Omnivore’s 100

Thanks to Chocolate & Zucchini, I discovered The Omnivore’s Hundred, an eclectic and entirely subjective list of 100 items that Andrew Wheeler, co-author of the British food blog Very Good Taste, thinks every omnivore should try at least once in his life.

He offered this list as the starting point for a game, along the following rules:
1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten. (I’ve added a few annotations in italics)
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4. Optional extra: post a comment on Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

My list follows; I am missing 31 items, really all of which I’d be willing to try, although I’ve struck out the ones that I know would require some prodding. Two years ago my list would’ve looked rather different.

Even if you don’t have a blog, play along. My thoughts about the list are below.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea (I’ve had lots of other herbal/medicinal teas, though)
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp (I can’t say this would be on my 100)
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho (It makes me very happy that Toronto has some Pho that rivals that in Vietnam)
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart (As a Chicago guy, I say this should be from a cart or stand, but I’ve had both)
16. Epoisses (although I’ve had other pungent and/or unpasteurized cheeses)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream (Most recently, I had some from Vijay, who replied “It says, but does not contain” when I asked if the transliteration from Hindi on the container meant pistachio)
21. Heirloom tomatoes (any kind will do quite nicely, but there’s a yellow variety the size and shape of Roma tomatoes we are growing this year that’s super yummy)
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese (for some reason this has always turned me off)
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (I don’t have anything against raw peppers, though, and I would put money on having eaten a hotter pepper raw in India. It was SUPER small and SUPER hot. Although I was ready for hot, I was not ready for the longevity or increasing intensity. Thai chiles are awfully hot too.)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (ahh, memories of Sete)
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda (The Italian in-laws aren’t from Piedmonte)
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (I’ll pass on the bread bowl, though)
33. Salted lassi (I’ve had seemingly every variety of sweet lassi, and salted buttermilk, so I can imagine.)
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float (I have a real soft spot for these, but I haven’t had one in years)
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (I won’t smoke. Anything. Period.)
37. Clotted cream tea (I’ll take chai – true Indian style – over this anytime, though)
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O (I especially like the ice wine jelly my mother-in-law sometimes makes)
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (Not sure I can use the plural or not, but there was at least one cricket in Thailand)
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk (Although not straight. But it was straight from the goat into the pan, cooked over a fire with the tea and sugar and served to me fresh)
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more (I don’t think it has to be malt whiskey. I’ve had some premium liquor, although I’m not sure any was to this price level)
46. Fugu (Realistically, not every omnivore will have the chance to eat this one.)
47. Chicken tikka masala (I usually prefer it without the masala)
48. Eel (Unagi!)
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal (But not for a long, long time)
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (I’m pretty sure, at least. I’m a vodka guy.)
58. Beer above 8% ABV (I’m pretty sure, anyway. I know I’ve had 8% at any rate.)
59. Poutine (This is on a short list of things to eat. Especially now that I’m in Canada. I’ve been holding out for some good stuff to initiate me, though.)
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads (This may be on the shorter list of things I’d like to try.)
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian(The second bite was pretty darn good)
66. Frogs’ legs (I believe frogs are now endangered in France thanks to rIAm’s relatives and the ginormous pile of them foisted upon me to eat).
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis (This is not on my short list)
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (I’ve had roe, but not “caviar.”)
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill (I can’t say this really is appealing)
76. Baijiu (The Thai and Lao rice whiskey should count)
77. Hostess Fruit Pie (bleh)
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini (but Kir Royale is nice)
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. (Oh, but which one!)
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse (I had been hoping to try horse in France, but it never happened)
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa (Based on similar things I’ve had, I think I would like this an awful lot.)
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano (mmmmm)
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor (This is a good example of the arbitrary-ness of the list)
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (I’ll stick to tea)
100. Snake (Once, and probably only once)

The list is as fair as any other would be, I’m sure, but there do seem to be some odd choices. I think a good omnivore should be willing to try a great many things, so in that way, the list makes sense. But I’d probably say toro sashimi over Fugu and I’d make room for fresh sweet corn on the cob. I might have said 100% blue agave tequila instead of cognac, or perhaps a grand cru from Bordeaux (or, for that matter, any grape wine!). I might have also included duck or bison, or perhaps chicken feet or tripe.

I’d also include som tam, although tom yum is good too. Or kesar mangoes. Blueberry pancakes. ceviche or Italian seafood salad. Fresh young herring. Poi.

In any case, there’s my 100. Be sure to include a link to yours in the comments.