You might be proud of your adventurous palette, claiming that you're 'culinarily brave' by slapping a hearty alligator steak on the barbecue or trying a handful of deep-fried novelty crickets from the local candy store. Well, our humblest of apologies as we burst your bubble and state that that simply is not the case. Outside of the comfort of our local Walmart, there are entire worlds of food that send even the most experienced foodies into an unsettling perplexion.
From bright and beastly caterpillars in the southern countries of Africa, to a boiled duck fetus in Asia, and oysters in the USA that aren't oysters at all, there is no shortage of questionably-tantalizing, undoubtedly-peculiar items of the global menu. Grab your passport, knife, and fork, and give those hands a good and thorough washing, because it's time for the first bite.
10 Poutine (Canada)
The delicious mess of cheese curds, gravy, and fries is a staple of the Great White North. The artery-clogging dish originated in the eastern province of Quebec and has spread throughout much of Canada since.
Montreal is the largest city in Quebec, and as such, the wafting smell of poutine - you know, the one that beckons you like a freshly-baked pie sitting on a windowsill - draws people in, all over the city.
While the idea of cheese curds and gravy might sound rather revolting, don’t knock it ‘till you try it. Poutinefest, an annual Montreal celebration of the dish, is the perfect time to do just that.
9 Wasp crackers (Japan)
One who unassumingly glances at these snacks might, at first, be forgiven for thinking they’ve stumbled across some sneaky chocolate chip cookies. But oh, those naive snackers could not be more wrong.
Found throughout Japan, these crackers are unique, to say the least. In the baking process, a handful of dead wasps are thrown into the senbei mix, before usually being served alongside a hot cup of tea or coffee.
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One adventurous foodie reported his findings, declaring that the wasps were “very much like raisins but had a slightly acidic and bitter taste to them.” An interesting way to get our daily protein needs, that’s for sure.
8 Balut (The Philippines)
Anyone a little squeamish might struggle to even look at balut, but trust as when we say that once you know what the delicacy actually is, you’ll be running for the hills.
Unlike any hard-boiled egg you’ve eaten before, balut is essentially a fertilized duck embryo - what does that mean? Well, you’re eating a duck fetus, complete with tiny facial features and all.
While it might seem both extremely odd and rather revolting for most Westerners, balut continues to be a popular streetside food in The Philippines, often accompanied by a fresh, cold beer. The dish has even made it across continents, popping up in New York City.
7 Cobra heart (Vietnam)
“There’s a snake in my… bowl?”. The diverse, culturally-booming Asian nation of Vietnam does not hold back when it comes to dishing up wacky and wonderful street woods. Okay, maybe wonderful might be a stretch, but still, don’t knock it ‘till you try it.
Accompanied by a think glass full of cobra blood, the cobra heart, which is STILL BEATING after being extracted from the snake of choice, is actually considered a specialty dish in plenty of Vietnamese areas. In case you were desperately worried that the snake’s precious venom would be wasted after you gobbled up its beating heart, fret not - the venom can be chugged down in a glass full of love as well.
6 Haggis (Scotland)
For our next stop on this hop-on-and-never-hop-off peculiar worldly culinary tour, we’re heading to the jolly nation of Scotland. It doesn’t matter if we’re filled with eagerness or apprehension - a trip to Scotland can’t be complete without sampling a plate of its native dish, Haggis.
A minced concoction of questionable animal organs - including sheep's heart, liver and lungs - is mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, salt, and spices, then wrapped in within an animal's stomach lining and VOILA, we have haggis. We know, we know… you can’t wait to try it. Haggis most commonly served with turnips and potatoes, and washed down with a glass of whiskey.
5 Rocky Mountain Oysters (USA)
While oysters might be a bit of an acquired taste, they’re not that weird, right? Well, in Colorado, they are, because these so-called 'oysters' aren’t oysters at all. Instead, they’re peeled bull, pig, or sheep testicles that are lathered with flour, deep-fried, and often served with hot sauce.
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If we forget about the deep-fried portion of the dish for a moment, these animal bits would make a great core ingredient in any gym junkie’s protein shake - they’re packed full of vitamins, minerals, and protein (as told by Thrillist).
For the adventurous eaters who simply can’t get enough of the stuff, there’s an annual event that will satisfy any cravings.
4 Winkles (England)
We’re heading across the pond for the next stop of our adventurous snacking journey. Over in the rainy United Kingdom, mostly the West Coast of England, locals are known to chow down on a few, friendly (and oh so tiny) sea snails.
These small, edible mollusks are boiled before typically being served with salt and vinegar. Alternatively, according to Independent.co.uk, after extracting the meat with a toothpick, some choose to dip it in aioli, mustard or warm butter. Where there are winkles to be eaten, there are almost always some whelks (larger sea snails), cockles (a type of clam), and mussels nearby to satisfy any persistent hunger cravings.
3 Mopane Worms (Zimbabwe)
We’re heading over to the southern African nation of Zimbabwe for the next leg of this journey of culinary delights. While these beastly caterpillars are most popular in Zimbabwe, Tripsavvy declares that they’re also available throughout local markets in Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia.
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These mammoth-sized, bright and colorful worms are best eaten fried, tossed into a mix of tomatoes, garlic, onions, nuts, and chilies (for that extra spice to make the experience all the more exciting). Huge bags of dried or smoked mopane worms are easily spotted at the markets, so why not pick up a handful sometime soon?
2 Beondegi (South Korea)
Found throughout plenty of street markets and food stands across the country, Beondegi is essentially a handful of boiled, lightly-season silkworm pupae. Depending on which market, they’re either served in small bowls with toothpicks to avoid getting hands dirty, or lined up on a skewer.
As far as relatively common South Korean street dishes, it’s right up there toward the top of the list.
Upon first bite, beondegi is said to come across as savory and acidic in flavor, with hints of fish and nuts. While these snacks are commonly found ready-to-eat streetside, there are also cans available for purchase at local grocery stores and supermarkets
1 Deep-fried rattlesnake (Southwest USA)
Rounding out our global tour of exotic, frightening, tantalizing and cringe-worthy street foods is a dish made popular in the Southwest of the United States - fried rattlesnake!
Said to give off a flavor similar to popcorn chicken (as most fried meat does) as well as frog legs, with the right seasoning and spices, rattlesnake meat can offer a pretty tasting dining experience. But if the idea of chowing down on this slithering reptile wasn’t daring enough, one restaurant in Arizona is serving up the classic fried rattlesnake with a visually-shocking side of vertebrae, guaranteed to present that extra wow-factor.
Apparently, rattlesnake meat is very lean, so if barbecuing it at home, adding an extra layer of bacon around is suggested to make it much more filling and tasty.