Wierd Meats and Eats

so i went to our State Fair this past Saturday. animals, farm veggies and giant pumpkins, games, amusement rides, food, etc. etc. fun stuff.

beside deep-fried everything and elephant ears, these fairs will sometimes have wierd or unsual food. so at the fair, one vendor had alligator and i tried it.

here it is!

http://i.imgur.com/LTGSyzwl.jpg

and i didn't like it. or at least this version of it. the batter was thick and hard and i couldn't taste any alligator meat really. :/

but later in the day, i stumbled upong this at another booth.

http://i.imgur.com/hsAPpswl.jpg

alligator jerky. and it was tasty! tasted kinda like salmon actually. :)

anyway i just wanted to know what folks here on the forum have eaten. anything wierd, unusual or non-traditional? was it good, meh or awful? please share.

Not to mitigate the trying of the alligator, but where I'm from its pretty standard. Of course, I come from a place known for its Coon Supper, so.... Anyway, its not unusual to see it served. Its quite delicious too I might add! (You must have gotten someone who didn't know what they were doing) We actually made gator tacos the other night. Talk about tasty!

Weird things I have eaten... Hmmm, Depends on your level of weird. Raw beef, raw fish, Bacon stuffed deer heart, Turtle, Rattlesnake, eel, squid, whole octopus, Clover, Chocolate gravy, Bone marrow, if it is edible I try it.
Bugs are probably the most unusual single item I have eaten. I really want to try scorpions and spiders. Crickets are ok, I care not for the wings, however.

I did try fried Oreo's and ice cream at our fair last week. It was salty sweet fried heaven with a side of weird.

^ chocolate gravy? :O

the wierdest thing i've eaten was probably balut. it's boiled fertilize duck egg. this thing...

https://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/blog...x265-5011.jpeg

:O

i didn't like it much. i picked at the chick ate the yolk mainly. and i drank the the liquid which was alright.

here's a video of people eating it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLMIXLv4D-s

Yeah it's a southern thing lol

I've seen that on tv, one of the few things I don't think I could manage to make myself try!

I saw the duck fetus on fear factor, and I personally wouldn't eat it.

But I have had plenty of other unusual meats. Growing up, I was a member of a hunting/gun club. Every year we had a "game" potluck where everyone had to bring a food item they hunted.

So with the dinner I've had snapping turtle, deer, moose, elk, buffalo, bear, squirrel, possum, pigeon, duck, phesant, quail, frog, alligator.

While overseas in japan i had raw jellyfish, and horse. While in Indonesia doing jungle warfare training we caught, skinned and cooked python.

Sushi is also a favorite of mine.

Other foods I can think of would be snails, raw beef, cow heart & brain, sheep's stomach boiled in vinigar, bone marrow, chocolate covered ants and crickets, cricket lollipops, worm in the teqiilla.

As for the fair food... Fried butter is as weird as I've seen and it made me sick... Very very rich. Fried Twinkies, snickers, ice cream, oreos, etc..

Raw beef, eel, octopus, squid, alligator, blowfish, snails, springbok, horse, zebra, blood sausage, pigeon, duck, quail, deer, bison, frog, crawfish, cow tongue, cow "head meat".

oooh almost forgot my favorite snack as a kid! My grandmother would fry fish tails and fins off of small fish like brim. They are crunchy fishy chips of deliciousness!
I still cook them from time to time when we catch enough fish.

I'm not an adventurous eater. The most exotic thing I've tasted was a strawberry cricket lollipop. Or like, that one time I was outside and ants got on my chocolate tootsie roll.

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http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09...02eebb62d0.jpgCajun fried squirrel

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I thought it was big that I tried rabbit at a Portuguese restaurant a few weeks ago. It was really good actually. The weirdest thing I've tried is chocolate covered crickets and kangaroo jerky. I guess I need to be more adventurous [emoji58]

I've had cow tongue. My anatomy teacher in high school was amazing and she brought in a whole tongue from the butcher, sandwich rolls and condiments. Sliced it up in class and cooked it on a hot plate and allowed us to make sliders. We got extra credit if we tried it. Didn't really taste exotic it was more the idea of looking at a giant tongue before she cut it up.

She was a wierdo but in the most amazing way!

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I just cooked cow tongue about a month ago.

Deer, buffalo, water buffalo, ostrich, emu, turtle, all species of fish(except fugu, but including stingray), sushi, rabbit, squirrel, dove, frog legs, tripe, squid, heart, clams, mussels, oysters(gross raw, not bad cooked), alligator(tastes like chicken, have it all the time)...

I can't think of much that has been mentioned by the above posters that I HAVEN'T tried, except no zebra, jellyfish or balut.

Soon I'm going to order a whole octopus to cook.

i'm covering front desk at work right now. i took this mystery lolipop from our candy dish.

http://i.imgur.com/tqBBpJ6l.jpg

yuck!

Had some reticulated python once. A friend got some recipes from a Vietnamese family and invited several of us in to try it. Quite good, IMO. Tasted like chicken to me.

I never thought any of my adventures in eating were wierd because i eat most of these things regularly when i can find them. Bison, duck, goose, goat, ostrich, tripe, snails, octopus (pulpi), squid, sea conch, turtle, alligator, sweetbreads, blood sausage, pork kidneys, liver, tongue both pork and beef, sea urchin. I'm sure theres more after all at my age i'm sure i forgot a few. Some i liked some were just ok, but i've never refused to try something new. Oh i forgot i even tried lambs brains made by a friend from uraguay once and he made his mothers recipe and they were delisous.

I think I would try regular muscle meat of almost any animal, but I can't get adventurous about weird body parts like brains and whatnot. If it's slimy or chewy, no way---I have a very weak (strong?) gag reflex.

I've had gator---tastes like fishy chicken, has a weird texture. I'm not a fan, but it wasn't terrible. I used to eat takoyaki (octopus) from street vendors when I lived in Japan. Also those crispy little whole fish they sell at 100-yen stores. And shredded dried squid, that's yummy. I've had cow tongue and liver, not my favorites. It's all about the texture for me.

I'll eat any fermented or pickled vegetable :D. I'm particularly fond of kimchi. Not real fond of natto though. Slimy, ick.

When I went to Iceland on a school trip we ate sheep's brain and sheep's testicles. IMO it was better than the lasagna they cooked up.

Oh and when I was like a baby or something, my mum said I ate a caterpillar. (Does that count? :rofl: )

Oh I jealous you

My household and family are all hunters sooo.. We dont believe in killing an animal if we dnt intend on eating them..

Deer (both white tail and muleys), elk, bear, mountain lion, bobcat, jack rabbits, cotton tail rabbit, squirrel, wild turkey, possom, raccoon, ring tail cat, various fish both salt and fresh water, dove, quaill.. Mountain goats... And the list goes on for us..

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well i had my yearly serving of alligator this past Saturday. again at our state fair. this time i had it burger form.

http://imgur.com/p5nlyDEl.jpg
http://imgur.com/cMb0rlCl.jpg

it tasted a lil crabby.


Edit: they also a python-rabbit sausage that i didn't try. kinda like a predator-prey fusion. maybe next year...
http://imgur.com/gM5CXEQl.jpg

The duck and bacon sausage sounds good


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Last summer I bought some eggs from someone who was raising chickens organically. I learned that it's a good idea to candle farm raised organic eggs before breaking them into the pan after finding developing embryos inside twice in a row. Yeeeuck!

Ewww! That's pretty grim. How developed were they??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LightningPython

Ewww! That's pretty grim. How developed were they??

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They were large enough to look like an embryo, filling about 1/3 to 1/2 of the egg. I emptied the pan, washed it, cracked more eggs in, and the same thing happened again, so it happened twice in a row. After that I decided not to have eggs for breakfast, and never bought eggs from them again!

yay State Fair!

updated menu from this year from the exotic food vendor:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lASbuxT.jpg


i wanted to try the Python & Rabbit Sausage but got wierded out by it. so i got the Cajun Kangaroo.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/1DhaXen.jpg


oh i also got the scorpions which were a total ripoff. if i woulda know it would be $5 for two scorpions and random 3 gummie bears i probably wouldn't have bought it. /:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/oFSX3KR.jpg


Edit: so i didn't get my yearly serving of Alligator at the fair this year. i tried to seek out the jerky guy so i can buy some gator jerky for later but couldn't find him. ):

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

yay State Fair!

updated menu from this year from the exotic food vendor:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lASbuxT.jpg


i wanted to try the Python & Rabbit Sausage but got wierded out by it. so i got the Cajun Kangaroo.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/1DhaXen.jpg


oh i also got the scorpions which were a total ripoff. if i woulda know it would be $5 for two scorpions and random 3 gummie bears i probably wouldn't have bought it. /:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/oFSX3KR.jpg


Edit: so i didn't get my yearly serving of Alligator at the fair this year. i tried to seek out the jerky guy so i can buy some gator jerky for later but couldn't find him. ):

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OMG that's so weird and so cool!!!

i would totally try python sausage if i knew where the python came from; at a state fair i'd be a bit weirded out, too. i'd try the bugs, any of them! but LOL what's with the gummy bears??

venison is delicious. i'd eat ALL those burgers. girl, where is this marvelous food stand at!??

EDIT: THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: what did it all taste like!!?!???!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

but LOL what's with the gummy bears??

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i'm not sure exactly. i think it's consolation b/c u just paid $5 for 2 disgusting lil bugs Lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i'd eat ALL those burgers. girl, where is this marvelous food stand at!??

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fair food, specifically the Washington State Fair aka the Puyallup Fair. u know fair food. u know the event that has deep fried everything.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/PJ5wzDb.jpg

like butter:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/n77sEWX.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

EDIT: THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: what did it all taste like!!?!???!

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i've had Alligator before. the burger i had last year tasted crabby. the deep fried gator i had previously was overcooked and bland. i've had it in jerky but it tasted a lil fishy and like whatever it was seasoned like if i can recall (brown sugar maple or whatever).

the scorpions tasted like salty soft peanut shells and cardboard i guess.

looks my my pix link from the previous page are broken, so i'll report some pix:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

well i had my yearly serving of alligator this past Saturday. again at our state fair. this time i had it burger form.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/p5nlyDE.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/cMb0rlC.jpg

it tasted a lil crabby.


Edit: they also a python-rabbit sausage that i didn't try. kinda like a predator-prey fusion. maybe next year...

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/gM5CXEQ.jpg

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oh the Kangaroo sausage tasted different. i wouldn't say gamey, but i don't know how to describe it - just different.

Edit: and Lol i forgot, i've had Alligator in while New Orleans before. in sausage form and gumbo.

I'm going to the Big E (Eastern States Expo) this Friday. I'll be on the lookout for some vendors like that, but something tell me New England will not have much for adventurous food. Having worked with food my whole life I've tried a lot of different foods. I'll try just about anything twice.

ok i was unpacking some boxes last night and looky what i found! i knew i had it somewhere. imma eat it! :)

https://i.imgur.com/Khx62ZQ.jpg

We ate there last year too. A bit pricey I thought. Hubs had the sausage and the kids had the venison burgers. I didn't see the scorpions? Are those new this year?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

We ate there last year too. A bit pricey I thought. Hubs had the sausage and the kids had the venison burgers. I didn't see the scorpions? Are those new this year?

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yeah they added bugs this year. talk about pricey - $5 for two teeny, tiny scorpions!

Well that's dumb lol

ok i thought i would only have the opportunity to eat alligator once a year. but we went to this Vietnamese restaurant on Saturday and what do i find? a page of exotics on the menu including alligator:https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/4GqifUJ.jpg


i ordered the CA Sau Xuc banh Trang (Cay) which is alligator w/ lemon grass, mints, onions and chili peppers w/ sesame rice chips!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/Puh3D2O.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/RS7ca89.jpg


it was SUPER yummy!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/RfQzxvW.jpg


i must try the python next time!


Edit: oh i forgot to mention, this was at Rainier Restaurant/Rainier BBQ in south Seattle BTW. it has been featured on Anthony Bourdain's show!

Most unusual: Zebra, Cape buffalo tongue, impala liver, garlic butter snail.

Less unusual: Eland, kudu, springbok venison, Cape buffalo tail soup.

My freezer is currently full of elk, which, depending on who you are, may or may not be weird. :P

Wild Calling makes (or used to make, they're going bankrupt so I don't know what they have anymore) an alligator canned cat food. He enjoyed their other flavors, but did not seem impressed by that one. :rofl:

The most unusual things I've tried? Duck's tongue, bat soup (big ones, not those tiny fruit bats), dog stew, grilled python chunks on a stick, grilled porcupine chunks on a stick, monitor lizard, entire grilled squids, and turtle soup. To be fair though, where I'm from, most of these are popular foods, so not sure if these count [emoji14]

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If we're talking weird ... One of my favourite butties / sandwiches is one where you place your bread and butter down on the plate ... then spread a thin layer of apple sauce over the bread , then add a tablespoon full of garden peas which sink slightly into the apple sauce and stay in place and finally add a slice of spam ( cold or warm - depends if your at home or out and about ... fold the bread over and BITE .

I got the idea from a restaurant where we had gammon and apple sauce and freshly baked bread rolls ...


Tastes absolutely amazing providing you like spam/ peas / apple sauce of course .


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ok we went to the State Fair on Saturday and i was looking to my yearly lunch of alligator but chose to go a different route when i saw the menu.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/8WPfBJL.jpg

i choose to have the iguana sausage!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lO8jPEf.jpg


bitten! and it was not good. i didn't like it at all! we all took a bite and i had to end up finishing it.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/GZDjqmj.jpg

:puke:

i don't know how to describe Iguana but i was trying to keep an open mind but it just wasn't very pleasant to the palate. i had to have a few drinks to wash away that taste.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

ok we went to the State Fair on Saturday and i was looking to my yearly lunch of alligator but chose to go a different route when i saw the menu.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/8WPfBJL.jpg

i choose to have the iguana sausage!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/lO8jPEf.jpg


bitten! and it was not good. i didn't like it at all! we all took a bite and i had to end up finishing it.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/GZDjqmj.jpg

:puke:

i don't know how to describe Iguana but i was trying to keep an open mind but it just wasn't very pleasant to the palate. i had to have a few drinks to wash away that taste.

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How are they able to get hold of iguanas for food anyway let alone afford to use them as a food source?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

How are they able to get hold of iguanas for food anyway let alone afford to use them as a food source?

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probably the same source they get alligator, python, kangaroo, etc. etc. ??