Eat Before I Die

AN EVER-GROWING LIST OF FOODS I MUST EAT BEFORE I DIE

This is a list of food that I would like to try before I die, or as a record of food that I’ve eaten. I try to only list the food that is more exotic and generic (vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood, dairy) instead of a particular dish from a particular country. There are a few exceptions in the list, national food of each country for instance. I also only list the food that I think I have better chances of getting to try them in the future, so nothing beyond imagination like a particular yak meat in a particular town in Mongolia. Cuz that’s just silly.

I am sure there are a lot more I can put in the list, and suggestions are always welcomed. If you think there is particular food that I must try, please do let me know. I am a keen eater, always will eat everything once (so long it is not an endangered species). Some of the items in the list I probably have tried before in a very tiny small dose, which doesn’t count. So I still keep it open until I really do “taste” it and appreciate it.

  1. Abalone

  2. Acacha

  3. Ackee

  4. Alligator (Mississippi)

  5. Alpaca

  6. Baba Ghanoush

  7. Balut

  8. Bat

  9. Betel Leaf

  10. Black Garlic

  11. Black Pudding

  12. Black Truffle

  13. Bull Fries

  14. Century Egg (Pei Dan)

  15. Crocodile

  16. Durian

  17. Emu

  18. Escargot (snail)

  19. Foei Gras

  20. Four-Angled Bean

  21. Fugu (Puffer Fish)

  22. Frog

  23. Geoduck

  24. Gorgonzola

  25. Guinea Fowl

  26. Gruyere

  27. Hairy Crab

  28. Halloumi

  29. Jarlsberg

  30. Jellyfish

  31. Kangaroo

  32. Kobe Beef (not wagyu)

  33. Labneh

  34. Lamb’s Fry

  35. Lobster (Maine)

  36. Luwak Coffee (Cervil Cat Coffee)

  37. Macaron

  38. Mamey

  39. Mangosteen

  40. Moreton Bay Bug

  41. Mantis Shrimp

  42. Marron

  43. Matsutake mushroom

  44. Meyer Lemon

  45. Natto

  46. Palenta

  47. Petai Bean

  48. Pig’s Trotter

  49. Purple Carrot

  50. Sauerkraut

  51. Sea Cucumber

  52. Snake

  53. Squid Ink

  54. Squirrel

  55. Stilton Cheese

  56. Stinking Bishop

  57. Stinky Tofu

  58. Sweetbread

  59. Tripe

  60. Uni (Sea Urchin)

  61. Venison

  62. White Truffle

  63. Wild Boar

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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }

Howard November 14, 2009 at 1:14 pm

I’ll try fugu with you, flick a coin to see who goes first lol!

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Daniella November 22, 2009 at 10:04 pm

you should also try to eat Mamey – its a really strange fruit – kind of like an orange Avocado in the texture – but different swetter taste
good luck!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamey_sapote

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Billy January 8, 2010 at 7:19 pm

Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve added into my list :) but where can I get them?

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boon December 9, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Billy January 8, 2010 at 7:21 pm

I do have cevil cat coffee at home brought back from vietnam. More or less the same :)

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ayelet tibon December 13, 2009 at 9:49 pm

there are several interesting and unique foods that you missed…
snails (which are actually quite yummy)
Puffin (a type of gamy wild bird local to iceland)
and if you never tried greek grilled octopus than you are seriously missing out!
well those are just a few off the top of my head but there are still so many wonderful things you should try
norwigen smoked whale is amasing like a fishy roast beef

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Billy January 8, 2010 at 7:23 pm

ive had snails, is in my list. Puffin sounds interesting. I try not to include cooking genre into the list, so octopus yes i have had it, but not greek style I guess. :)

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Kym January 10, 2010 at 1:25 pm

Lebanese vine leaves? They’re really easy to find.
Red cargo rice
Dragon fruit (or is this too common?)
Yam leaf/sweet potato leaves
Bonito flakes
There’s so much on my mind…

Does anyone know where I can find stinky tofu in Sydney?

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Frances February 15, 2010 at 2:52 am

Your list is very interesting….
I LOVE stinky tofu.
You must try the one that’s stew in spicy broth!
The fried one is more common though. Personally, I love the stinky tofu I got in Taiwan.
Whale….I “accidentally” ate it once in Japan….but it’s really not worth killing an endangered animal.
Would you consider taking whale off your list?

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Jojo March 16, 2010 at 1:16 am

Oh no! Don’t eat whale…

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Rain March 16, 2010 at 4:48 pm

Best stinky tofu can be found in Taiwan, it’s yummy, don’t let the smell fool you.

Whale taste horrible, its like rotten fish, soft and mushy:- in Philippines

What about Shark? You can get Shark steak in Sri Lanka, bit let me warn you, its yucky

Deep fried crickets? In Cambodia, this is niceeee…

Tryyyyyyy it

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Asti March 29, 2010 at 2:54 pm

I thought you said in brackets (as long as it’s not an endangered species) but you have whale on your list….i’m not being politically correct, just a bit intrigued with the contradiction.

what about dog or horse? they are not endangered and some people do eat it.

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Billy March 29, 2010 at 3:04 pm

you are right. I’ve taken the whale off. sorry about that. I would eat dog and horse. I think my theory is I don’t encourage killing endangered species and definitely will not make it to become a staple diet.

the list is purely things i am intrigued and would like to try, perhaps even just one simple bite. Imagining ‘we’ eat almost everything during prehistoric period and no one complained. I think there are a lot more factor that cause the distinction of endangered species than just mass killing and also a lot more way to protect it, and by not eating it doesn’t help if the destruction has already started. I am not expert on this issue and definitely would not like to get involved into a love-hate discussion. My opinion is neutral and would prefer to stay that way.

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Ana April 22, 2010 at 10:01 am

Hi Billy! How did you find the balut?

Hehe

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yvonne April 22, 2010 at 6:53 pm

have you tried turtle?
mainly served in soup – also you can drink the blood, i think.

i have tried fugu – i like the texture but not worth risking your life over more than once!

oh, also – raw chicken – you can have it at certain place in japan.

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Olga May 25, 2010 at 2:59 pm

Buckwheat

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Andreas @ MyGourmetFeast~> June 1, 2010 at 9:10 pm

Stinky is amazing, but many people get put away by the smell, it sends signals to the brain,(some science facts) But it is amazing.

I wouldnt risk my life for fugu, unless it is prepared by a top chef, which they have some in Japan, not sure where however :)
good luck!

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Mel July 30, 2010 at 10:13 am

I absolutely love this idea. I have a bucket list and once I completed y top 100 looked back and realised that over 50 of them were food related. I have it on the brain.

Anyway I have just started my own blog and am in the process of getting inspiration from all the peopel like you woh have been there and done that.

Congrats on two years bday

Mel

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Hannah August 19, 2010 at 11:19 pm

OMG.. how can you not have tried foie gras before?!?

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