New foods

Durian - it smells like something that died a long time ago, but if you can get past the smell, it tastes lovely!

Sea cucumbers don't look all that good in the sea, let alone on land so I'm not surprised!

It's called KTC, GA. It looks like a mayonnaise jar with a blue label, I bought it on an impromptu wee stop in a Tesco on our way down to a funeral the other day - I always feel guilty if I don't buy anything! It was a big branch and they had lots of different ones.

I had actually wanted one that tasted of coconut, I wanted to make a gluten free carrot cake recipe I found that needed coconut, although I wouldn't have bothered, I just fancied a slight flavour of it, for Father's day.

I once had a ten course banquet at a Chinese restaurant in Leicester Square. One of the courses was 'sea cucumber' a giant cucumber-sized sea slug. It looked like a huge quivering green lump of snot, so I had just nine courses.

Not very unusual but new to me fresh Goji berries served with smoked salmon.

I use coconut oil quite a lot janerowena, but the one I have does taste of coconut, which my husband doesn't like. What's the name of the one you use?

I've had calves' brains, unwittingly at first, and liked them.

Today I tried coconut oil. I quite liked the idea of something that could be used both hard and runny, and be in no danger of spillage. No taste or smell of coconut with the one I bought, I don't think it will ever usurp my love of olive oil but it will be useful to have some in the cupboard.

I saw tiny packets of sheep's brains in the supermarket today - very expensive, so apparently a delicacy.
I haven't tried them though.

I bought squirrel for DBH's Sunday lunch - but sadly he decided that he didn't want a roast or casserole, so it went into the freezer instead!

Years ago now, I used to buy ostrich from Sainsbury's - I wonder what happened to it?

Actually I sincerely believe (Choir: Oh yeah!) I do believe, that Sainsbury's have a little man whose job it is to watch what I habitually buy, and then stop them from ever supplying it again...

A whole sheep's head complete with eyes in a sort of stew - yugh - in Albania. [vomity emoticon] Crocodile, ostrich and kangaroo - all in minute portions. I don't really like meat much - I was just being polite

Have any of you had the kangaroo burgers from Iceland? We tried them a few weeks ago. I would certainly have them again. I also like shark steaks, and swordfish steaks. Let's face it, I love fish, and would quite happily live on it all the time.

We are just approaching the Maori New Year when families, iwi and friends share meals over a period of a couple of weeks. We have plans for a celebration in my Maori language class and one student has volunteered to make a "boil-up" – our teacher mentioned that you really cannot have a shared new year meal without a boil-up. It unsurprisingly turns out to be a very thick soup/slightly thin stew consisting mostly of vegetables. There are bones to make stock and meat – usually pork although there was a certain amount of joking about pakeha (non-Maoris) being a tasty ingredient. Far more intriguing were the vegetables and herbs mentioned but only by their Maori names. Two other students in the class work in a commercial plant nursery but couldn't pinpoint exactly what these plants are, apart from watercress. I am planning to explore this and am hugely looking forward to the boil-up in a couple of weeks time. Meanwhile, of course, I have to come up with something interesting that I can cook and contribute.

I was only being polite GA!

I love samphire jane. I can get it in Sainsbury's sometimes.

Yes, it is like chicken but unless it is marinaded it does have a slight fishy tang.

I eat anything. Dried mealy worms probably - I read somewhere that they were a tasty snack, so stole some from my chickens! Really nice. Also, before moving up here I had never tried samphire, which I love.

Thanks for the ostrich meat in Iceland, Lou, I have been buying it online from Oslinc, as I used to live nearby, but the postage costs push up the price hugely and it is my favourite red meat.

Raw horse! Braver than me kitty, I quite like rare steaks, but raw - no I don't think so. Has anyone (accidentally or otherwise) eaten dog whilst in foreign parts?
My brother in law is strictly a meat and two veg man, but whilst visiting missionary friends in Africa he came home from a meeting to find a 'chicken' supper left out for him. The following morning he was gagging when told the 'chicken', which he said was delicious, was actually crocodile.

I certainly like the thought of trying new foods and new combinations. After over 40 years of cooking I think my cooking is boring (DH disagrees he is very happy as long as there is lots of veg, salad and fruit). I try things in restaurants that I haven't cooked myself yet especially fish and then have it at home - we recent had smoked River Cobbler for breakfast which was light and flavoursome. Some of the ingredients I read about being put into smoothies particularly often seeds and grains I am not familiar with and wonder if in fact they will make any impact on health.

Goodness knows in parts of China. What I am told it is, is certainly not what I think it is ! DD tells me that slug worms are crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. I shall take her word for it.

Ostrich steaks (from Iceland and delicious), crocodile (didn't like it) and buffalo steak which was very good.

Whale and raw horse!

Grits.
As in Shrimp 'n' Grits.