Who has a more eclectic taste in FOOD than me?

[a_random_joel]

Since my eclectic music thread was such a hit...

1. Jewish heritage - Matzoh ball soup, Kreplach, Ladkes, Knishes, Corn Beef on Rye,
2. Argentinian heritage - empanadas, Argentine grill, matambre, dulce de leche, milanesa, chimichurri
3. I love Indian - Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori, Dal Maknhi, Naan bread, Muligawatany soup
4. Love Italian, of course
5. Ditto Chinese - Cantonese and Schezuan
6. Ditto Thai
7. Ditto Sushi - nothing too hardcore though
8. Ditto Mexican
9. Ditto Greek/Mediteranean
10. Vietnamese - Pho and spring Rolls, mmmm!

Of course I also love a good old cheeseburger and "freedom fries".LOL!

Come to think about it, I just love food. I won't eat bugs though. Or brains. Or tongue. Or stomach. Or intestines.

Please don't let this turn into a I can eat grosser stuff than you thread.

Is it lunch time yet?

[Systematic Chaos]

1. I can pretty much match you, with a couple exceptions

I don't eat red meat or pork and I don't have much poultry or seafood.

But other than that, I love ethnic foods and have tried most of the stuff you mention.

And I totally agree with you on the insects and nasty animal parts.

[johan]

2. hmm pretty varied

i dont know much about #1 and #2 yet but i am starting to catch up on those. from #3- #10, i can match ya and then #1 and #2, i can make it up with lebanese, turkish, persian and greek cuisine. yeah, when is lunch time.

[KCDem]

3. I can match you

but I don't eat red meat.

One of my favorite delicacies that I only had once: smoked eel. MMM, good!

Of course, being baked at the time may have been part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. :smoke: :hi:

[JVS]

4. Where is the Lutefisk?

[sangh0]

5. I got you beat

In addition to the ones you list, I also like Afghan, Russian, Korean, Moroccan, Syrian, Lebanese, Cuban and Chino-Cuban, East Indian (Caribbean), and Indonesian. And what about French food??

sangha - loves living in NYC.

[a_random_joel]

10. Russian, Korean, Moroccan, Cuban!

Forgot about those.
But no French. What am I some kind of Saddam, loving Commie?

Seriously, I like Beef Burgundy, but just have never been exposed to French much.

Looks like I know where to go to lunch now, thanks!

[lastliberalintexas]

6. Dude! No cajun?

You haven't lived until you have had true cajun cuisine. :9

[a_random_joel]

11. Ahhh yes!

Ooops! I love Cajun - Gumbo, Dirty Rice, jambalaya.

And I like Carribean jerk, if that counts for Carribean.

[bif]

7. I'll eat anytbing that won't eat me first

To quote George Peroit, a Detroit legend.

[supernova]

8. I've eaten everything on your list except

Jewish. But would try it just the same. Never knew anybody well enough that they'd cook for me. And there aren't that many Jewish delis here. LOL!

As for sushi beyond salmon, tuna, and eel, I've eaten sea urchin, abalone, octopus (it has NO flavor, it's just chewy), and most forms of roe.

Love, adore Thai food. esp spicy beef salad and the coconut curries.

Vietnamese is fun b/c of all the condiments you get: lime, fresh basil and mint, chili paste. You can make it as hot as you want!

Of course category: Italian, Mexican, Greek

We have a really nice Ethiopian restaurant here too. I enjoy it when I want a good vegetarian meal.

My new fav is a tapas bar that opened up recently. I'm going there tomorrow for my birthday lunch! :bounce:

[lastliberalintexas]

9. Ethiopian food is great

I've only been lucky enough to have it a few times, but it was wonderful. Really good seasonings and flavor- it reminded me a lot of Indian!

*sigh* I just love food.

[a_random_joel]

12. My b-day is today!

Happy b-day.

Speaking of which, I also like crab.

[bif]

13. Where's the czarnina?

Polish duck's blood soup.

[Syn_Dem]

14. Hmm

Well, since my parents own a international grocery store I've been able to sample lotsa things, lets see here..

Thai-been eating it every day of my life since I was a tot
Chinese-REAL chinese, not that egg roll crap
Vietnamese-Spring rolls and Pho Bo...mmm
Persian-their bread is so tasty
Japanese-sushi, and of course your eel with soy sauce
Mexican-love the jalapenos
Greek-again, excellent bread
German-went to Germany, loved it, good venison there
Italian-given
Korean-Kim-chi and Korean bbq

[SOteric]

15. I've traveled to a great many exotic places

and I've been certified a Sous Chef by the ACF. My mother and my brother are classically trained chefs, and my father is an importer, distributor of fine and gourmet foods of Europe and the Mediterranean. Both my parents were born and raised in Parma, Italy. I've spent more than a few of my summers growing up, in Europe.

I lived for a brief time in mainland China. I've spent time in Japan, Hong Kong, Bali, the Philippines and Singapore. -And spent several months in places like Luxor, Egypt and various Greek isles amoung others.

I don't know if my tastes are more 'eclectic' than yours. But I'm confident that I'm knowledgeable on a wide variety of foods and how to prepare them well.

[eyesroll]

16. In the past year, I have cooked from (mostly) scratch:

1. Cuban pulled-pork sandwiches with black-bean soup
2. Tapas for 8 -- just this weekend!
3. African fish stew
4. Russian meat borscht and sausage dumplings
5. Matzoh ball soup (with homemade chicken stock); chopped chicken livers
6. Saag paneer, mushroom masala, potato/cauliflower curry
7. A whole host of Mexican dishes; turkey mole negro was the standout, I think; I've also made goat-milk flan
8. A four-course French meal for four, with wine to match -- stuffed roasted tomatoes; fish dumplings; honey-lacquered duck breast; cheese plate with pears. Gougeres on the side.
9. Tagine of chicken and dried fruit with semolina cakes
10. Coconut-curried salmon with baby bok choi (fusion!)
11. Korean chop chae (noodles with vegetables and beef)
12. Vegetarian maki rolls (asparagus, turnip, mushroom, carrot, snap pea, etc.) with purple rice (9 parts sushi rice; 1 part black rice)
13. Moussaka
14. Chateaubriand
15. Turkey schnitzel with spaetzel

(And, to answer your question -- I live in the Milwaukee area, which has a fairly diverse restaurant scene for a city its size, and I'll try just about anything once)

I started cooking maybe three years ago, after we moved from a dinky apartment into a house with a basic, but HUGE, kitchen. I've never been one to start at the beginning -- just jumped in with both feet and allowed myself to make a bunch of mistakes...