I try to be open-minded and try local cuisine when I travel. That is not to say I always am. So far insect cuisine is off my menu and I declined to order a whale steak in Iceland, where it is legal to eat but I had an ethical issue with it. I guess by that logic I should be more open to eating bugs as they are healthy and a very sustainable source of protein. Subsequently, this list may not seem very adventurous as there are no insect dishes. Not sure there ever will be though.
1. Sitges, Spain- Bacalaitos. No not the tasty Puerto Rican fish fritters that Abuelita used to make. I only thought they were. In Catalunya they were lightly battered black little fish, eaten whole. Yes heads, tails and all. Didn’t taste bad, if you pulled off the heads the bitterness disappeared. Actually tasted somewhat like my childhood memory. But eventually you get tired of beheading your food. Seriously, couldn’t finish the never-ending bowl.
2. Inverness, Scotland- Haggis. When in Scotland I was told I must try it. Apparently it’s all the nasty bits of animals, seasoned heavily, and stuffed in a sheep’s stomach, or something like that. It’s everywhere. It isn’t as bad as it sounds. It is grainy, gray and has a very mineral-rich taste. Hard to explain. It wasn’t horrible, but I wouldn’t order it again. If you’re in Scotland, try it for yourself.
3. Trogir, Croatia- Weird sandwich that was grilled and included pickles, ketchup, eggs, and cheese. It looked horrible, kind of messy to eat as you can imagine, but was quite tasty.
4. Keane, New Hampshire- Ostrich Burger. The outside was gray and the inside blood red which was a little off-putting. Also the burger had large holes where the plumes were. You really don’t want to take off the bun and have a look! However, this healthier alternative to the traditional hamburger was very yummy.
5. Bruges, Belgium- Kangaroo in Bearnaise Sauce. Not only weird because I was eating Kangaroo (which tasted a lot like beef), but also the fact that I was eating it in Belgium of all places, in a French sauce, with the iconic Belgian Fries.
6. Reykjavik, Iceland- Horse Medallions. Also horse carpaccio. Horse is downright tasty! Don’t judge!
7. New Orleans, Louisiana- Fried Alligator, Fried Rattlesnake. They really do taste like chicken, but with a bite (pun intended).
8. Barcelona, Spain- Snails in Rabbit broth and fried rabbit pieces. Very traditional Catalan meal that was one of the best meals I have ever had!
9. Quebec City, Canada- Moose in Bearnaise Sauce. Frankly you can put shoes in Béarnaise sauce and it will taste good. Still the moose was lean, not too gamey, tender, and quite rich. A perfect mix of Canada and France, like the city itself.
10. Annapolis, Maryland- Soft Crab Sandwich. Yes you eat the entire crab whole. Looks like a big spider in between bread. It was quite tasty, cooked in bacon grease, until it wasn’t. Not sure what the VERY bitter part was, nor do I suspect that I want to find out. Now that I live in Maryland I suspect I will have it again, hopefully without whatever that was.