Bizarre Food show and strange, new foods

I was raised in a moose-and-fish-eating family. That helped. And then my older half-brother married a Japanese woman when I was about 7 or 8, and we ate at their place a lot and so I got introduced to a whole pile of new flavours. Also, having an adventurous palate was always praised and admired by my family. As a child I was considered "picky" because I didn't like the fat on meat or mushrooms. That was the extent of what I didn't eat! And you know, we just got some moose this fall and I *still* don't like the flavour of the fat! I'm learning to like mushrooms though. And as a child I wasn't overfond of salmon eggs either, although I ate the eyes and the milt when offered. I still don't particularly like the flavour of salmon eggs, but I love the texture and sometimes that's enough.

I think you have to start small, and to look at every new food as an adventure for your palate. It might be a bit scary, and it might not taste good - but you'll never know until you try! Start with "easier" strong flavours, like wild mushrooms, interesting cheeses, anchovies, smoked mackerel, different kinds of pate...?

I can't even think what the strangest thing I've eaten would be. Mosquitoes? (tasteless) Herring eyes? (taste like bland, mineraly, fishy watery jello) Something I have no idea what it was, but came in a dish DH's grandma ordered in a restaurant? (She's Chinese. We have awesome family dinners.)

As for how I learned to cook meat: The Two Fat Ladies. Find their cookbooks, and worship at the altar of their awesomeness.

I wonder if it was my thread - about the wrestling episode? That one was hysterical! You should check out No Reservations too, I think I like Anthony Bourdain better - he's gets a little deeper, in a weird, spiritual kinda way. I loved his episode with Ted Nugent!