Beef Tartare from an Automat

[curtA]

Over the years, I have had the chance to try a variety of interesting dishes from several cultures. In looking back, the beef tartare that I got out of an automat in Holland probably was not my best choice. No harm, no foul. Are there any chowhounds that have sampled questionable, exotic, or fringe items, that they would like to share?

[tony]

Several years ago while bartending in Missoula, Montana, I was offered and tried a piece of lemon pepper bobcat. The texture was along the lines of "chicken-pork."

[foodfirst]

Ant egg omelet -- a delicacy in Lao. I was feeling adventurous, for some reason. The ant eggs were not good, not bad, in fact they had no taste whatsoever, but halfway through my second bite I just knew I would vomit and had to run for the bathroom. It was all in my mind, apparently: "Ant eggs are not food."

[StriperGuy]

I am of the "I will try anything once" school which in general is a good approach, but...

I have eaten wild boar, porcupine, and other wild things with delight.

The one thing that got me in trouble: I was in Dakar Senegal having dinner with a friend of mine and his father having Jolof rice, the national dish. Kind of a spicey more varied paella. Quite delicious.

The three of us were eating out of a large common bowl and his father offers up a homemade condiment that he says is made out of milk. My buddy basically says "I would not eat that nasty crap." Me being the slightly cocky, and "I will try anything once" guy, and not wanting to offend his dad poo pooed him.

It tasted kind of salty, like a cross between feta cheese and spoiled milk...

Let's just say I spent the next three days with my digestive tract punishing me in every conceivable way for eating that "nasty crap"!

[ronr]

I consider myself an open minded eater, and relish such oddities as sea urchin roe, beef tendon, pig's ears, feet, hocks...At my favorite sushi bar, I once had squid liver marinated in sake.

But, thousand year old egg was not my cup of tea!

[Scagnetti]

I've tried calf fries, also known as mountain oysters, which for you non-Texans are bull testicles. When they're coated in batter, deep fried, and dunked in cream gravy they taste just like any other meat that's been coated in batter, deep fried, and dunked in cream gravy.

[curtA]

I was tapa hopping in Jerez de la Frontera and ran across the Spanish version of the same delicacy. Of course, the name was in Spanish when I offered to order some for my sister. Being adventurous, and unknowing, my sister dove in. Is this worse than serving pork fat to a vegetarian?

[Shepherd B. Goode]

Seagull jerky. From Orland, CA. Alleged to be the only way a non-terminally-starved human can eat seagull. The Donner party might have tolerated it, just.

Funny, though, Orland also produces the most tasty mild large banana peppers I've ever eaten...

[fry]

egg-salad sandwich from gas station.