Strangest Food Essay | Contest 6
Posted by Kevin Clement
in Of Interest
We have a winner!
In last week’s edition of Apex@Home we asked the simple question: “What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten or drunk on a trip?”…and now we almost wish we hadn’t. Because, you people have eaten some pretty strange things, and now we have to try to get those images out of our heads. Time after time, the judges found themselves saying “Seriously? You really put that in your mouth?” Well, someone who really did is our contest winner, Rob Rice. As to what he ate, here is his description:
“In Ubon, Thailand, I ate dung beetles deep-fried in fat, like soggy pieces of popcorn with an interesting delicate taste, probably that of fried buffalo crap.”
Rob added the following to his description by way of seasoning: “However, never did try the grilled bhat bugs, boiled tadpoles, or live cicadas screaming and flapping their wings in your mouth as you bite down; now I kinda wish I had.” For his courage, adventurous palate, and lack of good sense, Rob will receive an official Apex baseball cap, and we can only hope that he will be wearing it the next time someone puts a plate full of insects in front of him. Bon Appetit!
Strangest Food Contest
One of the great pleasures of travel is sampling local cuisine. A taste of some exotic regional delicacy can be a great experience…or not. If you’ve ventured very far off the beaten track (which, if you’re an Apex traveler, you have), then at some point you’ve been offered something strange and unusual to eat or drink. Something unfamiliar; maybe weird; possibly just gross.
Well, for this week’s contest, we want to hear about it in 50 words or less…
“What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten or drunk on a trip?”
…and tell us what it was like. Remember, you must have sampled this culinary oddity yourself, not merely seen it on a plate. The most peculiar, outrageous, and/or hair-raising entry, as determined by our panel of judges, will be the winner, and will garner, as usual, a lavish prize…as well as grimaces, gasps, and shudders.
You can submit your essay in the comments section below. We won’t publish any of the essays until it’s time to select the winner, so no one will see your essay except the Apex team. The deadline for submission is Thursday, June 11, 11:59 p.m. PST. We’ll announce the winner on Friday, June 12. Good luck!
Putrefied shark in Iceland. It was the worst. Bob
In the remote Peten region of northern Guatemala, had meals of roasted Coati Mundi, Cayman, plus several other 4-legged oddities from the forest I don’t recall the names of; also cut the head off a rooster, held it up by the legs, and drank the blood running out of its neck. Was very meaty, just like liquid steak—almost.
In Ubon Thailand during the war ate dung beetles deep-fried in fat, like soggy pieces of popcorn with an interesting delicate taste, probably that of fried buffalo crap. However, never did try the grilled bhat bugs, boiled tadpoles, or live cicadas screaming & flapping their wings in your mouth as you bite down; now I kinda wish I had.
In New Ireland a couple years ago had a bowl of rice with a stew of Marine Crocodile meat. Next time I go to Palau I think I’ll try roast Flying Fox–there are some restaurants in Koror which have it on the menu.