O is for Omnivore's Hundred

O is for Omnivore's Hundred. I usually decline to participate in memes, but couldn't resist this one originated by Andrew Wheeler of Very Good Taste and first seen over at Dragon Knitter's. There's no tagging – participate or not as you wish.

Andrew says the meme is a "list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food - but a good omnivore should really try it all." His further rationale is both thoughtful and thought-provoking.

The rules:
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 on Very Good Taste, linking to your results.

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 (aka dirty water dogs)
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 (I prefer a soup plate)
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (smoke is a seasoning, but ew)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (bugs accidentally ingested while cycling don't count)
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 (I'm counting chocolate stout)
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin (as a medicinal)
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
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 (I prefer Maine-style lobstah)
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

I find the list highly personal and a bit odd – some things are seasonings, some eatables, some drinkables (one smokeable), some are meals, some seem tilted more toward bravado than culinary enjoyment, and some omissions baffle me. Ah well, to each his own. Of Andrew's 100, I've eaten 80 items and wouldn't consider 3 items. Of the remaining 17 items, I can't say I'm really pining to try anything. A meal at a Michelin Guide 3-star restaurant would be nice, although I find tasting menus a bit fussy. Hm. Perhaps I need a list of my own or multiple shorter lists of favorite things, things I'd like to try, and (especially) things I'd like to grow. Hm....

Meanwhile, knitting has been occurring roundabout Exit 151! I'm on track for the UCC scarf swap. There's no spoiler photo of the scarf, but here's my first sock for the Ravel*****s sock put, Spring Forward by Linda Welch, worked in Black Bunny Fibers (a Summer of Socks sponsor!) BFL Sock in colorway Audacity, with a gold toe. Perhaps some would call that elitist, even though the sock is pictured on a DIY sock blocker.



I lovelovelove the lustrous yarn and the pattern. I'm less happy with the contrast toe – the concept is fine, but the color and texture are not quite right. Nancy was kind enough to offer some of her amazing semi-solid hand-dyed, which I think will work much better, not to mention it's a noodge to finish that second sock, just to see what it will look like.

The extra bit of motivation is welcome, as my wavering attention has already turned from the Ravel*****s to the upcoming U.S. political conventions. Here's my favorite sign so far, which will greet Republican conventioneers in Minneapolis.

Redacted 6/26/12: The Ravelry event formerly known by a name that rhymes with and supposedly infringes on the Olympics™.