it. My favorite way to cook most vegetables is to roast them with just a little olive oil and salt and pepper. It intensifies the flavor but you can still taste the vegetable itself. Root veg in particular are great roasted.

Eggplant is a favorite of mine, I just made moussaka for Greek Easter the other day, and that features eggplant, I think it's my favorite way to eat it. But stuffed eggplant is really good too (scoop out the middle, saute it with onion, tomato, stuff it back inside and cover it with parmesan and breadcrumbs, so good!)

I don't particularly love jicama. It's not bad, but I don't love the texture, which is similar to water chestnuts.

Most fresh veg are super easy to cook! If you watch the cooking shows, you should totally be able to do it. :)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Food for thought, so to speak.... I've hardly done any cooking in ages, because my kitchen is such a disaster. It remains to be seen how much of a motivator curiosity is!

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