One of the things that made humans successful is our ability to eat anything. I'm fascinated by what people will — and won't — eat.
Maybe you have see the "Beijing Fast Food" e-mail that's been floating around. If not, here it is.
Well, I would eat any of it. Once at least.
It's funny how whether something is delicious or disgusting is entirely cultural. We eat cows but not horses, rabbits but not rats, lobsters but not roaches. Goat, enjoyed everywhere but here, is healthy and flavorful. We'll eat pigeons and doves but only if they're called squab. The whole bug and worm kingdom is off limits to us, which is too bad, really. We eat okra and lima beans and eggplant — go figure.
Until early in the 20th century, lobster was considered poor people food, sold in the streets of New York. A friend and I were talking about "po folk" food. Give me a shoulder or belly cut any day, where can I get some jowls? Filet mignon is tender but flavor-deprived.
You want a real eye-opener, visit the Asian markets and especially the candy and snack aisles. Shrimp-flavored candy, anyone?
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