Comments on: Eating strange things: the fine line between adventurous and stupid

By: Fearful Girl

Fearful Girl — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:13:00 +0000

Mmm. Special snake soup. I’m hungry.

By: E Wrigley

E Wrigley — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:01:21 +0000

These are the rules I normally go by too! Eat what’s freshly cooked – go where the locals are going.

Like other posters, I’ve never actually found anything too spicy on my travels yet, I have heard that it is best to drink a hot drink, such as tea too alleviate the effect of a too hot chilli, but have never tried it.

I think the most bizarre foods we’ve seen for sale were at the ‘Night Market’ in Beijing this Easter. There you could buy anything from a deep fried seahorse or start fish to a deep fried spider – there were many live wriggling insects already skewered waiting to be bought which would then be deep fried.

We only saw locals buying these, the few tourists there such as ourselves were just taking photos! Even my husband who will normally try any delicacy declined!

By: james willcox

james willcox — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:16:07 +0000

Number 3 is spot on. The pizza WAS a local delicacy, as were bacon sandwiches and pints of beer. Good stuff doesn’t stay a local delicacy for long.
Also beware anything marked as medicinal food. If you have to advertise that it is good for you then it probably tastes rough.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:25:49 +0000

Exactly the same experience Jack. Sri Lanka, guide wouldn’t stop to let us buy spicy cashews from street vendor as they were too spicy for us. It was 13 years old and I was too timid back then. Now I would have spoken up!

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:20:43 +0000

Love the post – wise words. If someone tells me ‘this might kill you as you’re not used to it,’ I’m inclined to take their advice.
But on the other hand, regarding spiciness, a guide in Sri Lanka warned that the food he was eating, and which I wanted to try, might be too hot for my western palate to handle. Turned out milder than the average Rusholme curry :)

By: Marsha

Marsha — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:33:46 +0000

Think that is why when I was in Thailand and saw the ladies washing the plates in the river that despite how good the food smelled I didn’t order!

By: Jeffrey Willius

Jeffrey Willius — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:56:16 +0000

Hi Andy — Just came across your wonderful blog and look forward to seeing more of it.
I love this post. A couple of your suggestions — especially 3 and 4 — are very insightful. Thanks!

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:13:48 +0000

As someone who has traveled and suffered from the effects of food poisoning these tips are well taken. But like you said #5 is one that you have limited control over. I still enjoy sampling street food but I make a point to only try the ones where the most locals are. It’s good to be adventurous but as you point out there is no need to be stupid about it.

By: Traveling Ted

Traveling Ted — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:10:32 +0000

Hilarious post especially number 3. While I was in the Philippines I never tried balut which is basically an embryo in an egg. I kind of regret it, but the only time I came across the dish was coming home from a bar at 3am, and I thought it was not a good time to try something that might not agree with me.

True about the affect water has or does not have on providing relief to a too spicy mouth. In fact, it can make the problem worse by spreading the spiciness around the mouth instead of quelling the fire.

By: Eurotrip Tips

Eurotrip Tips — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:07:48 +0000

I just don’t see the point in adventuring in gross foods – try bungee jumping if you need adrenaline, don’t screw your stomach up abroad!

By: The Travel Chica

The Travel Chica — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:16:27 +0000

I like the tip about people gathering round to watch you eat something. When people gather around to watch you do ANYTHING, it’s probably a bad idea.