The Omnivore's Hundred

Here's a little fun thing I picked up at Very Good Taste and will be updating as I go. You guys should do one too. And I would love to hear what you think and what is on your list.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.

2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.

3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros

4. Steak tartare

5. Crocodile

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue

8. Carp

9. Borscht

10. Baba ghanoush

11. Calamari

12. Pho

13. PB&J sandwich

14. Aloo gobi

15. Hot dog from a street cart

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes

19. Steamed pork buns

20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes

22. Fresh wild berries

23. Foie gras

24. Rice and beans

25. Brawn, or head cheese

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper

27. Dulce de leche

28. Oysters

29. Baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut

35. Root beer float

36. Cognac with a fat cigar

37. Clotted cream tea

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O

39. Gumbo

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more

46. Fugu

47. Chicken tikka masala

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal

56. Spaetzle

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine

60. Carob chips

61. S’mores

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst

65. Durian

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (I’ve had all of these!)

68. Haggis

69. Fried plantain

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho

72. Caviar and blini

73. Louche absinthe

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie

78. Snail

79. Lapsang souchong

80. Bellini

81. Tom yum

82. Eggs Benedict

83. Pocky

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

85. Kobe beef

86. Hare

87. Goulash

88. Flowers

89. Horse

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam

92. Soft shell crab

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor

98. Polenta

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

100. Snake

Sea bass, the yummy frontier

My interest in sea bass first appeared in the summer of 1993 while watching "Jurassic Park" in the theatre with my parents.

A little odd, I know.

When Richard Attenborough, playing Jurassic Park's owner John Hammond, offered sea bass to his guests, my then 11-year-old mind thought, "'Spared no expense,' huh?"

I had to have some.

Well, I finally got up the courage, and chance, to get some sea bass a few months ago at a restaurant called The Flaming Pineapple. The FP is in a town named Moselle, about 20 or so miles from where I'm currently living. With the sun already past set, I got lost in the dark on the way there and back.

Thank you, Mississippi for not believing in the idea of street lights.

The waitress brought out my plate: a 6-inch long, 3-inch thick piece of sea bass surrounded by sweet potato fries (a favorite of mine).

The smell was incredible; it made me giddy with anticipation of the meal I was about to eat.

And the taste?

Usually I reserve the term "melt in your mouth" for things of the chocolate and gooey variety, but this sea bass was an exception.
Each bite was a melty bite of grilled buttery fish goodness.

The sight of fish skin usually makes me gag, but in this case it only enhanced the flavor of the fish meat, giving it a salty, tangy burst.

Whether sea bass is normally delicious or cook of the Flaming Pineapple is a genius, I'm not sure. But it's certainly worth another trip, try and taste!