558678 Fri Sep 19 07:27:38 -0700 2008 371 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4046813 Recently a conversation with my friends centered around widely loved foods that I just don't like. They were giving me a hard time(in good fun) because a lot of the food I love, they find weird, but some foods I dislike, they thought EVERYONE enjoyed. The list includes -hollandaise -parmigiano reggiano(I stil use it in recipes that call for it, but don't find it special) -bacon and/or cheese on burgers -french fries -potato chips -ribs -chicken noodle soup -snickers Ever had the experience of not loving a widely accepted food and being the odd (wo)man out? Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Fri Sep 19 07:27:38 -0700 2008 82243 ArikaDawn 1 4046858 I don't like a lot of fruits. I find they taste like perfume. So when everyone is excited about peach season, they don't understand why I'm not. My mom has trouble remembering and keeps offering me peach pie to take home. Soft drinks. I don't like anything carbonated. Fri Sep 19 07:38:59 -0700 2008 4046813 139219 Sooeygun 1 4046954 I agree with most things on your list. I don't see the allure of french fries unless they are prepared like the ones I have had in France and Belguim. My additions to the list: Brussel sprouts Asparagus Lima beans Coffee Milk Mangos and Papayas Pam Fri Sep 19 08:10:27 -0700 2008 4046813 60822 Pampatz 2 4047059 Mangos? When you can buy them "para hoy" in Michoacan? I'm surprised.. Fri Sep 19 08:40:38 -0700 2008 4046954 57170 Veggo 2 4050046 I doubt that everyone supposedly loves brussels sprouts, and Lima beans. Sat Sep 20 17:58:22 -0700 2008 4046954 36661 Sam Fujisaka 2 4050317 mangos and papayas - here, here - i think they taste like dirt Sat Sep 20 20:23:03 -0700 2008 4046954 15572 Emme 3 4051799 I get that dirt flavor from a mango every once in a blue moon. I've never had an ataulfo (called champagne, too?) taste that way, though. Sun Sep 21 20:03:39 -0700 2008 4050317 24126 amyzan 1 4046991 Ketchup. I hate ketchup. I'll put anything but ketchup on my fries (mayo, malt vinegar, ranch dressing, honey, brown gravy). Fri Sep 19 08:21:46 -0700 2008 4046813 12144 CeeBee 2 4050320 that's hilarious. i'll put ketchup on anything. Sat Sep 20 20:23:21 -0700 2008 4046991 15572 Emme 2 4059954 i totally agree. i hate ketchup and think it ruins a perfectly delicious french fry. Now mayonnaise on the other hand i think is a perfect fried spud condiment Wed Sep 24 22:39:18 -0700 2008 4046991 44450 asiansensation007 3 4089397 Third here. I cannot stand it. I once bought some in the early 2000s, you know, just in case I need it, and then discovered the un-opened bottle 7 years later. It was maroon in color, and even more scarier than its natural state. Tue Oct 07 18:25:24 -0700 2008 4059954 53259 emerilcantcook 2 5184527 Agree. Ketchup is my most reviled condiment. I can't help but look down on it. The only thing I use it for is to put a glaze on a meatloaf. Sun Nov 15 20:50:29 -0800 2009 4046991 75881 vorpal 3 5198114 While I don't put ketchup ON anything I will put it in. Hard to make a good bbq sauce without it. Sat Nov 21 07:19:00 -0800 2009 5184527 12072 Googs 1 4046998 I don't like most sweets, especially chocolate. Rarely have dessert. Recently I added green papaya to my Do-Not-Like list. Fri Sep 19 08:23:19 -0700 2008 4046813 75332 Gio 1 4047047 Hmm..I agree about the potato chips, for the most part, though I did have ones that were freshly-made which were pretty good. Others on my list: Olives (Olive oil is just fine though) Strawberries (they are ok if really, really ripe) Chicken Wings Rasins Peanuts Bananas (its a texture thing) Orange, Apple and Grape juice I am allergic to dairy products, so whenever people rave about great pizza/cheese/ice cream/milk chocolate I am automatically out of the conversation. If/when I explain that I can't eat dairy products their reaction is "But how do you LIVE?". Fri Sep 19 08:36:42 -0700 2008 4046813 227190 pickledtink 2 4047314 pickledtink, I'm mostly with you on this one. Olives and raisins gross me out, and while I *LOVE* dairy, it makes me sick. I have been known to damn the torpedos and eat ice cream now and then and just suffer the consequences. Fri Sep 19 09:52:32 -0700 2008 4047047 225071 Bonnie Celt 2 4050326 some similarities here... hate olives *and* olive oil hate bananas - taste not texture oranges strawberries (and i'm allergic) avocadoes and guacamole (people don't seem to get that *their* guacamole will taste no better than anyone else's because it's still made from avocadoes) mangos, papayas bell peppers ginger cilantro salmon coconut black beans, actually most beans are not yummy to me blue cheeses white potatoes (love the skin though) nuts (except pistachios) gosh, i sound impossible to feed. Sat Sep 20 20:27:31 -0700 2008 4047047 15572 Emme 3 4051039 Oooh, finally someone else who doesn't like black beans! I do love every other kind I've tried, but something about the black beans just turns me off. Not the appearance, it's the flavor. Sun Sep 21 09:40:56 -0700 2008 4050326 143696 Catskillgirl 3 4058457 I like Emme's comment about the guacamole. I like guacamole, but can also understand that some people don't. Why do people continue to advocate for a food choice even when they know the person they are talking to/eating with doesn't like that food choice? Is it a rejection thing? Example: I like avocados. You don't like avocados. That must mean you don't like me, or I am not worthy. I also get annoyed when my husband gets into this "come on, try it" war with me or with one of the kids. Why can't people accept that sometimes you just don't want to "try it"? It's not that you are rejecting THEM, you are just rejecting that particular food at that particular time. Food I don't like: eggs that looke like eggs, with a separate yolk and white. Scrambled or in an omlette are just fine. Not egg salad. I know, weird. Fish, if I have to prepare it. If it's prepared by & served to me by someone else, that's OK. There are also a bunch of things I HATED as a kid, but now like: brussel sprouts lima beans ham scrapple Wed Sep 24 12:11:52 -0700 2008 4050326 90359 PattiCakes 4 4058538 The way your husband asks you to try something is completely between the two of you, but you just answered your own question about why people may ask you to try something: things you hated in the past you may like now. Tastes change. Wed Sep 24 12:31:05 -0700 2008 4058457 15217 gini 5 4065476 Gini, I'm sorry if I hit a nerve with you; it's possible you did not grasp my point. It's not the initial offering of "come on, try it", it's the 3rd, 4th 5th or 6th insistance when it has become patently obvious thay the potential "trier" really doesn't to try it at that point. It's the "you really don't understand what' you like or not so I am going to force you to be educated in order to raise you tastes to the lofty level of my tastes". It's also the underlying attitude that someone else's tastes are better than yours. And it's not just my husband. Here's a sample conversation: "What! You don't like cheese? How can you not like cheese? Come on, try a bite. No, come on try some. I know you'll like it if you just try it. Hey Joe, can you believe she doesn't like cheese? Aw, come on try it. You won't even try it? You may like it, you know. Well, I guess you'll just never know what you are missing." Yes, our tastes change, but they should be allowed to change in their own good time. Maybe it's me, but I tend to appreciate something more if I have some ownership or control in the discovery and the process. Sat Sep 27 05:04:58 -0700 2008 4058538 90359 PattiCakes 6 4067158 You don't like cheese?!?! :P J/K. Sun Sep 28 04:46:00 -0700 2008 4065476 15217 gini 7 4075790 wow this conversation really struck a nerve with me. There are thousands of different cheeses in the world all with different tastes and textures all completely different from one another. I hate gouda ,ok. I hate american cheese, fine. I hate swiss, I will accept. I hate all cheese, no way now you have crossed a line. That is like me not liking a chair and saying "i hate furniture." Just silly unless you are lactose intolerant in which case you should still love cheese but hate the cramping. Wed Oct 01 19:47:44 -0700 2008 4067158 226303 keith2000 8 4075897 Exactly. I spoke below about 2 coworkers of mine who hate all cheese. Just doesn't make sense to me! Wed Oct 01 20:40:36 -0700 2008 4075790 66556 Solstice444 8 5200123 I am not lactose intolerant and I hate ALL cheese. Why is that hard to believe? And yes, I have tried numerous kinds over many many years. Just the smell of parm makes me queasy and the bagel guys know to make mine with lox, NO cream cheese or there will be wrath to pay! :} The only exception is possibly ricotta, but only in cake form, and only if made so sweet that I cannot tell there is any cheese in there:} How is my dislike of cheese silly when I am an adult and clearly know that I simply do not like it? Sun Nov 22 10:19:08 -0800 2009 4075790 16149 NicoleFriedman 9 5202432 I guess the reason why I find it hard to believe is that it's sort of like someone saying they hate all fruit, or all vegetables, or all meat. Just like parmesan cheese is totally different from cheddar, and has a totally different flavor and texture, an apple is totally different than a banana. I guess in my experience people don't tend to hate entire groups of something like that. I guess that's why it doesn't make sense to me. I'm sorry if I offended! Mon Nov 23 09:54:28 -0800 2009 5200123 66556 Solstice444 10 5203493 No offence taken:} I must admit though it can be frustrating even though I understand where you are coming from- because I've had to explain numerous times "Yes I've tried gouda, cheddar, ricotta, parm, soft cheese, semi hard cheese, hard cheese, french cheese, cheese from antarctica..." Admittedly I've never tried Sardinian maggot cheese, but then again I doubt most people have either:} At some point, they do get it! :} Mon Nov 23 15:23:14 -0800 2009 5202432 16149 NicoleFriedman 9 5202496 I'm with you Nicole, I DON'T like cheese. I think it's so overrated. The only one I can kind of handle is parm on occasion (only sprinkled). Mon Nov 23 10:10:18 -0800 2009 5200123 18011 Jacey 8 5200218 My adult son loathes dairy, including cheese. Didn't get it from me, but he's been like that from birth. Sun Nov 22 11:16:35 -0800 2009 4075790 11995 pikawicca 6 4547246 Research suggests that many people have to try a new food 10 times before they come to like it. Sat Mar 28 17:21:17 -0700 2009 4065476 11995 pikawicca 4 4059968 it's so weird how pedantic and righteous people get about certain foods and getting people to love them/their food... my grandmother is notorious for this conversation: Me: I don't like _____. Her: Yes you do. You love it. Me: No, I really don't. Her: You love it; you ate it all the time with me as a kid. Don't be stupid. Me: No, I really don't like it. I don't think I ate it as a kid, and if I did, I didn't like it. Her: What the hell is the matter with you? With a mouth like that, you're not gonna have any friends. Me: You're probably right. "Come on, try it" is so irritating... I'll try anything once, unless it's made of inredients I'm allergic too and/or don't like... smothered in blue cheese? Not gonna like it. Filled w/ bananas? I'm sure, thanks. Made w/ gluten? Yes, yours too will upset my stomach, I'm certain. Wed Sep 24 22:48:20 -0700 2008 4058457 15572 Emme 5 4062519 I'm going to argue the other side of this. My boyfriend has some pretty particular tastes, and there are some things he just doesn't like. I respect that. BUT there are tons of things he hasn't tried and just assumes he won't like - like, say, pesto or Indian food. I know he likes similar things (ie, basil for the pesto) but he just doesn't want to try something unfamiliar. It's really hard for me when we eat together if he won't even give new foods a chance before ruling them out. If he tries something and still doesn't like it, fair enough - but at least try a bite off my plate. Thu Sep 25 19:30:40 -0700 2008 4059968 10681 piccola 6 4074913 piccola, i feel your pain on this one. my sister is the same way. she insists that she just *knows* she won't like certain things, so she refuses to try them. i just don't get that. HOW can you know what something will taste like if you've never tried it?? it drives me nuts. she's never tasted shellfish of any kind - says she thinks she just won't like the taste & that it doesn't appeal to her...yet she'll eat tuna salad made with canned tuna, which is some of the fishiest stuff on the planet. and she thinks I'M insane because i love herbs & spicy food, and i don't like most of the stuff she lives on, like ice cream, milk chocolate, sugared cereals, bottled salad dressing, & ketchup. people are weird. Wed Oct 01 12:48:15 -0700 2008 4062519 103920 goodhealthgourmet 7 4549074 I'm the same way with my boyfriend!!! It drives me nuts! He just won't try anything, and thinks I'm weird for eating what I do. Sun Mar 29 14:06:36 -0700 2009 4074913 264146 kubasd 6 5203529 I'm with both PattiCakes and Piccola. Regarding Piccola's point, I get frustrated when someone refuses to try something just once -- how can you assume you won't like something before you know what it tastes like? On the other hand (PattiCakes' point), if it's the third or fourth time someone's tried something and they really don't like it, it's rude to keep trying. I may not be picky with my food, but it's no personal insult to me if other people are. Mon Nov 23 15:35:41 -0800 2009 4062519 1125109 amtriska 4 4075773 It isn't always a rejection thing Patti. Understand that there is a ton of otherwise deliscious food that is prepared very badly. You gave the example of guacamole. Guac is one of those blank canvas foods (much like potatoes). It can taste like pretty much anything depending on how the cook makes it. I have had a lot of very bad guac in my day but I still love it because I know it's potential. I simply hate definitive statements. To say that "I hate all guac!" is such a closed minded statement to me. This is when I advocate for a food. If I feed a person the best guac on the planet and they still don't like it then fine i accept that. If someone has only eaten that garbage in the plastic tub then I simply can't accept that as a catalyst to hate the food forever. Also, kudos to your husband. Kids should have to try new things otherwise you get young adults who won't eat anything but fried chicken fingers. Wed Oct 01 19:38:45 -0700 2008 4058457 226303 keith2000 5 4076726 I hate all guac. How would you prepare guac to change my mind? What is the best guac on the planet? Thu Oct 02 08:35:48 -0700 2008 4075773 106053 stephanieh 6 4077498 you'll never get consensus on the best guac on the planet Thu Oct 02 13:14:05 -0700 2008 4076726 109905 laliz 6 4078492 Nevermind. Not the point of my post. Thu Oct 02 21:18:31 -0700 2008 4076726 226303 keith2000 7 4078983 Your point seemed to be that if someone said they didn't like something, you became a "food advocate" (in your own words). Yet, you refuse to help me like guac, which was the example you chose. So, instead, can you provide any example where your food advocacy worked and you brought someone over from the dark side? Fri Oct 03 07:01:04 -0700 2008 4078492 106053 stephanieh 8 4080872 ok steph you win. I can't help you. I could say a lot more but I am sure that you would only see the parts that make you right and me wrong. This conversation makes me both bored and sad. Fri Oct 03 23:31:25 -0700 2008 4078983 226303 keith2000 9 4107871 Nope, you're neither bored nor sad. You just don't want to invest the brain power in an argument. Thu Oct 16 04:49:25 -0700 2008 4080872 227202 vtnewbie 5 4083926 I didn't like guac until I was in my 30s, and it had nothing to do with how it was prepared. It was just the texture of mashed avacado itself that turned me off on it- didn't like the mouth feel at all. Tried it again after a couple year gap, and I didn't have the same texture issues about it that I used to. And you can find some decent grocery store guac these days. Our preferred brand brags that it is 97% avacado, and has a minimal but nice mix of spices added to it. (And oddly enough, it costs the same per tub as the stuff next to it that is like 60% sour cream) Sun Oct 05 18:02:51 -0700 2008 4075773 11781 beachmouse 6 4087157 Thanks beachmouse! I may be ready to give guac another shot, if I can find one that's mostly avocado. I think my issues were mostly with texture as well, but I don't remember liking the flavor either. I'll admit, it's been awhile, but we eat Mexican food out all the time, and every now and then they sneak some on my plate (which used to gross me out). It's one of the only things I can think of that I have an issue with the actual color, as well as texture and taste. We recently went out with friends who ordered some as an appetizer and they were enjoying it so much, I was a little curious. But, I didn't want to try it in front of them (in case I made a weird face). They weren't exactly offering to share, either. (And, contrary to what a lot of CHs believe, I wasn't screaming at them "OMG I can't believe you're eating that foul disgusting stuff". I wasn't even thinking it. I was thinking, "maybe that's better than what I remembered".) It did look different than what I've seen before. It kind of had a fresher more homemade look. I'll see if I can get past my issues. Mon Oct 06 23:58:44 -0700 2008 4083926 106053 stephanieh 7 4087918 Sometimes the guac has a high proportion of what I would think of as salsa ingredients, chopped tomato etc. So mixing some salsa into the guac might help, or then, you might decide you'd ruined some perfectly good salsa. I understand about it being a texture thing, that's my problem too with most foods I don't like. Don't get me started about raw celery. Tue Oct 07 09:41:54 -0700 2008 4087157 13445 Louise 8 4088300 Louise - i'm always curious about people's texture issues [i have a couple of my own]. what is it specifically about the texture of celery that turns you off? stringiness? Tue Oct 07 11:51:12 -0700 2008 4087918 103920 goodhealthgourmet 9 4549081 The strings!! ugh... I shudder just to think of it, it sends shivers down my spine, seriously.... And the same with the pith of oranges... Removing it has become such a chore that I've abandoned eating oranges entirely... solely clementines for me :( Sun Mar 29 14:10:23 -0700 2009 4088300 264146 kubasd 8 4088551 Hmmm. Weird. I don't mind raw celery, but am not a fan of cooked. Same with green peppers. And texture has nothing to do with it. Jello on the other hand... <shudders> Tue Oct 07 13:12:46 -0700 2008 4087918 53671 Davedigger 8 4089595 I also hate raw celery...and bok choy for the same reason. Not only is it the stringiness and smell, it's the sound in my head it makes when I crunch on it. Now I feel crazy. :P Tue Oct 07 20:08:39 -0700 2008 4087918 11955 silleehillee 9 4090595 i, for one, don't think you're crazy, silleehillee. the mere thought of dried coconut of squeaking between my teeth makes me shudder. Wed Oct 08 09:35:15 -0700 2008 4089595 103920 goodhealthgourmet 8 4094959 I don't like raw celery either, but really just b/c of the taste...I feel like it tastes like nothing. I think it's b/c my mom craved celery when she was pregnant with me. I must've gotten sick of it in the womb! Fri Oct 10 00:24:24 -0700 2008 4087918 66556 Solstice444 8 4097921 As a follow up... we ate at a Mexican restaurant today, and my meal came with guac on the side. I tasted it... just a really tiny bite... and then another... and it wasn't as disagreeable as I'd thought it would be. I can't say I like it yet. There's still a bit of a texture issue. Not to mention that this particular guac seemed to have the high ratio of sour cream that beachmouse noted. (And I love sour cream, so can't figure out why that's a turn off when it's in guac, but it is). Baby steps. Sat Oct 11 12:20:04 -0700 2008 4087918 106053 stephanieh 3 4058687 To some, cilantro takes like soap, it is thought to be genetic. I love it, but you may want to visit ihatecilantro.com. Wed Sep 24 13:15:08 -0700 2008 4050326 222384 dvsndvs 1 4047074 Being from Louisiana, my family eats a lot of cajun food, seafood, and the like...i think i am the only one in my family who doesn't care for shrimp. I used to hate when my mom would boil a big pot of shrimp and smell up the whole house...my family still gives me a hard time about not liking it. Fri Sep 19 08:44:46 -0700 2008 4046813 157030 iluvtennis 2 4047776 Two of my good friends won't eat shrimp but enjoy crab. Shrug. Fri Sep 19 12:28:28 -0700 2008 4047074 184593 givemecarbs 2 4052367 I don't like shrimp either. I keep trying it, but nope, just don't like it. I love crab and can tolerate lobster in small amounts, but no shrimp! Mon Sep 22 06:57:03 -0700 2008 4047074 158403 jcattles 1 4047076 I'm not a fan of most cakes, candy and chocolate. And I hate frosting - even if it's homemade, it's just too much. I also don't really like heavy or rich foods, ie, cream sauces or super cheesy casseroles, whatever. On the other hand, I haven't met a fruit or vegetable I didn't like, even the so-called gross ones like okra and Brussels sprouts. Fri Sep 19 08:44:59 -0700 2008 4046813 10681 piccola 2 4048492 i'm with piccola on everything except chocolate. and i have to add orange juice, apple juice, American cheese, dark chicken or turkey meat, & coconut. oh, and ham. i love bacon, prosciutto, pancetta...but not ham. Fri Sep 19 18:07:46 -0700 2008 4047076 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4051161 Oh, I forgot about juice! Blech. And I don't hate chocolate, I just don't love or crave it. I can go without. (Note: Chocolate bars like Snickers, etc, are the only kind of chocolate that actually tastes gross to me. Sun Sep 21 10:57:51 -0700 2008 4048492 10681 piccola 4 4052733 I'm with you on the chocolate thing, most of my gfs think I'm crazy, but they love coming over because my Mum sends chocolate in care packages all the time that I never eat! Also with GHG, don't like ham but bacon, prosciutto, etc is all great stuff. Also can't stand processed cheese, orange juice, coffee, I'm sure I'll think of others... Mon Sep 22 12:51:24 -0700 2008 4051161 69079 starlady 3 4075812 Tasso ham is very different from the ham you are talking about. Most ham is booty but Tasso is special especially if you like prosciutto I think you might like it. Wed Oct 01 19:54:52 -0700 2008 4048492 226303 keith2000 3 4549083 I'm with you on the American Cheese.... I won't eat anything that has american cheese on it, it just grosses me out! Ugh, it tastes like chemicals Sun Mar 29 14:11:46 -0700 2009 4048492 264146 kubasd 1 4047130 Good thread! Pork products, including bacon. I find that it makes dishes heavy, with a greasy mouth feel. Chicken stock. I don't hate it; I just find it pushes dishes in the same direction and there usually are far more appropriate ways to add roundness, salt, and umami. Dinner mints and candy canes. Dried, flaked, coconut - except in macaroons. Most "jalepanoed" things. They have their place, but not in chips, cornbread, etc. Provel "cheese" on a pizza. (It's a St. Louis thing.) There's more, but that's it for now! Fri Sep 19 09:03:16 -0700 2008 4046813 95291 Richard 16 1 4047163 tofu - no flavor, hate the texture salmon - salmon loaf ruined this fish for me Fri Sep 19 09:12:51 -0700 2008 4046813 26725 swsidejim 2 4549088 psst.... tofu actually has a great flavor.... I use it in salads to create a creamy tasty dressing... but I guess that's my opinion, and i respect yours.... even if i'm fighting myself to stop me from trying to change it...... lol Sun Mar 29 14:13:54 -0700 2009 4047163 264146 kubasd 2 4646721 I make a wicked tofu pie that would have you screaming for more (seriously). Fri May 01 15:21:21 -0700 2009 4047163 11995 pikawicca 1 4047203 Ooh totally! I really don't like onions very much. I've been able to tolerate them lately but I prefer my dishes without onions. Other things...I really don't like pumpkin pie and everyone else seems to love it! I'm also not a fan of chicken wings (though I love boneless) or any sort of dark meat chicken. I've been chastised for this many a time! Fri Sep 19 09:23:20 -0700 2008 4046813 112406 Chew on That 2 4047460 I would never chastise you for not liking dark meat. I don't like it either. But I don't personally know anyone else who doesn't like it. Fri Sep 19 10:36:35 -0700 2008 4047203 139219 Sooeygun 3 4047652 I don't like dark meat either - you're not alone! I also don't like pasta.....I can sometimes tolerate eating it when it's part of a bigger dish. But I hate the smell of it cooking. Fri Sep 19 11:45:26 -0700 2008 4047460 227241 food kitten 4 4047787 wow, i couldn't imagine a world without pasta. i've never heard that one before. what about the smell of rice, barley, polenta, et cet.? Fri Sep 19 12:33:06 -0700 2008 4047652 219739 MaxCaviar 5 4079142 Rice makes me a little queasy cooking too, but everything else I'm fine with..... I think it's bad childhood/college memories of eating pasta night after night after night after....... Fri Oct 03 07:58:26 -0700 2008 4047787 227241 food kitten 3 4047893 I'm so with you on the dark meat - I just don't like it. I do try it from time to time, but nope, I just don't like it. And the closer to the bone the less appealing it is to me. To me dark meat chicken or turkey has a slimey feel to it, regardless of how it's prepared. I guess that's why so many people think that white meat is dry - they *like* that slimy feeling! Fri Sep 19 13:12:08 -0700 2008 4047460 143696 Catskillgirl 4 4048001 Add me to the no dark meat list! Fri Sep 19 14:00:59 -0700 2008 4047893 82243 ArikaDawn 5 4048644 Yes! Dark meat is definitely slimy! Coffee Pork chops Bananas Orange Juice Oranges Grapefruit Milk chocolate, plain in a bar (like Hershey's chocolate bar)...I don't like smores unless they are made with dark chocolate! But I'll eat Milky Ways or Snickers, as long as it's not a plain milk chocolate bar. Steak (I'll eat it if it's on the menu at a bat mitzvah or something, which was the case earlier this year, but never go out of my way to order it...I really just don't see the appeal!) As for potato chips, I really don't like plain potato chips, but I like almost any potato chip flavor. Just would never buy plain or eat plain! Fri Sep 19 19:33:25 -0700 2008 4048001 66556 Solstice444 3 4050349 i can barely tolerate white meat and my sister won't go near dark meat. growing up, that made holiday dinners really easy on my family. the only thing we fought over was who had to do the dishes. Sat Sep 20 20:39:55 -0700 2008 4047460 27741 augustiner 4 4082177 I'm with you on dark meat. Partly due to my upbringing; everything was cooked well-done-plus, and only the dark meat had any flavor! (Seems to be a common malady in Irish-American households....) Even now, I think that white meat poultry is almost tasteless. Other items: Cinnamon. On anything. Coconut Raspberry sauce/drizzle/filling on chocolate or coffee desserts. For a while in the 90's, it seemed that it was almost impossible to get a chocolate cake or tiramisu at a restaurant w/o some raspberry in t! Melted cheese on sandwiches (including - especially - burgers); cheese on pasta and pizza is fine. ANY cheese for breakfast. A waitress at a place I frequent for breakfast always gives me (good-natured) grief when I order my omelet w/o cheese. (Aside: The convenience store chain Wawa recently started making (well, assembling) breakfast biscuits to order; they used to be pre-made. I decided to give them a try one morning, only to find out that cheese was premixed into the eggs!) Citrus fruits, though I like, and in a few cases love, juices and sauces made from them. Tofu Sat Oct 04 17:53:24 -0700 2008 4050349 101727 brandywiner 2 4098189 Onions. Especially raw onions. And very especially raw red onions, which seem to have permeated every restaurant plate thelast few years. I despise the things and spend far too much time separating them from the rest of my meal. Also, I loathe eggs in most straight-up forms. Boiled, fried, scrambled, quiches, egg salad... all make me deadly nauseous. Liver and/or pate. Leeks (see onions). Raw garlic or overdosing on cooked garlic. I like hummus when it has balance in the flavors, but most seem to use it just as a vehicle for garlic delivery.. One of the more frustrating things is going to a nice restaurant and perusing the menu, seeing all kinds of interesting dishes, and having many of them spoiled for me by one or more of the disliked things being added to the plate. Sat Oct 11 15:37:52 -0700 2008 4047203 12103 Greg B 1 4047217 Apples Roasted Turkey Cornish Game Hen Bananas on their own Poached eggs Boiled eggs Deviled eggs Cottage Cheese Fri Sep 19 09:26:49 -0700 2008 4046813 11990 Janet from Richmond 2 4047250 I feel so much better after reading this thread. I thought I was a horribly picky eater :D I don't like olives. Or an olive "spread" on a sandwich. Or onions or chopped tomatoes or jalapenos chopped up and mixed into my food. Fri Sep 19 09:35:03 -0700 2008 4047217 165021 Firegoat 3 4049335 oh, goodness...thank you, firegoat! I feel better! Olives top my list - the rare exception being the occasional one stuffed with bleu cheese and sitting in Grey Goose on the rocks... Fennel, anything curry, and cilantro are also right up there! Sat Sep 20 08:35:03 -0700 2008 4047250 227410 DanaL55 1 4047417 I don't like any seafood or shellfish of any kind. And YES, I've tried it, prepared all kinds of ways by the best chefs and in the greatest holes-in-the-wall. Everyone always says, "well, you just haven't had it prepared right." YES I HAVE! I think shrimp have the texture of ear cartilidge and they smell, and I think even the most mild whitefish is "fishy" tasting, I just don't like it. And yes, I've eaten sushi, yes, I've tried lobster, yes, I've tried all of it, I don't like it. It just seems unacceptable to so many people. Fri Sep 19 10:24:08 -0700 2008 4046813 19518 rockandroller1 2 4047439 LOL BLESS YOU! I love hearing someone say.... I just don't like this, completely unapologetically. I get so sick and dang tired of if we dare to say "i don't like this" the chobs will come down on us and insist that we really do, we just aren't doing it right.... or we're just white trash trailer park material. Fri Sep 19 10:31:26 -0700 2008 4047417 165021 Firegoat 3 4047476 Given a choice, I wouldn't eat anything that lives in water or swims. Period. And I've tried some of the best, prepared by amazing chefs (in the course of business - when you market fine dining, you eat what the chef prepares for the most part). Just don't like it. Fri Sep 19 10:42:12 -0700 2008 4047439 17827 cyberroo 2 4048641 I could just say "ditto" to this whole post. When people bug me about it I have decided to say, "well, then, there's more for you!" Fri Sep 19 19:32:00 -0700 2008 4047417 139180 Blush 2 4050006 I'm so with you on the fish. Worst dinner I ever had was some kind of poached white fish on a bed of olive tapenade. Ugly, smelly with NO redeeming value. The worst part about it was that it was prepared by a new friend and we were eating in their home for the first time, so we had to eat it. Wonder what happened that couple. Haven't seen them in years. Sat Sep 20 17:22:51 -0700 2008 4047417 60822 Pampatz 2 4067065 I know exactly what you mean rockandroller. People are always telling me I should eat X type of fish, but it all tastes fishy to me. I can't stand shrimp and salmon is just vile tasting. I guess I can understand people getting upset and dismayed and shocked when I tell them that. I get that way when people tell me they don't like chocolate. Sat Sep 27 23:45:45 -0700 2008 4047417 116495 Avalondaughter 3 4067463 im sooo with you on salmon... i don't like most fish, wish i liked salmon bc of the omega 3's and whatnot, but it tastes so metallic and fishy to me... yipe. same for swordfish. actually the only fish i don't mind is blackened halibut or blackened ahi (though it needs to be rare for me). everyone tries to tell me how "mild" whitefish is... no it's not. it tastes like fish. fishy fish. i do like lobster, but really only the claw. not a shrimp fan, and i've learned to like scallops (something id never thought would happen). can't stand mussel, clams, oysters, etc... texture and taste. and i do eat sashimi, but only a couple fish that i don't find fatty or overly fishy. and i've tried whatever was put in front of me, so i'm not close-minded; it just hasn't worked out. :) Sun Sep 28 08:56:27 -0700 2008 4067065 15572 Emme 1 4047431 I'm a vegetarian so people assume I like all vegatarian food. Not true - I'm a fairly picky eater (though I've tried to be less so). I prefer not to eat... olives (they are the one food I cannot eat at all), mushrooms, cheesecake, cream cheese, all stinky cheeses, goat cheese, cola, flan, peas by themselves, eggs with runny yolks, curry. Fri Sep 19 10:29:53 -0700 2008 4046813 100863 soxchik 2 4048616 I'm in the don't like olives club too - hate walking by the briny bins in the grocery store even. Why is it most places insist on putting olives on vegetarian pizza? ick. Fri Sep 19 19:16:36 -0700 2008 4047431 138472 maplesugar 2 4051166 So just tell people you're vegan. :P At least the cheese and eggs won't be an issue. Won't help for the peas, though. Sun Sep 21 10:59:12 -0700 2008 4047431 10681 piccola 2 4079489 I'm replying to my own post because of a funny incident the other evening. I went out for a celebration dinner to a fine restaurant with arguably one of the best chefs in town. Amazing, fresh ingredients, inventive and stunning preparation. I had the tasting menu and one of the dishes was primarily freshly foraged mushrooms (2 or more varieties) and a perfectly poached egg. I wanted to like it. My DC kept telling me to think of the runny yolk as just a sauce. I ate the entire thing and didn't like it at all. Some things, no matter how much I try or how perfectly they are prepared, I just don't like. Fri Oct 03 10:04:56 -0700 2008 4047431 100863 soxchik 1 4047484 honey cooked carrots Fri Sep 19 10:45:32 -0700 2008 4046813 40746 Peg 1 4047565 - corn, unless part of a tortilla or chip - most soups: will occassionally eat pureed veg (squash, etc) soups, but nothing based on a broth - most tree fruits (apples, pears, oranges) - melons - white bread - any carbonated beverages - runny eggs (more because of texture than taste) - standard burger condiments (ketchup, mustards, relishes, etc) - sugar - salt (these last 2 might explain many of the others!) however, I do eat olives daily! Fri Sep 19 11:14:09 -0700 2008 4046813 144892 Dan G 1 4047581 1. Cilantro 2. Blue cheese or any others like it being sold under an alias Fri Sep 19 11:21:03 -0700 2008 4046813 65804 grampart 2 4052120 For years I thought Cilantro was toxic; tasting like Barbie Doll Hair, but I ate blue cheese dressing on anything that wasn't moving (Atkins Diet-I used to think it was a free food!) NOW it's flipped- Cilantro is my happy, green friend and blue chz gives me the willies. Mon Sep 22 04:02:55 -0700 2008 4047581 110426 Boccone Dolce 1 4047584 Shellfish, esp. mussels. They look like waterbugs and that alone is enough so that I'll not have them. Sushi. Anything that was once living and is now eaten raw or just about raw. I don't do raw in general. Also, fruits that require peeling (I know, I know) and cereal. Growing up, I ate so much innards and I definitely avoid eating them now. Fri Sep 19 11:22:38 -0700 2008 4046813 12045 gloriousfood 1 4047627 peanut butter peas milk ketchup salad dressing as opposed to mayo I've been asked if I really am U.S. born n bred! ;-D Fri Sep 19 11:37:35 -0700 2008 4046813 111267 meatn3 1 4047861 milk chicken green beans ketchup grapefruit cooked raisins anything strawberry flavored Fri Sep 19 13:03:13 -0700 2008 4046813 11327 lizzy 2 4048011 I don't like grapefruit either, BUT a few weeks ago I made grapefruit sandwich cookies, I had to, and they were divine. They're on my blog if you're interested. Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Fri Sep 19 14:04:38 -0700 2008 4047861 82243 ArikaDawn 3 4048283 I think the cookies sound really good, and I may have to try your recipe. My problem with grapefruit isn't really the taste, but instead the way my teeth feel after I eat it. The only way I can describe it is, they feel like all the enamel has been stripped off and if my teeth were to touch I would be extremely grossed out. I do not have this problem with other citrus, and I know I sound like a complete loon...but just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. Feel free to mock me now. Fri Sep 19 16:16:03 -0700 2008 4048011 11327 lizzy 4 4106912 That is exactly the way I feel after having any sort of diet drink. My teeth just feel all weird, like there's a strange coating on them. If I grit my teeth, the resulting sound is just weird and wrong. This is true to a lesser extent with other foods with sucralose or aspartame (like yogurt), but with drinks it's just so pronounced since it gets all over your teeth. As for my hated foods that everyone else seems to like: buttercream frosting, royal icing, fondant, marzipan. barf, gag, ugh. I think I must have had a really bad experience with a cake when I was younger. Less sweet frosting I'm okay with. Wed Oct 15 15:24:45 -0700 2008 4048283 16363 mogo 5 4107733 Thanks for reminding me, I have to add fondant to my list. I decorate cakes but for the life of me, I don't understand the fondant thing. I took a bite once and could not swallow it. It was like tasteless chewing gum. Fondant that is enrobed in chocolate candy is not included in my list. I LOVE that stuff. Wed Oct 15 23:42:20 -0700 2008 4106912 196419 Kate is always hungry 6 4108668 Oh, I hate fondant in chocolate too. Especially those Easter eggs where the fondant is white and yellow. I remember very clearly opening one of those for the first time when I was 6 and being absolutely horrified by the ooze. Thu Oct 16 10:44:50 -0700 2008 4107733 16363 mogo 7 4549100 haha, I hate fondant on cakes, but loooove the cadbury easter eggs with the fondant center.... so delicious! Sun Mar 29 14:22:43 -0700 2009 4108668 264146 kubasd 5 4108217 Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. :-) Thu Oct 16 07:54:28 -0700 2008 4106912 11327 lizzy 3 4049321 ROFL! Vile, bitter, angry... a fruit with real issues. I love red grapefruit in any form and will definitely be making these cookies. Just as soon as I have a working oven. Sigh. Now I have yet another reason to get the damn oven fixed.... or get my alternate oven installed! Sat Sep 20 08:26:13 -0700 2008 4048011 143696 Catskillgirl 1 4047889 - meat- grosses me out, I have never liked handling it - milk - refried beans- its the smell and the appearance of them - avocados - jello Fri Sep 19 13:11:07 -0700 2008 4046813 219367 at24 1 4047896 Beets...in any form, especially borscht. yams and sweet potatoes in most recipes, except sweet potatoe pie, which I love! Fri Sep 19 13:13:58 -0700 2008 4046813 51743 crewsweeper 1 4047975 Tomatoes (raw), tomato soup, tomato juice. People get so incredulous that I don't like tomatoes and go on and on and on- but summer tomatoes are the best! Finally I resorted to saying I am allergic! I love to cook and use tomatoes in cooking -marinara sauce, etc.People just refuse to believe that I don;t like tomatoes. Fri Sep 19 13:49:32 -0700 2008 4046813 13202 emilief 2 4047999 I agree about fresh summer tomatoes. I have never been a big fan of raw tomatoes from the grocery, they are hard, tasteless and a weird color. However, I did a garden this year and I have crossed over to liking tomatoes! The ones from the garden are incredible -it is like night and day. Fri Sep 19 14:00:05 -0700 2008 4047975 219367 at24 1 4048058 Besides all meat, fish and poultry, I catch the most slack for not liking dark chocolate. I know I'm "supposed to", especially as someone who has a fairly studied palate, but it does nothing for me. Other dislikes include: Oreos Earl Grey tea Mustard on a sandwich (pretzel, veggie burger, etc. okay) Mushrooms Eggplant Runny eggs Raspberry flavored anything Orange/chocolate combined Ranch dressing! Bernaise/Hollandaise Fri Sep 19 14:26:11 -0700 2008 4046813 92744 invinotheresverde 2 4049939 ditto on the Earl Grey. the smell of bergamot makes me gag. chamomile too. Sat Sep 20 16:22:20 -0700 2008 4048058 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4055813 ditto on the orange chocolate combined Tue Sep 23 13:32:29 -0700 2008 4048058 109905 laliz 1 4048068 I don't know if they're widely-liked or not, but, turnips. I have not come across a way to cook turnips that I've enjoyed. They have a funk that I just can't get past. Fri Sep 19 14:29:32 -0700 2008 4046813 57371 operagirl 2 4050055 Lots of people don't like turnups. Sat Sep 20 18:02:19 -0700 2008 4048068 36661 Sam Fujisaka 2 4056454 I learned to like them eating them raw like a peeled apple. Try them grated raw on salads. Tue Sep 23 17:30:27 -0700 2008 4048068 93538 Passadumkeg 2 4106845 Maybe you just haven't had good turnips. I'm not a huge fan of most turnips, but I absolutely love the ones from my local farm stand, which are small, young Japanese turnips. Cooked simply - steamed or roasted - with a little butter, salt and pepper, they are fantastic - sweet, slightly crunchy, juicy and delicious. Almost a completely different vegetable than standard supermarket turnips. Wed Oct 15 14:56:08 -0700 2008 4048068 98500 Bat Guano 1 4048099 I don't know what made me stumble into this thread, but I find it heartbreaking - there is not one single item listed here (except Pam! Who eats Pam? And ketchup) that I don't adore. The only "normal" food that many people like and I don't is sweet custard, though I love every thing that goes into it. I'd think it was about the tastes of sugar and egg together, except for the fact that I love eggnog...is a puzzlement. Fri Sep 19 14:38:04 -0700 2008 4046813 11478 Will Owen 2 4048172 WO, I'm with you...although I'll also eat that custard, thanks so much (yay! more for mememe!) BTW, operagirl - try those little ole turnips roasted (cut 'em into nice little wedges first) in a 450 or 500 degree oven along with some potatoes and onion quarters. (I say this based on watching several turnip haters devour them when roasted as part of a large, mixed-veg platter.) I'm trying to take th broader,kinder view that everyone's different anatomy makes for literal physcial differences in palates that can lead some to dislike so much food, glorious food. There are things I wouldn't want to eat everyday...but there's no big deal about eating ...almost anything. And absolutely anything at least once to decide maybe I wouldln't want it on my plate every day. (Yup - one of those weird folk who really truly envy that Zimmerman fellow!) Fri Sep 19 15:15:53 -0700 2008 4048099 11599 Alice Letseat 3 4549111 see, I find a common bond with Zimmerman.... I'll try anything once, no matter what it is. Actually, I'll try it a couple of times to make sure I REALLY don't like it. The only thing i'll ever ask to be left off a plate is green peppers. For some reason I just hate them, and I love all vegetables.... Sun Mar 29 14:25:50 -0700 2009 4048172 264146 kubasd 2 4048219 Sorry WO, I hate to break your heart, but I don't love custard either =). I'm not someone who reviles at certain foods when they're put in front of me. I'll eat nearly anything I am served, but I could honestly go the rest of my life without the foods on my list and not bat an eye. I simply cannot appreciate a french fry or a potato chip in the way I do most other foods. Don't know why. Just, no thanks. Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Fri Sep 19 15:42:01 -0700 2008 4048099 82243 ArikaDawn 3 4049506 Count yourself lucky, then. The calories I've ingested from french fries during my lifetime must be in the millions! Potato chips are also way up there. If it's bad for me I'm addicted, it seems. Sat Sep 20 10:02:21 -0700 2008 4048219 143696 Catskillgirl 4 4049610 If only I had an aversion to all calorie laden foods. I may not be a chip/fry eater, but no cheese is safe in my presence. Arika htt://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Sat Sep 20 11:02:12 -0700 2008 4049506 82243 ArikaDawn 5 4049683 Me, too...i wish i hated chocolate instead of being positively addicted to it. I envy those of you who truly don't like the taste of foods loaded with calories...lucky! Sat Sep 20 11:46:37 -0700 2008 4049610 157030 iluvtennis 1 4048162 I don't like salmon unless it's raw. canned tuna, I'll eat it fresh/raw. -dark meat chicken or turkey- excessive mayo broccoli stems egg yolks (I really, REALLY have to be in the mood) Sausage<----strangest one, I'll cook with it but I don't really like it. bananas (there, I said it!) wings (again, I have to be in the mood) Hershey's Chocolate -and for that matter, hot cocoa. red wine (cook with it fine, but not to drink I get horrible headaches) Fri Sep 19 15:08:23 -0700 2008 4046813 110426 Boccone Dolce 2 4049412 Wow...I have a listed posted above, but I agree with everything you have on yours, too! I will only eat raw salmon as well, although I did cave when I was in Alaska and had it cooked. I have to say that I liked it, but it was like no other cooked salmon I have ever had (being on the east coast) because it was wild, fresh-caught stuff. Do you like white wine? I find that I don't react well to wine in general, but I seem to tolerate white a little better than red. Sat Sep 20 09:11:43 -0700 2008 4048162 227190 pickledtink 3 4052125 White wine is great-it's the red that gets to me. I once had the best red wine ever at a friends home. It was called Opus. It was red, and he ran to open it when he heard that I didn't like reds. Oh my G-d it was the most perfect wine I ever had in my mouth. He and I slowly drank the whole bottle while my husband played pool. No headaches!!! Too bad that wine is so spendy. Mon Sep 22 04:10:19 -0700 2008 4049412 110426 Boccone Dolce 4 4549116 completely unrelated to the topic.... but i love that you said "so spendy"!!! I say that all the time. And yes, I've had opus one, and it is a darn amazing wine..... Sun Mar 29 14:27:39 -0700 2009 4052125 264146 kubasd 1 4048251 I was glad to see that most of the dislikes I have are shared. When I was younger I had many more, my pallete has become more tolerant with age. I am on board with many commonly disliked foods (liver, brussell sprouts, cauliflower), although others I kinda like (asparagus, broccoli). Other things I like but my body doesn't (mellon, lychee, milk) On my odd dislike list: Berries: almost any berry except Strawberries (love them) Sweet pickles (but I love dill) Eggs in general, but especially if they are the least bit soft Pumpkin (even as pie) Bivalve shell fish (mussels, clams etc), but i like shrimp, crab, lobster Plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots (i like pears, apples) Peanut butter flavored anything (cookies, candy, etc; but i like peanut butter itself) Mush (polenta, oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits - definitely a texture thing) and most irritating to most people of all my dislikes, Coffee. The smell is great, but I can't stand the taste. I even avoid tiramisu or coffee ice cream if i can. And yes, I have had some excellent coffee. It is wasted on me, all i taste is bitter, bitter, bitter. Fri Sep 19 15:56:59 -0700 2008 4046813 57890 KaimukiMan 1 4048335 Whole olives because I can't get past the slimy feel. Cottage cheese, because I had too much of it as a child Ive never liked mayonnaise or the derivative sauces. poached, boiled or deviled eggs. I don't understand what the fuss is about shrimp and lobster.I'll eat them but they dint taste like much to me. Creme brulee/flan because I had it almost weekly as a child. I can't get past the mouth feel of raw oysters. Fresh mango tastes like turpentine to me. Coconut tastes like soap flakes to me, but I love druian. Go Figure. . Fri Sep 19 16:38:37 -0700 2008 4046813 22220 Kelli2006 1 4048380 This is a fascinating thread. I'm totally surprised regarding the variety of dislikes - heh - especially since this is a forum of food-obsessed Chowhounds. One of the things I had always enjoyed about dining with my fellow CHs is that they really expanded my horizons since they will eat and try anything. In fact, I was just commenting to my husband that it was so much easier cooking for a group of Chowhounds since they eat everything. Now that we're in AZ and cooking for family and friends, it's so much harder because every one has their own set of likes and dislikes. Fri Sep 19 16:58:48 -0700 2008 4046813 10271 Rubee 2 4048426 Any type of hot cooked cereal - oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice - all make me gag. But I love oatmeal in cookies, granola and granola bars. And I will tolerate polenta, but prefer it solid and fried. Fri Sep 19 17:32:28 -0700 2008 4048380 27482 critter101 2 4048708 I agree it is easier to cook for CH's. That how this whole thread began, a conversation with my non-CH friends. They generally ONLY eat things like ribs, french fries, chips, whereas i've had them already and am interested in the slightly less common just because I have a restless palate I suppose. Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Fri Sep 19 20:05:43 -0700 2008 4048380 82243 ArikaDawn 2 4052713 It may just be that you're such a fabulous cook, Rubee, that we'll chowdown anything you serve us! Mon Sep 22 12:45:58 -0700 2008 4048380 15217 gini 1 4048431 I absolutely cannot stand shredded beef in anything. I will eat ground beef and steaks are fine but some reason when I find a Mexican food item where they have used the shredded meat, I don't want to look at it, smell it, much less eat it. Fri Sep 19 17:36:42 -0700 2008 4046813 196048 Jambie 1 4048511 Olives Mayo or anything creamy or cheesy except parmasean and cheddar and then rarely - yet ice cream and gelato are favorites Eggs unless they are scrambled or an omlette - the texture freaks me out Candies with fake grape and banana flavoring - or for that matter added grape juice as a "Real Fruit Juice" Mustard Avocado The color of meat close when cooked close to the bone - reminds me of the dissections I do in my classroom and just can't do it if I look at it. I've lived with friends who couldn't eat tomato in any form without gagging and my husband dislikes cooked fruit other than apples - both of which I could eat almost daily. Fri Sep 19 18:16:06 -0700 2008 4046813 152043 TampaAurora 1 4048529 Olives (but I keep trying--I can tolerate the odd olive, but not more than that-Olive oil is great,though) Watermelon Cantaloupe I cannot understand why people go gaga over these. Blechhh! Fri Sep 19 18:26:20 -0700 2008 4046813 131171 nofunlatte 2 4709383 yes! finally somebody else who doesn't like watermelon! also: shredded coconut (like german chocolate cake- ick) and runny egg whites. Sat May 23 13:57:09 -0700 2009 4048529 271458 swtcrm 3 4710056 I'm not a fan of watermelon. I don't like cucumbers either and they are closely related to each other. Sat May 23 21:24:35 -0700 2009 4709383 196419 Kate is always hungry 4 4728741 Ditto on both of these. Sat May 30 18:03:16 -0700 2009 4710056 139180 Blush 5 5184650 I hate real watermelon, love watermelon flavored candies though.... lol but i love cucumbers. I will actually just eat a whole english cucumber whole with a sprinkling of salt.... does that make me weird? Sun Nov 15 22:35:58 -0800 2009 4728741 264146 kubasd 6 5184858 i love cukes with salt. travel in asia has also opened up an appreciation of cukes with salt and a little (or a lot) of spice too Mon Nov 16 04:59:35 -0800 2009 5184650 135229 thew 6 5203801 i love cucumbers too but hate watermelon flavored candy even gum! Mon Nov 23 17:21:33 -0800 2009 5184650 271458 swtcrm 1 4048603 With the exception of the Snickers, you just shattered my "food pyramid!" Actually, I can live without the chicken soup and most potato chips, except the blue ones, but the rest - I am devastated. Hunt Fri Sep 19 19:10:56 -0700 2008 4046813 11329 Bill Hunt 2 4048698 Oh Bill! It was not my intention to shatter anyones pyramid. Lets just focus on the more for you factor. Now what blue potato chips are you referring to? Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Fri Sep 19 19:59:46 -0700 2008 4048603 82243 ArikaDawn 3 4049974 WOW, wish I had a bag of them in front of me, but the cupboard is bare. My wife picks these, plus taro and sweetpotato up at either a little boutique grocery near-by (PHX, AZ), or at Whole Foods. They are made with blue potato, and are thick sliced and done just right. The taste is a bit like the older versions of the Maui kettle chips, but different. I'll ask wife for the name. I just refer to them as "blue chips," and she knows what I mean. Hunt Sat Sep 20 16:54:17 -0700 2008 4048698 11329 Bill Hunt 4 4050021 Am I required to retract my initial anti-french fry and potato chip sentiments when I remember that I adore sweet potato chips and fries? Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Sat Sep 20 17:35:49 -0700 2008 4049974 82243 ArikaDawn 5 4050160 No. Your statement was based on the normal Lays offerings. Now, great "fries," are something to behold. Unfortunately, 99% are frozen and pre-packaged abominations. For me, it's a cast-iron skillet with hot lard, thick-cut potatoes just the right amount of time. Poor wife (and she actually got to taste the ultimate) has yet to get it down. She knows it, and so do I. In some cupboard, we have an expensive commercial deep-frier, that was bought just for fries (and our elusive search for some special Southern Fried Chicken), but is gathering dust. She's the cook in the family, and is still trying to get it just right. Were it not for Elsie's "greasy fries," I'd probably be in 100% agreement with you on this dish. Most of what I taste are the fried equivilant of instant mashed - non-edible! Hunt Sat Sep 20 18:55:02 -0700 2008 4050021 11329 Bill Hunt 6 4050544 Bill, does your wife use the twice-frying method? That's how I get mine at home cooked perfectly. Fries at home are an art form. Sun Sep 21 00:27:41 -0700 2008 4050160 106053 stephanieh 7 4051720 I do not think she's tried that. We're working on something similar with regards to the Southern Fried Chicken. With fries, exactly how does this work? Thanks, Hunt Sun Sep 21 19:29:45 -0700 2008 4050544 11329 Bill Hunt 8 4051980 Oooooh, the twice-frying makes all the difference. It's also referred to as the blanching process. I'm no Alton Brown, so I can't say how it works, just that the fries are soft inside (but not mushy) and crispy on the outside. Here's what you do... Hand cut your potatoes, or use a french fry cutter. Keep the cut fries in a bowl of cold water so they don't turn brown. (Pat off the water with a paper towel before frying). Heat your oil to 350 degrees and cook them in small batches for one minute. Take them out and drain on paper towels. That's the blanching stage. Let them cool completely. At this point, I've read and tried two methods, both worked and I can't say which is better. If I've planned enough ahead of time, I put them in an airtight container to cool in the fridge (something about keeping moisture in, I think, or it may steam them a little). If I haven't planned ahead (most times), I just let them cool for about 15 minutes or while I prepare everything else. Then, they go back in 350 degree oil for about 5 minutes. I have two settings on my french fry cutter, and I alternate which I like best. The thinner setting needs to be checked before five minutes or they may get too browned. The slightly bigger setting is usually done at 5 minutes. If you hand cut yours bigger, then it would take longer. You'll get a good eye for the right color after doing it a time or two. Salt them immediately when you take them out so that the salt sticks. I'm sure others can tell what oil is best for frying in. I've used canola (I don't usually taste a fishy taste, but some do), and I've also used the Smart Balance blend of cooking oil for the Omega 3s. I've probably also used peanut oil. I remember buying a big jug of that once after Alton Brown schooled me on smoke points. Good luck! Everyone deserves perfect fries! Sun Sep 21 22:19:34 -0700 2008 4051720 106053 stephanieh 9 4052064 I don't have a fryer, but if I want homemade fries, I use a method from James Beard, frying them in butter. I use my cast iron pan. Mon Sep 22 00:35:44 -0700 2008 4051980 15667 himbeer 10 4052546 That sounds good too! You can't go wrong with butter. Mon Sep 22 08:33:10 -0700 2008 4052064 106053 stephanieh 9 4053552 Thank you for the clarification. I can now safely say that she has NOT done that with fries, but will next time. We're the "hand cut" sorta' folk, so it'll be with a close eye - not too "close," 'cause we don't want to get hot grease in it! Appreciate your taking the time to write that out for me. Hunt Mon Sep 22 17:26:38 -0700 2008 4051980 11329 Bill Hunt 10 4055976 LOL! Watch out for that grease! As for taking the time to write it out, no problem. I'm sort of a fryvangelist. ;-) Tue Sep 23 14:27:27 -0700 2008 4053552 106053 stephanieh 1 4048652 Mayo or any sauce using it Goat cheese Fish/shellfish/seafood Melon of any sort Avocado--just tastes like slimy nothing to me Chocolate with nuts in it--I live for chocolate and love nuts, but not the combo (although I love chocolate and peanut butter together) I'm not a big fan of pastry in any form, either dessert or savory pies/quiches Fri Sep 19 19:37:52 -0700 2008 4046813 139180 Blush 1 4048668 I don't like scallops, probably because I once got sick eating them. But they don't give a lot of bang for your buck. I don't like jello. I'm not big on celery, ate too much of it in elementary school (in the egg salad, yuck). I can't stand any fast food, and can really pass on most things involving mayonnaise, unless it's freshly made. I hate whatever passes for "syrup" in most breakfast places. And I absolutely despise anything made with rose water, although I guess that doesn't qualify as a widely loved food. Fri Sep 19 19:47:23 -0700 2008 4046813 16828 Judith 1 4048699 I love most foods but I have a few things that make me cringe a little: -Black olives (love green) -anything with fake banana flavor -excessive mayo-the gloppiness makes me gag -another vote for any dark meat poultry -sodas (anything carbonated) -sunny side up eggs....too runny Fri Sep 19 20:00:20 -0700 2008 4046813 211939 baccimi 1 4048732 Don't like venison. And everybody says the same thing. "You just never had it fixed right! Why my wife/mother/husband/buddy/club cooks/neighbor fixes it so good ..." Some one even made burgers with half venison, which I managed to choke down. "See, you didn't even notice." I noticed! I just thought the burger was bad because she's such a lousy cook. She's the reason I never eat red cake. Rant, rant!! Fri Sep 19 20:20:16 -0700 2008 4046813 10743 yayadave 1 4048740 Oh, I remembered another one! Cardamom in desserts. Barfi makes me feel . . . barfy. Fri Sep 19 20:23:37 -0700 2008 4046813 57371 operagirl 2 4049946 cardamom is tricky. it's super-strong, so if you overdo it even a little it can ruin a perfectly good dessert. you end up with nothing but that overpowering, floral/soapy taste. do you just dislike cardamom altogether, or is there a chance you've simply encountered preparations where they went overboard with it? oh, and how's your mouth? i hope you're healing quickly! Sat Sep 20 16:27:08 -0700 2008 4048740 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4049973 Thanks for asking! My mouth is coming along, the graft took perfectly, thank goodness! I enjoy cardamom in savory preparations, just not sweet ones. Even the Dagoba Chai milk chocolate bar, with its tiny aftertaste of cardamom, just makes me cringe! I have no idea why. Sat Sep 20 16:52:45 -0700 2008 4049946 57371 operagirl 4 4051432 bummer on the cardamom - it's the secret ingredient in my almond-fig muffins that everyone always loves but can't identify. glad you're on the mend! Sun Sep 21 15:41:32 -0700 2008 4049973 103920 goodhealthgourmet 5 4051438 You know, I just remembered, there's ONE cardamom + sweet thing that I like -- stewed rhubarb with sugar and some ground cardamom. Almond-rhubarb muffins? Ey? Ey? P.S. Mind posting your recipe in home cooking? Been thinking about healthy breakfast muffin recipes lately, and I could always leave out/substitute the offending spice! ;-) Sun Sep 21 15:44:44 -0700 2008 4051432 57371 operagirl 6 4051533 here you go... http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/559236 all my muffin recipes are now dairy & gluten free, so i posted the "normal" version for you that i used to make - otherwise you'd need a bunch of specialty ingredients for GF baking. it does require almond meal, but you can find it in a lot of stores now, including TJ's & WFM. enjoy! Sun Sep 21 17:17:38 -0700 2008 4051438 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 4049418 Mayo Sour Cream Milk Tomato Canned Tuna Peanut Butter Jelly or Jam Spaghetti Salmon Quesadillas Green Olives Goat Cheese And pretty much anything sweet, never been big on desserts Sat Sep 20 09:14:55 -0700 2008 4046813 69330 byeCalihelloBahamas 2 4049468 >>Ever had the experience of not loving a widely accepted food and being the odd (wo)man out? With the exception of live animals or dead pets -- no. Sat Sep 20 09:45:44 -0700 2008 4049418 11104 dolores 3 4050062 You belong to a live animal - dead pet eating society??? Sat Sep 20 18:05:31 -0700 2008 4049468 36661 Sam Fujisaka 1 4049499 -Peanuts/peanut butter/snickers/peanut butter & jelly sandwiches - took a lot of abuse for that as a kid. -cherries -bananas -bell peppers -shrimp -coffee -mayo & mustard both make me gag -vinegar Sat Sep 20 10:01:23 -0700 2008 4046813 131105 Emmmily 1 4049523 My gag list: - lima beans or any other large fibrous legume - cooked cauliflower (raw is ok) - commercial tartar sauce - commercial hollandaise mixes (homemade is ok) - aqavit (gasoline filtered through rye bread) - large clams or oysters that require more than a couple of chews - spleen - kidney - overcooked liver - too many raisins in anything Other than that, I can pretty much choke down anything. But the above list discreetly ends up in a napkin. I'm looking forward to adding to the list. Just haven't had the time/disposal funds for travel to go exploring new gag-me experiences. I'll add a certain sadness in reading this thread and seeing coffee mentioned several times. I have to assume that experiences with horrible commercial/institutional coffee has turned off many people from discovering and enjoying the good stuff. Sat Sep 20 10:11:50 -0700 2008 4046813 24421 Panini Guy 2 4050066 Your list is of what many people don't like, not of what you don't like but most do. Sat Sep 20 18:06:32 -0700 2008 4049523 36661 Sam Fujisaka 3 4050765 Sam, Most of that list was regular fare (except the large mollusks) at my house growing up. And when we visited relatives for dinner, it was there too. Most of the rest of the family ate it. So in that regard, yes, I was odd man out. Sun Sep 21 06:59:15 -0700 2008 4050066 24421 Panini Guy 4 4051059 You need to start a new thread, "Kidnapped by food aliens!". Your family liked a lot of what most people don't like. I, too, don't like lima beans, commercial tartar sauce, commercial hollandaise mixes, and over-cooked liver Sun Sep 21 09:51:32 -0700 2008 4050765 36661 Sam Fujisaka 1 4050032 This is a very interesing post. I am surprised to see how many people dislike olives. Here is my list... beets lima beans chai tea anything with a strong black licorice flavor anything sweetened with aspartame (yogurt, diet soft drinks) eggplant goat trout caviar or any kind of fish roe skinny onion rings french fries raw oysters foam stout That is all I can think of for now. Sat Sep 20 17:45:25 -0700 2008 4046813 110306 NE_Elaine 2 4050070 Your list is of what many people don't like, not of what you don't like but most do. Sat Sep 20 18:07:21 -0700 2008 4050032 36661 Sam Fujisaka 2 4050072 I was surprised about the olives too. My closest friend despises olives, and she also hates any kind of dried fruit, most especially raisins. OTOH, she'll eat any old kind of junk, so I just wrote it off to general lack of taste in food. But apparently lots of people don't like olives. The most interesting thing about this is that there's no logic. You and I both like olives, but I love beets, chai tea, licorice, eggplant, any kind of fish roe, and I live for raw oysters! Sat Sep 20 18:08:02 -0700 2008 4050032 16828 Judith 1 4050128 The nicest thing about this thread is that all the dislikes listed are subject to change into likes. Honest. Sat Sep 20 18:39:12 -0700 2008 4046813 10743 yayadave 2 4051042 True! I used to dislike shrimp and calamari, and now I really like them...and broccoli rabe, which used to taste horribly bitter, now tastes good! (That's probably just a fact of the maturing of my taste buds to accept bitter flavors...I doubt many kids actually like broccoli rabe.) Sun Sep 21 09:41:37 -0700 2008 4050128 66556 Solstice444 3 4051238 A lot of times it's just because we never had "good" of. I never went for those nasty black olives in a can, but after I climbed 365 steps to a little village in Italy, the dish of olives on the table never had a chance. Same with tomato soup. All I ever knew was stuff from a red can. After I found some spicy tomato soup and tomato soup with roasted peppers, I now look forward to it. Sun Sep 21 11:50:27 -0700 2008 4051042 10743 yayadave 1 4050139 Reese's peanut butter cups, actually any combination of milk chololate and peanut butter! My girlfriends think I'm crazy! Sat Sep 20 18:45:11 -0700 2008 4046813 14329 AmblerGirl 2 4051426 AmblerGirl, that's not crazy. i don't like milk chocolate with peanut butter either...because i don't really like milk chocolate. but if you put DARK chocolate with peanut butter [or peanuts] in front of me, you'd better keep your hands away from it or you might lose a finger ;) Sun Sep 21 15:31:48 -0700 2008 4050139 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4051715 I feel exactly the same way, I'm not a fan of milk chocolate at all. Dark chocolate is the best, it tasts completely different than milk..... anything covered in dark chocolate is good! Sun Sep 21 19:28:33 -0700 2008 4051426 14329 AmblerGirl 2 4051807 Yeah, milk chocolate has no appeal to me, either. I'd rather eat vegetables, and I'm not exagerrating. It's way to sweet and has no chocolate flavor to my taste. I once went to a party where someone had made a chocolate cake. I was looking forward to it, but it was the most tasteless dessert I'd ever had in my life. Everyone was raving. I felt like a party pooper when I didn't even take a second bite. Sun Sep 21 20:08:45 -0700 2008 4050139 24126 amyzan 1 4050380 peaches chicken raisins mushrooms most Indian food carrot cake white wine Sat Sep 20 21:13:45 -0700 2008 4046813 12398 SuzyInChains 1 4050420 -pesto; I neither like basil or garlic. I can take a little garlic, but so often a dish is glutted with it. I usually substitute shallots. -pine nuts or sunflower seeds -fennel or anise; an occasional licorice candy only, not in my meal. -avocado; tastes like eating fat -chicken; I never, never order it at a restaurant, although occasionally cook it at home cuz it is cheap; rather just cook a turkey breast. I do like dark meat duck and goose. -sour cream or cream cheese; only if making a dessert -mushy stuff; no oatmeal, grits or rice pudding; heck if I do have cereal, I don't mush it up with milk. -egg whites; i love a runny poached yolk soaking into unbuttered toast; i cut away the white. -smoked meats, except for smoked pork -flavored potato chips or popcorn -bananas and oranges, only in their raw fruit form, not used as a flavoring -red wine; it's like drinking liquid chalk -squid or octopus -sushi; ain't touching beef or venison tartare either -sourdough bread -wheat or dark beer -sweet potatoes, yams, or squash -melted butter for lobster,crab, or clams; the meat is rich enough on its own -flavored coffees, gag me with a spoon -beans, except for boston baked; didn't help that a friend made us burritos once and he forgot to pre-soak them Since I switched to microwaving broccoli and then using a vinaigrette of olive oil, lemon juice, shallots, and red pepper flakes, I find I prefer the cut up stalks to the florets. Sat Sep 20 21:56:03 -0700 2008 4046813 15667 himbeer 2 4051701 Flavored coffee. I'm there. How can anyone choke that stuff down?! And I'm with you on garlic. I like it, but it's generally overused and when you go to a restaurant and they just throw garlic at you, it's not only disgusting, it's a giveaway that they can't actually cook. Sun Sep 21 19:24:18 -0700 2008 4050420 16828 Judith 1 4050523 Out of curiosity, for those that listed sushi is it the rice or the fish? (I once made chicken salad maki rolls for a party, and, if I do say so myself, they were a hit.) Sat Sep 20 23:55:26 -0700 2008 4046813 95291 Richard 16 2 4051061 Sushi is based on vinagared rice and may of may not include fish. Sashimi is raw fish or other raw meats. Sun Sep 21 09:53:28 -0700 2008 4050523 36661 Sam Fujisaka 1 4050547 After careful consideration, here's my list: (In no particular order) Original Fritos--they take my breath away, not in the good way Lima beans Liver--except my mother's chopped liver Cilantro--unless it's in a really good salsa My mother's fried white fish--I still remember the smell Salmon patties Earl Grey tea Kasha Enchilada sauce Asparagus Chocolate flavored with citrus Mustard unless it's in potato salad Olives--they scare me, nothing wrong with olive oil, though Most things that have been chipotlefied Thousand Island dressing Tartar sauce I noticed of shellfish listed, don't know never ate them. Sun Sep 21 00:40:49 -0700 2008 4046813 196419 Kate is always hungry 1 4051053 Not one, but TWO of my coworkers dislike all types of cheese. I can understand not liking some kinds of cheese, but cheeses cover such a wide spectrum that I can't understand not liking any type of cheese at all! Brie, fresh mozzerella, extra sharp cheddar...all totally different! Does anybody else know of anyone with this odd dislike? Another all-encompassing one that I've encountered with a couple of people is not liking any type of seafood. That one I can understand a bit more...but the cheese just boggles my mind. Sun Sep 21 09:47:46 -0700 2008 4046813 66556 Solstice444 2 4051315 I went to school with a girl who doesn't like "salad". She won't even try one and this includes all varieties from club to caeser to greek to hot spinach to wedge to chopped to waldorf to...well, you get my point. Sun Sep 21 12:53:39 -0700 2008 4051053 82243 ArikaDawn 3 4053831 I guess she doesn't like any sort of leafy greens? Because that's sort of the common theme...I wonder if she eats lettuce on sandwiches ever! Mon Sep 22 19:29:25 -0700 2008 4051315 66556 Solstice444 4 4053941 She really doesnt eat veggies ever. She's a TGI Fridays IHOP kinda gal. Mon Sep 22 20:23:16 -0700 2008 4053831 82243 ArikaDawn 2 4058359 I've outgrown it, but when I was young I disliked all cheese, from velveta to brie to parmesan to feta. Oddly enough the first cheese thing I liked was roquefort dressing. My parents about dropped dead from surprise when they saw me eating it, I think i was about 12 years old then. Yes, cheese has an amazing range of tastes and textures, but underneath it all, it all shares a cheesy taste - a taste I used to find greatly unpleasant. Wed Sep 24 11:42:43 -0700 2008 4051053 57890 KaimukiMan 3 4058535 I used to be a cheese hater as well...i hated all cheese and would even eat my pizzas minus the cheese. Now i can't think of many cheese i don't like. Wed Sep 24 12:29:43 -0700 2008 4058359 157030 iluvtennis 2 4075964 Hello kindred spirit. how funny that we would say the same thing 10 days apart. I promise I didn't see your post about cheese before I wrote mine. and I agree with you about seafood as well. as for toast. It has its place ie garlic bread, croustinis, grilled cheese sandwiches. Otherwise you are right good bagels should never be toasted good bread makes better sandwiches untoasted. Toasting was designed to cover up poor quality or stale baked goods. Not great for much else. Wed Oct 01 21:27:50 -0700 2008 4051053 226303 keith2000 3 4077327 I have to disagree on toasting bagels - I enjoy fresh bagels just about every day, since I work in a Jewish-style bakery. I love bagels. But I love them even more toasted. And i promise you that our bagels are not stale or poor quality. I just prefer them toasted. Thu Oct 02 12:13:29 -0700 2008 4075964 143696 Catskillgirl 3 4077493 Now if you just love spicy food, we are definitely kindred spirits! And yeah, I forgot about garlic bread...that is good toasted. Never was a big fan of grilled cheese though for some reason, even though I love cheese. Thu Oct 02 13:13:17 -0700 2008 4075964 66556 Solstice444 4 4078502 Absolutly. Thu Oct 02 21:29:02 -0700 2008 4077493 226303 keith2000 1 4051457 i like peanut butter. i like jams/jellies. i can't stand them together. oatmeal. egg salad calves liver (these last two are holdovers from childhood, and i'm ready to try then again and see if it's still true or not) Sun Sep 21 16:13:49 -0700 2008 4046813 135229 thew 1 4051612 Ketchup =/, it's just so awful D= and god, the smell! Papaya Sweet and sour pork Sun Sep 21 18:22:50 -0700 2008 4046813 212885 AngelSanctuary 2 4052139 I have to say I dont get the whle hating of ketchup thing - I ADORE ketchup, but since losing some weight I do notice I eat a lot less of it as I find it very sweet now! I cannot stand any kind of bean except baked beans (good old Heinz) Pesto Pine Nuts Olives - they really gross me out Gherkin - everyone raves about them and I was told that when I came to the US I'd understand why - I really didn't get it! Sorry! I'm going to Katz Deli in March - maybe it'll convert me! Mon Sep 22 04:29:38 -0700 2008 4051612 190012 iheartcupcakes 3 4052267 "but since losing some weight I do notice I eat a lot less of it as I find it very sweet now!" ~~~~~~~~~~~ you answered your own question - many of us think it just tastes like tomato-flavored sugar...not exactly what i'm looking for to enhance my savory foods, thanks. organic ketchups aren't as sweet, but the only thing i can imagine using ketchup for these days is on a plate of crispy, jersey diner home fries...and no diner i've ever seen carries organic ketchup ;) Mon Sep 22 06:12:10 -0700 2008 4052139 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4058337 Katz's Deli! Oh, how I envy you - haven't been there in maybe 6 years. But it never changes. Sigh. Don't let the appearance of the place put you off - the food is really, really good. It's just kind of, well, old & dirty looking. For the record I love pickles, but they have to be dill. And the more sour the better. Wed Sep 24 11:35:55 -0700 2008 4052139 143696 Catskillgirl 1 4052739 Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but one particular aversion of mine that seems to bother people is mac 'n' cheese. Yes, I'm sure there are good versions out there (the short rib mac n cheese at KO Prime springs to mind), but the idea of mac n cheese just brings back bad grammar school memories of plastic yellow cheesestuff. I do love tortellini in a mornay sauce, so obviously this is just a semantics thing. Mon Sep 22 12:53:48 -0700 2008 4046813 15217 gini 1 4052849 Cold coffee or anything coffee flavored (but i love hot coffee) Iced tea (i do like hot tea) Canned tuna (but i eat sardines) chocolate ice cream eggplant Mon Sep 22 13:25:02 -0700 2008 4046813 135178 TSQ75 1 4052851 Grapefruit - LOVE all other citrus fruits! Rye/ anything with caraway seeds Canned soup - used to think it was OK as a kid althought never liked canned tom soup Miracle whip Cranberry juice - like cranberry sauce OK but any of the Oceanspray juices can't stand 'em! Potato chips - I'd rather have pretzels or corn chips Cookies - Don't HATE them but would rather have carrot sticks, or cheese and crackers. Even gave them away out of my lunch box when I was a kid. The one exception is my Grandmothers lemon cookies. Mon Sep 22 13:26:04 -0700 2008 4046813 69079 starlady 2 4054502 Totally agree with the rye. I abhor rye bread. Horrid horrid stuff. Tue Sep 23 06:23:33 -0700 2008 4052851 165021 Firegoat 1 4053856 ranch dressing- actually I don't care much for any creamy dressing gravy- it just tastes far too salty to me. I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to salt. On the gravy front- can't stand thankgiving dinner generally. It just does nothing for me and everyone thinks it's some sort of travesty that my immediate family has all decided individually that we are not into it and do something else instead. soft drinks cereal with milk- for some reason, I can't see why this would be appealing for breakfast. runny eggs most melons onion rings- I hate onions generally cold coffee/frappuccino- I just find it totally repulsive, although I like warm coffee. Mon Sep 22 19:40:32 -0700 2008 4046813 107671 queencru 1 4054488 Shrimp. The only time I ever tried to eat it, I nearly threw up. I also do not like ketchup or any alcoholic beverages (the smell just turns me off completely). Tue Sep 23 06:17:36 -0700 2008 4046813 98208 Orchid64 1 4054601 milk- my parents never did that 'finish everything on your plate' deal, but I had to finish my milk before I was allowed to leave the dinner table lettuce on sandwiches- I like salads as a distinct entity, but hate lettuce on sandwiches because it seems to kill the flavor of the rest of the sandwich shrimp- like small shrimp because it's easy to get nice and tender; hate the larger stuff because it always seems too tough. Jumbo shrimp- yucky Eggs and egg products that seem too eggy- The smell of eggs cooking on a stove makes me sick to my stomach to the point where I've never been able to eat them. Mayo and aoli are far too close to the egg in its natural form for me to like. But I do like ranch dressing because the egginess seems to have reached a point where it doesn't dominate other flavors, and I can enjoy custard pies because the sugar overwhelms the part of the egginess I don't like. Tue Sep 23 07:00:33 -0700 2008 4046813 11781 beachmouse 1 4054843 I cannot stand cilantro I do not like onions I can tolerate (barely) red onions sweet pickles lettuce on sandwiches (especially hot) cinnamon (except in tomatoe sauce) papaya (but I love all fruit red wine beer flavored coffe (especially hazlenut basil (most herbs) although I cook with them most candy bars like Snickers and there is a lettuce type thing that I cannot think of the name that I really dislike. frou frou girly rinks (i.e. cosmopolitans, pomegranite martinis But I will eat anything even if it has the above mentioned things. And I will drink wine because I would love to develop a taste for it. I will have a beer when I cannot think of anything else to drink Tue Sep 23 08:29:24 -0700 2008 4046813 16304 Jolie 1 4055034 Funny thread! I dislike bell peppers (texture) and salmon (I just don't understand the allure.) Tue Sep 23 09:29:16 -0700 2008 4046813 226583 Metalee 1 4055647 None of these things are foods I won't eat, but just things I don't get the hoopla around: Pasta. I can eat a good plate of pumpkin ravioli or meaty spaghetti every now and then, and I loooove gnocchi, but for some reason I just very rarely crave pasta. Bread is my go-to carb. Macaroni and cheese (which I wouldn't count as 'pasta'). The homemade stuff can be good, though, I'll admit. Carrots. Raw, cooked, meh. I'll eat them, and dip them in ranch, but I don't get much from it. Love almost all other vegetables (except bell peppers, blegh). Stone fruit, unless it is VERY ripe. Peaches are the exception. I f'love peaches. Chocolate ice cream. Love chocolate, love ice cream, together not so much. Cotton candy (okay, does anybody over the age of six actually like this?) Tue Sep 23 12:39:50 -0700 2008 4046813 113376 Olallieberry 2 4058769 Wow, I had to read pretty far down this thread to find someone else who doesn't like stone fruits! I really don't like 'em, peaches, plums, cherries, thanks but no thanks to quote Sarah Palin! But, I also don't like bananas. Love olives though, who new so few people do! Wed Sep 24 13:35:34 -0700 2008 4055647 222384 dvsndvs 3 4060709 I was surprised to find lots of people don't like olives. I thought I was the odd man out not liking them, until one day we did a poll of everyone that walked into the lunch room. Unscientific, I know, but there were people of many ethnicities and very few (maybe 5%) liked olives. Thu Sep 25 08:14:14 -0700 2008 4058769 139219 Sooeygun 1 4055897 Boy has this thread made me feel better about my many dislikes Oysters Crawfish Cornbread Okra Miracle Whip Pickled beets, I like beets, just not pickled (I don’t like pickled anything) (except pickles, I like pickles) Mint Lamb Marshmallows Cilantro Pork Rinds Fresh water fish (trout, pike, perch, etc) Mussels Black licorice Kidney beans Black eyed peas Caviar Liver (although I do like chicken livers) Duck Old Bay Seasoning Capers Ginger Smoked meats Smoked poultry Smoked cheeses Smoked nuts Smoked fish Indian Food Grits Dr. Pepper Pepsi Guava Manhattan Clam Chowder Pearl Onions Dill Curry Anchovies Goat Cheese Feta Cheese Chipotle Gazpacho Jalapenos, stuffed poppers Prunes Sardines Catfish Orange/chocolate combination Milk (whole or low fat) Ranch Dressing Pepperjack Cheese Anything cooked with or containing wine and/or alcohol Buffalo wings Cajun spiced anything Tue Sep 23 13:56:14 -0700 2008 4046813 109905 laliz 2 4056117 Marshmallows? Haha, I thought I was the only one. My list: Oranges Chocolate Sweets Cookies Coffee Apples Tue Sep 23 15:16:18 -0700 2008 4055897 224081 BamiaWruz 3 4058340 Chocolate. Ick. I used to like it, now it has little appeal. It was really sudden. Milk, dark, orange, makes no difference. And mocha--double ick! Though I do love a good coffee. Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. Wed Sep 24 11:36:18 -0700 2008 4056117 13445 Louise 4 4058404 Funnily enough, I am sort of going through the same thing with milk chocolate. All of a sudden, I don't even like the way it smells and have no real desire to eat it. Dark chocolate I am stil enjoying, but it's nothing I crave. I'm also going from being infatuated with PB to not really enjoying it much either. Maybe it's just moving away from overly sweet things in general... Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Wed Sep 24 11:55:10 -0700 2008 4058340 82243 ArikaDawn 2 4058530 "(I don’t like pickled anything) (except pickles, I like pickles)" bahaha..love this! Wed Sep 24 12:28:04 -0700 2008 4055897 135178 TSQ75 2 4082578 Ok., you should see a doctor. :-) Sun Oct 05 01:13:39 -0700 2008 4055897 146405 stricken 1 4056502 Gee I'm pretty lucky. From the entire list, only Miracle Whip, flavored potato and tortilla chips and aspartame. What I do not like are processed foods of an kind. From Pop Tarts to breakfast cereals. Canned meats Spam, Deviled Ham, Vienna sausages etc. Canned peas Prepackaged plastic wrapped lunch meats Kraft and other Mac & Cheeses Frozen pizzas & dinners Chain restaurants (other than local ones) Mr. Natural (Look out at night when no one is looking!) Tue Sep 23 17:54:00 -0700 2008 4046813 93538 Passadumkeg 2 4057916 The classic song to which I'm sure you allude deserves distribution to today's Chow's: "Junk food Junkie", ca 1975. "Yeah, in the daytime I'm Mr. Natural Just as healthy as I can be But at night I'm a junk food junkie Good lord have pity on me Oh, but at night I stake out my strongbox That I keep under lock and key And I take it off to my closet Where nobody else can see I open that door so slowly Take a peek up north and south Then I pull out a Hostess Twinkie And I pop it in my mouth Yeah, in the daytime I'm Mr. Natural Just as healthy as I can be But at night I'm a junk food junkie Good lord have pity on me." (Google for full lyrics). As a bearded young-buck bar-singer / burgeoning home cook during the height of the Granola Revolution, this song was responsible for an embarrassing number of "Let's cook at my place" dinner dates. Wed Sep 24 09:37:50 -0700 2008 4056502 17562 FoodFuser 3 4058299 I never heard of this before, but here itizz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSyBjm1H9Y&feature=related Ho Ho's rule!! Wed Sep 24 11:21:23 -0700 2008 4057916 10743 yayadave 2 4058532 canned asparagus! *gag* Wed Sep 24 12:29:09 -0700 2008 4056502 135178 TSQ75 1 4059358 pesto. I like the things in pesto separately, but generally dislike pesto. also not a huge fan of american style french fries, though good french or belgian ones are a different story. Wed Sep 24 17:19:53 -0700 2008 4046813 27586 shivani 2 4059466 re the fries: how are they different? Wed Sep 24 17:56:13 -0700 2008 4059358 135229 thew 3 4065839 i was thinking of frites--thin and crispy, usually served with aoli rather then ketchup (though i do love ketchup). Sat Sep 27 09:38:04 -0700 2008 4059466 27586 shivani 4 4066419 i've seen many a non-pencil thin frite in europe, and many thin crisp fries here, so... i still don't see it/ a good fry is a good fry whether called a frite or a fry.... Sat Sep 27 14:57:05 -0700 2008 4065839 135229 thew 1 4064424 chocolate and orange, or with any other fruit except banana pumpkin or butternut squash in mostly anything flavored coffees shellfish bread pudding rice pudding kugel eggplant curry plaintains, sweet potatoes, yams most nuts, especially hazelnuts - Nutella is yucky! I'm sure there's more that I can't remember off the top of my head. I used to really dislike zucchini and yellow crook-neck squash, but thanks to my CSA, have developed a taste for it over the past 18 months or so, if prepared correctly (meaning by me). Fri Sep 26 14:36:18 -0700 2008 4046813 208547 archstreet 2 4064451 I thought of one! Canned or frozen okra. Sorry Scaregod, Markie Bear Fri Sep 26 14:51:40 -0700 2008 4064424 93538 Passadumkeg 2 4064598 Arch - have to ask a couple of questions here: on the bread pudding, is it just the texture/execution or is it the extras (like raisins)? I ask because I used to deplore bread pudding with any additions, but I've started making it myself with fresh or frozen fruits instead of dried and I've come to enjoy it. And on the eggplant... does that include babaganoush? As a eggplant lover, when people tell me they hate 'em, I'll try to sneak some babaganoush on an olive and crostini plate along with hummus and often they just think it's a "different" hummus. Fri Sep 26 15:47:12 -0700 2008 4064424 24421 Panini Guy 3 4072702 Panini - I think with the bread pudding its the texture. Same with rice pudding. I guess I also just want my bread and rice to be on the savory side. I don't know if I've ever had babaganoush, but I guess if you put enough garlic and olive oil on it, I'd like it. I would probably know that it wasn't hummus, though, even "different" hummus! Tue Sep 30 13:33:48 -0700 2008 4064598 208547 archstreet 4 4074873 archstreet, i have a question about one of your other dislikes - chocolate with fruit. no chocolate-covered strawberries for you? Wed Oct 01 12:34:05 -0700 2008 4072702 103920 goodhealthgourmet 5 4075616 No thanks, That means more for you, GHG! Wed Oct 01 17:50:18 -0700 2008 4074873 208547 archstreet 6 4076394 i'll take 'em :) Thu Oct 02 06:18:56 -0700 2008 4075616 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4559362 It's funny, eggplant in any way, shape or form I love. However, I don't really like babagnoush. It almost makes me gag. It's definitely not the texture nor the tahini ( I like hummus with tahini). I just don't like the combo of both, I guess. I also don't like chocolate with any type of fruit. And I don't like cake, ick (but like brownies). I do like carrot cake, though. Wed Apr 01 18:15:05 -0700 2009 4064598 18011 Jacey 4 4560996 Funny. I can easily stay away from cake. It doesn't interest me. But I can't walk by a carrot cake. Sans raisins of course. Thu Apr 02 09:28:21 -0700 2009 4559362 53671 Davedigger 5 5184652 That is funny. I can resist cake like no other because i just don't like it. I think i'll have pie at my wedding... or carrot cake. I love carrot cake! I wonder why it's different... Sun Nov 15 22:37:19 -0800 2009 4560996 264146 kubasd 2 4075622 I think I've recently "acquired" another dislike, and its a weird one - sometimes I can't stand toast. I mean toasted sandwich bread, like for eggs in the morning. Sometimes, I can't even stand the smell of it toasting! This may be because I once ate it when I had a migraine, and it made me sick. But still, there's other foods that have done the same to me, and I like them fine. Wed Oct 01 17:55:24 -0700 2008 4064424 208547 archstreet 3 4075906 I actually don't like toast. I forgot about that one. If someplace asks me if I want my sandwich toasted...absolutely not! I rarely ever eat toast unless my mom makes it and puts it in front of me. A toasted english muffin is ok, but a toasted bagel or toasted bread, I really have no desire to eat. Wed Oct 01 20:44:53 -0700 2008 4075622 66556 Solstice444 4 4090787 It is nice of you to eat something you don't like because your mom made it for you. Now that I am grown I can really empathize with how sad my mom must have gotten when she lovingly prepared a deliscious dinner and all the kids refused to eat it. I think that there should be a rule that it not matter if you like a food or not. If it is prepared by someone who loves you, suck it up and eat it. Wed Oct 08 10:44:27 -0700 2008 4075906 226303 keith2000 2 4085832 Oh, I thought of more - oatmeal rum tequila Mon Oct 06 12:53:26 -0700 2008 4064424 208547 archstreet 2 4646969 I can't believe I just read the words "nutella" and "yucky" in the same sentence!! Oooh I remember my Dad used to buy this candy that's like an orange -orange foil wrapped chocolate that falls apart into 'slices' and they are chcolate w/orange flavoring. Or have I lost my mind?? Fri May 01 17:04:46 -0700 2009 4064424 110426 Boccone Dolce 3 4647064 You are perfectly sane: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry%27s_Chocolate_Orange Fri May 01 17:47:24 -0700 2009 4646969 10832 Humbucker 4 4710266 YAY! Thanks Humbucker. They were really sophisticated to my 10 year old mind... Sun May 24 03:40:35 -0700 2009 4647064 110426 Boccone Dolce 1 4064838 Eggs Avocados Cooked carrots Raw onions Olives Mayonnaise When I was a kid I was so anti-onion that I went several months w/o ice cream b/c my parents told me cows eat wild onions and therefore ice cream contains onions. I've always hated the "just give it a try" back and forth. I don't like eggs b/c the smell of them cooking makes me sick. It always has, and after 25 years I don't expect that will change, so no I don't want to try it. That said, I once stopped dating a guy b/c he didn't like peanut butter (or art, or sports, or beer...). Fri Sep 26 17:39:24 -0700 2008 4046813 135311 mpjmph 2 4077490 I light of the "just try it" discussion, I wanted to list the foods I thought I didn't like but really did once I tried them (mostly as a teenager)... Calamari Goat cheese Cocktail sauce Onions in general (still, no raw ones) Figs (omg, I LOVE figs) Asparagus Thu Oct 02 13:12:43 -0700 2008 4064838 135311 mpjmph 1 4066986 I'm SO with you on almost all of those. Bacon and cheese on burgers is the worst. It's tons of extra calories for a very minute amount of extra taste. Really hard for me to justify. Potato chips are too greasy and never very good (unless they're home-baked and fresh from the oven), snickers bars just aren't as good as everyone pretends they are, and 9/10 times, chicken soup is pretty icky. I also hate white milk. I can drink chocolate milk, but it's something about the texture and lack of distinct taste that makes me want to hurl the second white milk hits my lips. Oh, and beer. Unless it's Guinness, it does absolutely nothing for me and really just ends up making me feel full and bloated. Sat Sep 27 21:43:42 -0700 2008 4046813 179924 Al_Pal 1 4067064 PEAS (my pea phobia is infamous in my family) Seafood of any kind (but particularly salmon) Olives Blue cheeses of all sorts Eggplant (and I did try to like it) Mayonnaise Beets Raisins Scotch Starchy pototates, paricularly of the baked type (I can handle Yukon Golds somewhat, but not like russets at all). I never eat a baked potato in a restaurant. Lima beans Yogurt (and I like most other dairy products, but I don't understand the appeal of that nasty sour goop) Sat Sep 27 23:43:54 -0700 2008 4046813 116495 Avalondaughter 2 4067481 another non-potato person? where have you been all my life? i like the skins of potatoes, but definitely not the inside pasty pulp. i'm sure if you smothered it in cheddar cheese or something else, i wouldn't taste the tater, but eh, why bother... crisp me up a baked potato and i *will* peel off the skin... second beets. my grandmother used to feed me borscht as a kid, and i ate it begrudgingly, but only when i was older did i taste beets, and go ew, this tastes like borscht... my mom and i have opposite palates, and of course, roasted beets are one of her favorite foods, along with her love of olives and feta and hummus and the list goes on, none of which i get. Sun Sep 28 09:06:25 -0700 2008 4067064 15572 Emme 1 4068177 It took me awhile to finally accept there are some foods I just don't like. Here's my list Canned Tuna Salmon Black Licorice Animal organs or sweetbreads Oysters Mussels Shrimp Wild game Octopus Champagne Milk Chocolate I'm sure there are others, but that's it for now. Sun Sep 28 15:07:24 -0700 2008 4046813 158403 jcattles 2 4068200 Yay for hating black licorice. Man..... that is nasty stuff. Sun Sep 28 15:21:17 -0700 2008 4068177 165021 Firegoat 1 4071554 I'm open to any and every kind of food but I REALLY don't "get" chocolate and chocolate flavored food and drink. I've had all kinds from Christopher Norman to Green&Black. Godiva to Hershey's. It's all very nice, but I don't understand how and why become excited over it. I've heard that it creates some sort of chemical response in the brain. I guess that part of my brain is dead because there are so many other flavors that excite me. Chocolate is not one of them. I also don't like caramel. I'm learning to appreciate coffees. Tue Sep 30 02:17:25 -0700 2008 4046813 146405 stricken 2 4072188 As someone who is a chocolate fiend, I have to say it really has nothing to do with brain chemistry. I just really love the taste. I love the taste more than most other tastes. Really that's all there is to it for me. While I can understand someone not loving it the way I do, I find it hard to understand really having an issue with the taste. It seems like such a harmless flavor. But people's taste buds/olfactory functions are all different. I'm the only picky eater in my family. Tue Sep 30 09:35:08 -0700 2008 4071554 116495 Avalondaughter 3 4073609 I don't hate chocolate. I just feel as if I'm missing out on something that everyone else seems to enjoy. In desserts I prefer vanilla and I almost always double up on vanilla in recipes. I'm a little more tolerant of chocolate when it's blended with maple flavors or chile flavors. Tue Sep 30 23:01:23 -0700 2008 4072188 146405 stricken 4 4073633 Im with you on pretty much anything. I much prefer vanilla in most things over chocolate. But I do like vanilla and chile together. Tue Sep 30 23:21:43 -0700 2008 4073609 69079 starlady 3 4075139 really loving the taste has to do with brain chemistry Wed Oct 01 14:19:13 -0700 2008 4072188 135229 thew 4 4075280 Do the things we dislike also have to do with brain chemistry? I'm just asking because I've been staying out of the heated "try it you'll like it" debate here. I've recently tried a few things I thought I didn't like since childhood, and guess what, I still don't care for them. But, at least I didn't go into gagging convulsions. And I did it in the privacy of my home, without an audience chanting "just take one bite" and waiting with baited breath for my proclamation that I do, indeed, love it... just like they said I would. Because they are so much wiser than I am. And, I have a couple of extreme aversions... one being to mustard. I can't stand to smell it. And if I accidentally get even the tiniest dot on my finger when making my husband's sandwiches, I have to wash it off immediately. There isn't enough peer pressure in this world to get me to try mustard again, as I know from the smell, that I still won't like it. Plus, there are really no health advantages to learning to like it, so why put myself through that? I guess, if I have a point, it would be that I'm willing to try some things, but don't like them being forced on me, and I particularly don't care for the attitude that I'd be less of a person if I go on not liking those things. Wed Oct 01 15:18:28 -0700 2008 4075139 106053 stephanieh 5 4075293 everything we perceive has to do with brain chemistry Wed Oct 01 15:23:10 -0700 2008 4075280 135229 thew 6 4075337 thew, you're always the voice of reason. Wed Oct 01 15:41:20 -0700 2008 4075293 106053 stephanieh 6 4076152 Smell is the only sense that does not go to a part of the brain called the "thalamus". Smell is a very primitive sense that goes to the "limbic" system, an area that also is the seat of our emotions. It's why smells can evoke strong emotions; bringing back not only the memory of a smell but sometimes a whole scene including emotions. And let's not forget genetics sand genetic expression. Thu Oct 02 01:35:30 -0700 2008 4075293 95291 Richard 16 4 4106757 Imeant that chocolate doesn't affect my brain chemistry. I don't feel high or euphoric from it or anything like that. I don't notice any sort of endorphin rush. I just really love the way it tastes. Wed Oct 15 14:25:52 -0700 2008 4075139 116495 Avalondaughter 5 4107020 everything you eat affects your brain chemistry. everything you see effects your brain chemistry. everything you think effects your brain chemistry. seeing, tasting, thinking, perceiving all exist only as changes in brain chemistry. Wed Oct 15 16:07:58 -0700 2008 4106757 135229 thew 1 4073663 Broccoli Mushrooms of ANY kind Avocado Runny eggs Chicken livers Wed Oct 01 00:05:17 -0700 2008 4046813 24849 antrobin 1 4075847 Milk ( unless in hot tea) bananas cilantro (never ever!) sushi (yes I have tried it, still hate it) Soft shell crab (very much a texture thing) Ham (love bacon and pork chops though) Greek salads (the entree type that you would find in a restaurant) olives dark meat poultry ( I can't even think about it!) tequila (bad college incindent) martinis (see above) Brussels sprouts, asparagus, lima beans (no explanation necessary) calamari ( I think I am the only person on the planet) indian food (thanks but not thanks) gigantic raw oysters ( I like the small ones though) Hot dogs or anything in a casing milk chocolate orange juice lox lamb Wed Oct 01 20:14:54 -0700 2008 4046813 70474 baseballfan 1 4076412 water chestnuts, peaches and breakfast sausage. Must be a texture issue. Thu Oct 02 06:24:01 -0700 2008 4046813 102549 colliecookhuh 1 4076526 Water chestnuts, BBQ sauce, anything mesquite, anything I have to remove from a bone (for some reason hot wings don't count), ketchup, olives, orange juice, fruit and meat in the same dish, artificial fruit anything (think poptarts or jelly), fruit desserts, celery, cauliflower, iced tea, french dressing, miracle whip, marachino cherries, candy (especially the fruit kind), corn, and cheesecake. Despite all my qualms with fruit products I actually like fruit! Thu Oct 02 07:19:03 -0700 2008 4046813 194076 Stillwater Girl 2 4077342 "fruit and meat in the same dish" Ditto. I really don't like any fruits that are cooked. The only exception to the fruit/meat think that comes to mind is pork chops with applesauce - love them together. But pineapple on ham? Orange chicken? Shudder. Peaches wtih meat? Yuck. Thu Oct 02 12:18:20 -0700 2008 4076526 143696 Catskillgirl 1 4077165 Interesting topic. Mine are: Hazelnut coffee and hazelnuts in general (once I eat one I feel like the taste doesn't leave my mouth for days!) gnocchi salmon juices pork chops (recent addition) venison bananas snickers and peanut butter cups seaweed lamb clams mussels mangoes ( I can't believe how many dislike, I thought I was the only one!) any turkey (other than the big thanksgiving day feast) is starting to creep me out chocolate frosting flavored waters (unless I flavor myself with fresh ingredients) chamomile tea (I love all other teas, except this one) plantains Thu Oct 02 11:20:23 -0700 2008 4046813 72474 sophia519 2 4080928 wow we are close in palate... the only thing on your list that i *do* like is peanut butter cups. i can't eat gnocchi anymore, but i always wanted to like it more than i ever did. Sat Oct 04 01:27:13 -0700 2008 4077165 15572 Emme 1 4077644 My wife hates, with a passion (can't - or won't - be in the same room with me when I have) peanuts or coffee. She won't drink soda, especially my faves, Moxie and Cel-Ray. I don't like butter, sour cream (unless mixed with onion powder or in Mexican food, then I love it!), pot cheese and being a Jew, I think it's poison to put mayonaise on cold cuts. That's what mustard was invented for (even at Katz's deli, the guy behind the counter called my wife names for making a Hellman Pastrami!) Can't blame him. Mayo for tuna, mustard for tongue! Ah machayah! Thu Oct 02 13:59:13 -0700 2008 4046813 13653 MoxieBoy 2 4082005 Moxie and Cel-Ray are definitely acquired tastes, that most people are unlikly to acquire. Sat Oct 04 15:36:51 -0700 2008 4077644 10074 Caitlin McGrath 2 4088435 Had a moxie a couple of weeks ago in Maine. Ugh! Used to drink it as a kid but I think I would need to drink alot of it to reaquire the taste. You must be a Mainer. Tue Oct 07 12:38:25 -0700 2008 4077644 13202 emilief 2 4159301 Whenever I go back to Vermont, I have to stock up on Moxie. Just can't get it in Syracuse. Gotta have a fix once in a while! Sat Nov 08 23:35:49 -0800 2008 4077644 226942 al b. darned 1 4077651 If you don't find Parmigaino Reggiano "special", then I'm going to guess that you may not be getting the real thing. The authentic cheese, when aged a long time (2 or even 3 years), can bring tears to your eyes it is so good. It's not special, it's heavenly. Thu Oct 02 14:02:21 -0700 2008 4046813 124339 bnemes3343 2 4077773 I have had the real thing on several occasions, cheese fanatic here. I recently had a reserve reggiano which was supposed to be"to die for" and I didn't love it. It really just does nothing for me. There's something about its slight sweetness that makes me hesitate and comes across as quite the opposite of heavenly. To each his own I suppose. Thu Oct 02 14:41:14 -0700 2008 4077651 82243 ArikaDawn 1 4077700 I don't eat eggs, jello, most sauces (ex. hollandaise), marshmallows, canned soup that contains any kind of meat (just creeps me out), egg nog...... Thu Oct 02 14:19:35 -0700 2008 4046813 63634 rizzo0904 1 4080637 Limoncello. HATE IT. Tastes like furniture polish! Food: Sunflower seeds, mandarin oranges,soup with noodles in it - unless it is Asian like pho or something and then - miracles - it tastes like heaven. Also, Shrimp. They taste like metallic rubber balls. Anything too cuminy tastes like dirt to me. Snickers? Gasp! Fri Oct 03 19:19:09 -0700 2008 4046813 137755 Sal Vanilla 2 4084099 Funny, I don't like mandarin oranges or non-Asian noodle soup very much either, and sunflower seeds don't do anything for me except as a crunch additive in salad. Love shrimp though. Sun Oct 05 19:32:07 -0700 2008 4080637 113376 Olallieberry 2 4093371 Sometimes it's hard to determine if people really don't like something or if they're just stubborn but the shrimp description above hits the ball out of the park for me and that's exactly the way they tasted to me while I was pregnant -- that taste is amazingly vile... Thankfully, once the hormones normalized, I could eat them again. Sadly, although I still love tomatoes, they've never been as amazing as they were the summer I was pregnant. Hormones...perhaps that explains why some people find food bland when they're depressed? Thu Oct 09 10:14:23 -0700 2008 4080637 15250 sebetti 3 4094029 when I was PG just the smell of coffee nauseated me. It is worth noting I worship at the altar of the roasted bean beverage as a rule. Another smell and taste I could not do was peas. I love peas but not when I'm PG. Thu Oct 09 14:14:35 -0700 2008 4093371 109905 laliz 1 4081866 The post is gone now, but there was someone who replied to soupkitten that she (or he) found brussel sprouts bitter, no matter how they were prepared. I'm sorry I can't remember who it was, but I wanted to suggest that perhaps you are a "supertaster". I read this recently in the book "YOU: On a Diet" by Drs. Roizen and Oz. Supertasters commonly find some vegetables to be bitter. According to the book, about 25% of us are supertasters, 25% are undertasters, and everyone else falls in the middle. They had two tests you can do to see if you're a supertaster. You can dissolve a packet of sweet 'n' low in 2/3 cup water. If it tastes more bitter than sweet, you may be a supertaster. You may have to take a couple of tastes to tell. The second test is to swab blue food coloring on your tongue, then hold a piece of paper over your tongue that has a hole punched in it (normal 3-ring binder sized hole), then using a magnifying glass, count the number of dots (papillae). If over 30, you're a supertaster. Sat Oct 04 13:53:23 -0700 2008 4046813 226826 GermanBrat 2 4083451 HATE the texture thing - can't eat jello, aspic, molded salads or eggs (unless they're really beaten and cooked dry) ketchup salmon (yes, I've had "good" salmon!) marshmallows fruit preserves rare meat (tastes like that bloody socket in your mouth when you lost a tooth as a child) chicken or fish when it resembles the actual animal white wine (goosebumps) CANTALOUPE ICK!! Sun Oct 05 13:43:50 -0700 2008 4081866 230549 lindsley 3 4083881 "rare meat (tastes like that bloody socket in your mouth when you lost a tooth as a child)" ~~~~~~~ ok, now that's a description i could have done without ;) Sun Oct 05 17:36:29 -0700 2008 4083451 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4088747 That was me....maybe I will have to take the test and find out if I'm a supertaster. Tue Oct 07 14:08:28 -0700 2008 4081866 11327 lizzy 1 4083606 Red bell peppers. Just the red ones. The other ones are fine. I try them every once in a while just to make sure I still don't like them. Pearl onions. Are these widely loved? Things I'm not crazy about: Miracle Whip flavored coffee Maple syrup Sun Oct 05 15:08:15 -0700 2008 4046813 61135 Boudleaux 2 4084039 i really get queasy about: offal meats and sweetbread (yuk), esp. kidneys and liver (eww) jarred mayo milk chocolate canned fruits anything with substitutes (fake sugar, food flavouring etc) chamomile tea (taste like soap i think) milk as its own (esp. when it is lukewarm) raspberries and apples refried beans pork rinds (brrrrr) vegetables cooked to death. doesnt even matter what it USED to be. white poultry meats raw onions really dark roasted coffee grocery store fruitcakes Sun Oct 05 18:59:21 -0700 2008 4083606 200158 eddielike2eat 2 4088419 Yes, yes, yes. Flavored coffee. and because of smelling too much flavored coffee, I now hate hazelnuts. I can do without sweet potatoes and winter squash, too. Tue Oct 07 12:32:12 -0700 2008 4083606 102066 almansa 1 4084164 Mint - any form, from fresh leaves to gum to toothpaste, to even a hint of the smell on someone's breath. Gag!!! Concord grapes - juice, jelly, fresh (which seem lately to be appearing in markets...). All other grapes delich! Sun Oct 05 20:08:24 -0700 2008 4046813 14341 OCEllen 2 4718555 I'm with you on mint -- makes me gag. Wed May 27 08:51:13 -0700 2009 4084164 28000 hungry100 2 4728286 I hate mint flavored toothpaste...i have to buy cinnamon...and the mint/chocolate combination...yuck! I'm not sure what it is, but i end up with a headache after consuming a lot of mint flavored stuff. Sat May 30 13:59:58 -0700 2009 4084164 157030 iluvtennis 3 5184653 third the mint thing.... but the only way i can have it in toothpaste is the vanilla mint one by crest. Otherwise, it makes me really nauseous. But mint candy? mint sauce? mint in dessert? all disgusting to me. Sun Nov 15 22:38:42 -0800 2009 4728286 264146 kubasd 3 5203805 i love mint but not in my toothpaste! my favorite was apricot but they stopped making it, now i get cherry... Mon Nov 23 17:23:28 -0800 2009 4728286 271458 swtcrm 1 4085454 I'll eat anything. Except Jell-o. I HATE Jell-o. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. Mon Oct 06 10:55:55 -0700 2008 4046813 53671 Davedigger 1 4088470 I am pretty much into everything except: flavor wise: olives capers nutmeg anything that tastes like licorice (like fennel) texture wise: pears beets liver or anything else that is kinda grainy like dirt and I hate the way peach skin feels on my teeth but I like peaches themselves (although beets and liver are not odd things to dislike) I can kinda relate to the mango/ papaya thing except sometimes I think they kinda taste like soap instead of dirt :) Tue Oct 07 12:49:28 -0700 2008 4046813 231132 HungryHaeley 1 4089022 I thought I only disliked a few things, when I read through the list I realized I am a really picky eater… My dislikes are: Bananas – dislike the smell, taste & texture Raisins – terrible after taste Mango- taste like dirty fruit with a bitter aftertaste Guava – can’t get past the smell of body odor. My family had several guava trees so the stench was constantly around Papayas Ketchup - taste nasty American cheese – taste like wax paper & plastic Cooked carrots Cooked celery Jell-O – shudder, squish thru the teeth, savor & swallow?? Bologna Sweet pickles. Tue Oct 07 15:50:04 -0700 2008 4046813 97593 Cinnabon 2 4090374 "Jell-O – shudder, squish thru the teeth, savor & swallow??" That just literally made me shudder and gave me goose bumps. Blech! Wed Oct 08 08:16:53 -0700 2008 4089022 53671 Davedigger 1 4097724 -Chocolate cake. Never found one I cared for. -Beef. I hate the taste and texture, and I've had it in just about every possible form, from fast food hamburger to gourmet $100+ restaurant dinner. -Breakfast potatoes, the kind with peppers and onions in them. I love potatoes, I love peppers, I love onions. But the combination? Can't stand it. Maybe more people dislike breakfast potatoes--but I don't just dislike them, I DESPISE them. I also despise breakfast sausage. -Nutmeg--can't stand it, not even a hint of it. -Ham, unless it's really thinly sliced and flavored and super-processed, which means it isn't really ham anymore. -Cumin. I put it in lots of recipes and I can it eat it if it blends in, but if it's the only/main flavoring or if I happen to bite into a whole cumin seed...ugh. Same with cardamom. -Beer. I have to force it down. And I like other alcoholic drinks, including strong-tasting ones. Sat Oct 11 10:27:11 -0700 2008 4046813 152338 fallingup 2 4098072 Have you tried Guinness? I don't like beer in general but recently tried Guinness and liked the flavor. Sat Oct 11 14:05:04 -0700 2008 4097724 57288 EmmaToo 3 4098513 i cant stand pilsners and lagers. there is a top of the mouth high note i think of as "beery" that i don't like. i love ales ports and stouts though Sat Oct 11 19:16:07 -0700 2008 4098072 135229 thew 1 4097938 Bananas. I hate bananas. Not a texture thing. I can't tolerate the smell. I run from people bearing peeled bananas. Soft drinks. The only time I want to see a soft drink is when it's making cozy with some alcohol. Otherwise I never touch the stuff. Beer. I live in Canada. I still don't get it. Cook with it? Sure. Drink it? Tried 3 times. Once with intent, once thanks to a charming gentleman who talked me into it, and a 3rd time by accident. The 3rd time was not the charm. Sat Oct 11 12:31:01 -0700 2008 4046813 12072 Googs 2 4098030 I hate soft drinks too! I can't even have it mixed with alcohol. I can do champagne and some energy drinks, but I'd like them even better if they weren't fizzy. Sat Oct 11 13:34:59 -0700 2008 4097938 152338 fallingup 1 4102792 With most of the foods I dislike, I like in specific situations. Examples- celery - hate in anything except tuna salad (love it in tuna salad) milk - except with a chocolatey food, like cake or cookies. I could never just drink a glass of milk alcohol - my system doesn't handle it well, plus I get the asian blush reaction, but I've never liked the taste. That goes for beer, wine and hard liquors. But I like the flavor of rum in rum balls, and white wine or sherry cooked with seafood. lettuce - that's even a little warm or wilted almost makes me gag. But I love salad. raisins - but I like golden raisins in an oatmeal cookie. Come to think of it the only thing I really, really will not eat is blue cheese. The first time I had it was in a blue cheese dressing. I thought my ranch dressing had gotten soap in it. Tue Oct 14 05:03:09 -0700 2008 4046813 12947 gmm 1 4107911 Lindt chocolate (tastes like dry milk to me) Cooked carrots Basil pesto (love basil - how can it be ruined like that?) Runny eggs Homemade french fries (taste burnt) Anything fishy, especially salmon (and it has that metallic taste). (But love shrimp, scallops, ling cod, halibut, etc.) any clams or oysters that aren't fried any organ meats Olive tapenade (ugh) Garlic Bacon (especially on a burger) Feta cheese Liver (but pate I love, go figure) Brown rice Boiled meat of any kind (especially beef tongue and pork) Green pepper (bitterness lasts for hours) Almost any soda pop, other than really gingery ginger ale and really rooty root beer :-) Chicken and dumplings Lima beans, yams, some squash, hominy, undercooked or raw broccoli and cauliflower Coffee flavor in anything, especially chocolate Half and half (it doesn't stretch the cream, it ruins it) and lowfat milk Strong cheeses (still smell them for hours afterwards) Goat cheese Mustard on a sandwich (love mustard on sausages though - go figure again) Sure I'll remember others Thu Oct 16 05:24:07 -0700 2008 4046813 227202 vtnewbie 1 4107921 FISH- I just don't like it, can't eat it, know I'm probably missing out but I don't see the appeal. It's not filling either, to me. I do eat tuna salad but I don't think that counts : ) and I absolutely love most shellfish (crustaceans) except for mussels and oysters. And fried calamari (which DH calls "bait") Thu Oct 16 05:29:56 -0700 2008 4046813 228246 moma1bud 2 4108017 In terms of fish not being filling, and no I'm not trying to change your mind, but have you ever tried having a tuna steak? They're very hearty, and maybe since you like tuna salad you'd like tuna steak. Again though, not tryig to convert you. Justwondering. Arika http://rawforamonth.blogspot.com Thu Oct 16 06:31:32 -0700 2008 4107921 82243 ArikaDawn 1 4109503 Mayo - how can anyone like that stuff? Thu Oct 16 15:53:51 -0700 2008 4046813 233121 noodlenoodle 1 4110778 Here are some of the foods I hate most: Condiments- Ketchup, mayo, mustard, relish, hot sauce....ICK. I don't even like to touch a ketchup bottle especially with the crusty old ketchup hardened on the lid. I do like soy sauce, BBQ sauce (which I know had ketchup in it), and butter......thats about it. I think food should taste good as it is and shouldn't need 10 condiments slathered on it to be able to be eaten. Milk- Hate the smell, the taste, even the word milk. Really it bugs me because you can not see thru it.... All beans except green beans.........black, pinto, white, and why are places putting beans in Taco's?? Canned food- I lived with my great grandma and all her veggies were canned and cooked until all flavor, color, and vitamins where gone. I don't eat canned meat, fish or anything besides canned Mandarin slices Tomato Sauce- I love raw tomatos and will eat them like an apple but I hate cooked tomato sauce. Give me my pasta with butter, alfredo, cheese, whatever besides tomato sauce. Any soup that doesnt not have a clear broth. Sausage, hot dogs, bologna......ewwww. Fri Oct 17 08:39:37 -0700 2008 4046813 219265 phimoez 2 4111551 I'm the opposite...I don't like raw tomatoes but love tomato sauce. My mom has never understood how this is possible. But as you understand...they don't taste similar! I adore condiments, but my best friend from college always hated them. A coworker now does as well. I'll agree with the mayo, I don't really put mayo on anything. Fri Oct 17 13:42:20 -0700 2008 4110778 66556 Solstice444 3 4111931 I really dislike the following: mayonaise (sp?) - I HATE it!!!! Disgusting! How anyone puts it on sandwiches (including my bf) is beyond me (no offense to anyone)...yuck! Cream sauces, though I do like mac and cheese Hollandaise Eggs that are runny or even the slightest bit of that jelly sort of yellow - yolks MUST be firm (like seriously immovable)! Chewy cuts of meat Cheeseburgers - however oddly enough I will eat a blue cheeseburger Scrapple (never had it, don't want it) I should say though that the list of foods use to be SO much longer and as I've gotten older, I'm definitely accepting of more and I'll try more things - just for an ex., I use to only eat vegetable sushi rolls because I said I hated raw fish and anything squishy and now I'm eating uni and all sorts of odd things! (though still no squid...) Fri Oct 17 16:38:22 -0700 2008 4111551 131224 lovessushi 4 4153872 Hi Lovessushi. You must know my daughter. If it's not noodles or skinless chicken, she won't go near it. And she's eleven! Thu Nov 06 11:50:55 -0800 2008 4111931 13653 MoxieBoy 1 4156826 I'm known for my odd tastes in what I love and what I hate - here's the stuff I can't stand: salmon cooked fish (except canned tuna) mangos and papayas potatoes guac slab o' meat, as in steaks bell peppers raw onions curry anything sweetened with aspartame pickles most vegetables mutton cold coffee or tea beer gin hazelnuts (I love all other nuts) 3 musketeers bars Fri Nov 07 14:29:30 -0800 2008 4046813 237929 tracylee 2 4547188 Tracylee, if we can find somebody to take the beer, gin, and curry, oh, and the green bell peppers, we will have a collectively clean plate! Sat Mar 28 16:58:20 -0700 2009 4156826 105625 EWSflash 1 4156901 I'm a fairly picky eater, to the point that I have had people ask "How do you eat anything?" * Olives (I think they exist to make oil) * Button mushrooms. I like many other mushrooms, but I find the texture of button mushrooms slimy and the flavor lacking. * Celery. Might be one of those chemicals some people can't taste, but I find it unpleasently bitter, even after cooking. * Green peppers. Also hopelessly bitter. And prone to contaminating surrounding foods. * Grapes. Just dont' like 'em. Fri Nov 07 15:14:39 -0800 2008 4046813 49823 Terrieltr 2 5184640 I actually have the same problem with celery. Never grew up with the stuff because "celery" in other languages and to me was parsley. Don't see any appeal in snacking on this thick stalky stringy watery thing. I find it bitter and the smell is so strong. Sun Nov 15 22:22:25 -0800 2009 4156901 224081 BamiaWruz 1 4158925 I don't like anything! - Ketchup, mustard, relish and mayonnaise. - Sour cream, cream cheese and cottage cheese (and anything made from them). - Fruit (I don't like the fruits we can grow this far north like apples and berries, and I don't like fruit that has been imported from warmer countries, but when I'm in a warm country I like eating super-fresh fruit, if that makes sense). - Milk - Meat - Eggs in any form other than scrambled - "Common" potato chip flavours like salt and vinegar, sour cream and onion, barbecue, ketchup, dill pickle, etc. I like some "niche" flavours; there's a good coconut-curry one at the health food store, and don't mind plain chips. All that being said, people are always impressed by the things that I cook and the variety of different foods I eat. Sat Nov 08 17:36:34 -0800 2008 4046813 131149 Jetgirly 1 4159297 For me it's: SPAM prosciutto American cheese/Velveeta/processed cheese food product" Liverwurst Anything in a creme or Alfredo sauce any of the "nasty bits" except for chicken gizzards Veal (ok, I don't really dislike the taste, I just don't eat veal) Cold soup Any "potted meat food product" Undercooked bacon ( it has to be crisp enough to break, not bend.) anything with aspartame in it (that aftertaste! Yuck!) oysters, raw shellfish Cold coffee most canned veggies most store-bought processed foods (canned, packaged, or frozen) Flavored coffee Flavored beer Yellow mustard Sat Nov 08 23:30:40 -0800 2008 4046813 226942 al b. darned 2 5199214 Definitely agree with you on the liverwurst, and the cold soup. Blah. Sat Nov 21 18:39:13 -0800 2009 4159297 1126435 rrw8185 1 4547182 I feel your pain, ArikaDawn. Truly. Many of my in-laws have a sweet tooth that borders on indiscriminate. I don'thave much of a sweet tooth compared to them, especially when it coes to cookies and ice cream in particular. They simply don't think of a lot of the things I like as an alternative to dessert, or sweets in general. Thank God DH isn't like that. I'd have ot have him killed. Sat Mar 28 16:55:34 -0700 2009 4046813 105625 EWSflash 1 4549052 i have a very weird palate i hate- anything to rich creamy cheesy, even as a child anything fatty butter batter fat on meat even when i was little always would never touch food once i knew it contained butter pork in any form blech and steak and beef (except when i was little sausage rolls and aussie meat pies, but i'm almost pescetarian now) cream in any form and icing, sugary candy blech far too sweet. on the other hand i love EVERY vegetable even eat them at breakfast, also l love liqourice and black jelly beans and love most vinegeary strong ethnic foods. Sun Mar 29 13:55:59 -0700 2009 4046813 235412 umbushi plum 2 4646670 Wow, that would be a great health advantage. Wish I was like you, haha. Fri May 01 14:58:21 -0700 2009 4549052 19782 Full tummy 3 4648686 haha, yeah i eat like a horse but cause its pretty healthy i seem to be able to without affect to my body circumfrence ;-) Sat May 02 15:07:22 -0700 2009 4646670 235412 umbushi plum 4 4648697 Yup, and I love everything you hate, with the opposite affect, haha. Sat May 02 15:12:38 -0700 2009 4648686 19782 Full tummy 5 4648702 haha funny the next time i recieve a rich gooey cream filled sweet i'll know where to send it, good on you Sat May 02 15:16:42 -0700 2009 4648697 235412 umbushi plum 1 4553681 celery carrots unless they are in soup or shredded finely in a salad RAISINS.........BLECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tue Mar 31 06:30:34 -0700 2009 4046813 46235 Johnresa 1 4558458 I'm going to have to go with most fruit, candy, and above all baked ham. Wed Apr 01 13:42:18 -0700 2009 4046813 271168 abduction51 2 4646659 For me it's: marshmallows chocolate jell-o pumpkin pie uncooked mushrooms uncooked spinach--the thought of it makes me gag Chardonnay Brie Vodka Any adulterated cofffee (hold the frou-frou, just gimme my cuppa joe) Fri May 01 14:53:45 -0700 2009 4558458 252189 h2Bn 1 4646668 Kiwi and papayas. They smell like p**p to me. I do like golden kiwis, though. Fri May 01 14:57:26 -0700 2009 4046813 19782 Full tummy 2 5184656 yummmmm golden kiwi fruit! I hate regular kiwi fruit and papayas too, but i will decimate a couple of golden kiwifruit cut in half and eaten with a spoon.... Sun Nov 15 22:40:25 -0800 2009 4646668 264146 kubasd 3 5184740 Doesn't the spoon make it kind of crunchy? Mon Nov 16 01:34:25 -0800 2009 5184656 95291 Richard 16 1 4650303 Fritos! The smell alone makes me retch. I pity the fool that opens a bag of them in a car I' in- one of us will have to leave. Sun May 03 11:43:15 -0700 2009 4046813 105625 EWSflash 2 4650950 I feel this way about bugles chips. I think they are the nastiest thing ever. That smell alone and aftertaste makes me gag. Sun May 03 16:57:03 -0700 2009 4650303 18011 Jacey 2 4707927 aaahhh nothing like the smell of fritos or dirty smelly wet socks or something similar. Fri May 22 17:33:45 -0700 2009 4650303 97593 Cinnabon 3 4708888 Yeah, you got it. Sat May 23 09:03:09 -0700 2009 4707927 105625 EWSflash 3 4719294 HA! I had basketball season tickets last year (Go Heels!) and my seat-neighbor smelled bad. I was taking my mom to one of the games and warned her that the guy next to me usually smelled strongly of feet, her immediate response, without hesitation was "Maybe he just eats a lot of corn chips." And that is why my mom is an awesome middle school administrator. Wed May 27 12:07:35 -0700 2009 4707927 135311 mpjmph 4 4719946 Tell her that my brother who has just retired from over 40 years of teaching 7th grade always said, "Nobody in their right mind would ever teach 8th grade." SPAM, Pop Tarts and flavored corn chips are nonfoods. Go Fritos and Frito pie! Wed May 27 15:36:03 -0700 2009 4719294 93538 Passadumkeg 1 4652889 Proud to say theres very little i wont eat. But the following things do nothing for me and youll never find me seeking them out: Watermelon (it tastes like soggy styrofome to me) Shaved Coconut (you want to make me gag uncontrollably? Give me a Mounds…) Cucumber Salmon steak (yet I LOVE smoked salmon and sushi!) Beets Black licorice Note though that I would never describe my feelings for even these foods as “hate”. Just indifference or “bleck!”. But even these I would force down if given in a social setting. Oh! And I cant understand people who use mayonnaise as a condiment... And don’t get me started on Gin… Mon May 04 10:46:15 -0700 2009 4046813 238787 Insidious Rex 2 4656042 Mounds is my favorite candy! But I agree about cucumbers. I don't hate them, but I just don't see why people eat them. They taste like nothing to me. Same with beets. Celery too. Tue May 05 10:30:14 -0700 2009 4652889 66556 Solstice444 3 4656091 I wish I could like Mounds but I just cant get past the shaved coconut... And of course they HIDE it under the nice chocolate! Its why I have a hard time with boxed candies. As a child I would inevitably get that one with an inch of shaved coconut under the luscious dark chocolate outer layer and some kind of weird nauseating green meringue cream ooze in it that had the consistency and look of caterpillar guts... Then I would immediately go into cat with giant hair ball mode… It was so traumatizing! Tue May 05 10:45:23 -0700 2009 4656042 238787 Insidious Rex 2 4728825 Geez!!, are we related Insidious? I can tolerate (or even love) coconut on a german choco. cake, and I disagree completely on the mayo thing, but otherwise, those are in my top "hates" too. I love watermelon, but it makes me burp just like cucumburps...yecch! Are you also not a fan of eggplant (and most other squash-y veggies...) and okra like me? I think it's the juniper in Gin that makes me wanna gag; but when I was young, I did love me some Tanqueray&Tonics. Now the smell makes me most queasy. adam Sat May 30 18:40:30 -0700 2009 4652889 154787 adamshoe 3 4732852 Eggplant I could do without as well but I wouldnt go as far as to say I dont like it. Its just one of those veggies I dont have much use for like cucumber. Something about the limited taste and/or the consistency. Never been a big babaganouche fan and if you are making parmesan why not just use meat really. I will eat Okra but only when its thoroughly cooked in a stew like gumbo or whatever. Ill eat them fried too but rarely. Obviously the slime factor is an issue but not enough to turn me off. Yeah Im pretty sure its the way juniper tastes (and smells) in an alcohol solution that turns me off about gin. Smells like it should be a bad air freshener. Even the best stuff. So that and the requisite bad drinking experience freshman year in college probably did it for me. I will simply say that Tanquaray and an entire box of captain crunch was NEVER meant to mix… Mon Jun 01 11:34:12 -0700 2009 4728825 238787 Insidious Rex 4 4733533 Pick some juniper berries for saurbrauten and you may change your mind. My favorite method to cook a venison roast. Mon Jun 01 14:55:37 -0700 2009 4732852 93538 Passadumkeg 1 4660051 I'm sure this is strange, but I love peanut butter (as in sandwiches) but I hate peanut butter flavored foods ... candy, cookies, cups, etc. But cream cheese is the opposite! I don't like it itself, or as a spread, but I love foods made with it ... dips, cheesecake, etc. yummy! I love eggs, but only totally cooked through (over broken hard) - I hate runniness in eggs, and that's why I've never tried eggs benedict. I don't like tomatoes. and I hate anything that requires too much butchering by the person eating it. I've never had lobster - it's just too gross. peel and eat shrimp, anything that looks like a real whole fish ... veins, mysterious elements, that strange crunch in ground meat ... well, let's just say I don't eat meat much. *shudder* Wed May 06 13:40:25 -0700 2009 4046813 287260 occula 2 4660176 "mysterious elements" LOLOL! Nicely put. Wed May 06 14:15:45 -0700 2009 4660051 143696 Catskillgirl 2 4660194 Do what my husband does: Order Eggs Benedict with the eggs scrambled. He gets some odd looks, but that doesn't bother him. Wed May 06 14:21:14 -0700 2009 4660051 11995 pikawicca 2 4666325 I'm the opposite of you! I don't like peanut butter in sandwiches, but I love peanut butter in candy, ice cream, everything else. But I agree with you on the tomatoes and runny eggs. Fri May 08 10:42:54 -0700 2009 4660051 66556 Solstice444 1 4660272 From Arika's OP, her list is what prompted me to reply: -hollandaise -parmigiano reggiano(I stil use it in recipes that call for it, but don't find it special) -bacon and/or cheese on burgers -french fries -potato chips -ribs -chicken noodle soup -snickers It just cracked me up because with the exception of chicken soup which I am neutral on, I couldn't live without everything listed, right down to Snickers being my favorite candybar!! We human's are so fickle. My list would be: Mushrooms (w/ the exception of wood ear in hot and sour soup) raw tomatoes (but go through an insane amt of canned) shrimp (I keep trying but just can't like 'em) blue cheese (gag, and I LOVE cheese) veal, lamb (OK, I might love them if tried, but I can't bring myself to eat babies) most fish avacado cilantro zuchinni eggplant (except prepared very well in a parmesean) I know there are ALOT of people that will scoff at my list! In a string up thread there was talk of people not willing to "try" things because they know they won't like it. I know for a fact that even if they tasted fantastic, I wouldn't be able to do organ meats. On the other hand, I have never tasted pesto, because I can't stand pine nuts I just have the stupid idea I won't like it! I think I'm going to just bite the bullet, test myself and whip up some pesto this weekend... Wed May 06 14:43:16 -0700 2009 4046813 282257 Alicat24 2 4662036 Pesto - just make it with some other kind of nuts instead. Walnuts work pretty well; not the same taste, obviously, but still good. Thu May 07 07:02:11 -0700 2009 4660272 98500 Bat Guano 3 4664169 Thanks for the suggestion, I have heard of using different nuts. I love walnuts so I think I will run with them this weekend! Thu May 07 16:41:32 -0700 2009 4662036 282257 Alicat24 2 4720574 I completely agree with the raw tomatoes, blue cheese, mushrooms, veal ( i also havent tried it but cant bring myself too). i wish so badly that i could enjoy raw tomatoes because im sure i am missing out on so many fantastic foods but no matter how many times i try, i just cant do it... Wed May 27 19:04:41 -0700 2009 4660272 270454 contessa15 3 4720812 Your reply is very timely. I had a BL for dinner tonight (notice the absence of the "T") and found myself thinking "Even with the mayo, this would be better with some wet tomato on it to counter-act the dry toast". Maybe you and I will get there some day! I have slowly made myself try fresh tomato, like 4 little diced pieces on a taco. The last time I made BLT's, I took hubbies tomato slices and laid them on my sandwich, just to get the flavor, and removed them. I didn't mind it! Which may have led to my thought tonight while eating my normal BL. Will I ever take a salt shaker, pull a mater off the plant and eat it like an apple, or dig into a caprese salad? Probably not! I'd like to get to a place where I can enjoy small doses though. BTW, I just realized I never got around to trying Bat Guano's suggestion. I'll have to remember that tip for the future. Wed May 27 20:47:41 -0700 2009 4720574 282257 Alicat24 4 4733206 Are you trying to like supermarket tomatoes? Don't bother -- they are truly dreadful. Wait until later in the summer and get yourself an assortment of local, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes. There is an enormous range of acidity and flavor. You're almost sure to find some you like. I am a huge fan of (Brandywines.) Mon Jun 01 13:19:12 -0700 2009 4720812 11995 pikawicca 5 4875152 I missed your reply. Yes, because I use them so infrequently and rarely get to the the farmers market, it's grocery tomatoes for me. I tried to grow them myself in the garden last year but they all split, were eaten by bugs or fell off the plants before they matured. I'm trying again this year, only in my raised beds instead of the area that is just tilled up yard. I've got a Brandywine, Roma and Yellow pear that I am looking forward to trying. Funnily enough, I've got 5 volunteer's that popped up from last year! We'll see what comes of them. My father's girlfriend grew up on a small family farm and she is constantly lamenting the poor quality and taste of today's tomatoes. Her neverending search for flavorfull tomatoes just cracks me up, as one who has not admired them previously and therefore, do not know of these infamous, delicious tomatoes of yore! Since I first posted in this thread, I have actually been eating them more and more. I can't say I love them but I am starting to gain an appreciation. I find myself being irked that "grocery" tomatoes, more and more often, are not fully ripe and red but hard, orangish-red and under-ripe. I and hubby like to cook according to what we feel like, so I shop multiple times a week and don't have time to ripen a tomato needed for dinner that evening when they occationally are warrented. Grrrr. Mon Jul 20 14:51:06 -0700 2009 4733206 282257 Alicat24 6 5198495 So, how did your home-grown tomatoes turn out? Sat Nov 21 10:51:30 -0800 2009 4875152 11995 pikawicca 1 4660316 Cola beverages. Coke, Pepsi, whatever. I can't see why everyone else likes them so much. Wed May 06 14:51:47 -0700 2009 4046813 19003 PAO 1 4662993 I love all of the foods on your list. My additions to the list are: Lima Beans Okra Black Licorice Fennel Sushi (but I like Sea Urchin!) Olives of any kind (I do use Olive Oil for cooking) Kiwi Rhubarb Soy beans, soy milk, tofu Head Cheese! Thu May 07 10:49:10 -0700 2009 4046813 10885 OneJayneDoe 1 4708899 Dill and epazote. You know how people will say"Who the heck ever thought that an artichoke (or oyster, insert ingredient here) was edible"? Well, with dill and epazote, I can't imagine why, having tasted it, they ever knowingly tried it again. Sat May 23 09:10:08 -0700 2009 4046813 105625 EWSflash 1 4710126 My list of why-eat-this includes cucumbers (taste like water) raw mushrooms (feels like a damp sponge) blue cheese (I LOVE all other cheeses. When blue cheese appears on a menu, I have them substitute feta) okra (I think it was Bill Cosby who said 'If you go out into the yard barefoot and you step on a slug...THAT'S okra!') red licorice (no flavor at all) pickled pig's feet (my father's favorite...no explanation necessary) pickles chopped up and mixed into salads Jello Italian sausage herbes de provence (I wash with lavendar, so I'm not going to eat it) non-dairy creamer over-cooked scrambled eggs cola soft drinks Oh, all you french fry lovers: order garlic french fries whenever possible. No condiments necessary (except salt and pepper). Miracle Whip Sat May 23 22:35:43 -0700 2009 4046813 322300 Michelly 1 4718549 Pine nuts -- everyone loves them, but no matter where or how I have them toasted, raw, on salad, etc. they always taste rancid to me. I also dislike oregano and chocolate covered strawberries. Wed May 27 08:50:26 -0700 2009 4046813 28000 hungry100 2 5199218 Oregano's definitely an acquired taste. It took me several years before I learned to like it. Sat Nov 21 18:40:17 -0800 2009 4718549 1126435 rrw8185 2 5200449 I'm with you on pine nuts, although I do love pesto. Just on their own they have a very odd taste. Sun Nov 22 13:17:58 -0800 2009 4718549 153184 im_nomad 1 4718670 I really enjoy this thread and the question. However, I think some of you are missing the point. People claiming to dislike offal, licorice, brussels sprouts, eggplant, etc. are proclaiming their hatred of already maligned (and hardly universally loved foods). As I adore the latter three on my list (offal, depends what it is and how it's prepared, etc), I am so used to people with their 'eewwwwws', that perhaps my sense of the world is not one where 'EVERYONE' enjoys them. Me, I'm pretty meh on chocolate and don't go much for thick cream sauces although I don't hate them. In fact, I'm actually pressed to think of what I hate. That's kind of sad. Wed May 27 09:18:13 -0700 2009 4046813 16734 Lizard 2 4718928 Dont know if i would put licorice in that group of much maligned foods. Im not a big fan of the stuff. But most people I know enjoy it. No its not the focus of food worship like chocolate by any stretch but its not universally the butt of food jokes either. Wed May 27 10:27:15 -0700 2009 4718670 238787 Insidious Rex 3 4719147 Q: How much black licorice does it take to change a light bulb? A: Who cares? Black licorice and tooth whiteners cancel each other. Hiding black licorice jelly beans in a bag of assorted: Grounds for justifiable homicide. What do you *get* with a dollar bag of licorice? A dollar. A $5 pack? $5. To actually eat it? Priceless. Wed May 27 11:25:21 -0700 2009 4718928 95291 Richard 16 4 4719258 Yeah BLACK licorice is on my get it away from me list too. But all licorice? Most people like the other colors (are there other colors besides red?). Friends give me a hard time because I turn down Twizzlers (which probably doesnt even qualify as licorice really). Wed May 27 11:57:56 -0700 2009 4719147 238787 Insidious Rex 4 4720660 you know what's odd? i don't normally like black licorice but i do like the black licorice jelly beans... go figure Wed May 27 19:39:47 -0700 2009 4719147 271458 swtcrm 1 5113464 Soda. Always tastes so artificial. Goat cheese and blue cheeses. I don't think they are widely loved, yet they are all over so many restaurant menus. It seems that so many vegetarian dishes have one or the other ingredient. Sun Oct 18 20:49:04 -0700 2009 4046813 250921 sbring 1 5199211 Some of the things I despise: Bananas Lima Beans Spinach Ketchup (except for when it is on burgers.) Grape juice Chewing gum. I want to slap anyone that smacks their lips while chewing. Ugh.Sorry if that hits a nerve with anyone. Just how I feel. American "Plastic" Cheese Cheese Whiz Edit: red licorice. Sat Nov 21 18:37:09 -0800 2009 4046813 1126435 rrw8185 1 5200457 Well, for me, it's meat. I can't tell you how many conversations i've had over the years with people who, upon hearing that I don't eat meat, immediately proclaim "OMG, how can you NOT have a big juicy steak, I would DIE".....sort of thing. Sun Nov 22 13:20:26 -0800 2009 4046813 153184 im_nomad 2 5202437 All meat? Because I'm definitely not into steak, and I've heard the same thing over and over! I also don't like pork chops, lamb chops, not really into ham...but I do enjoy hamburgers, sausage, and bacon! Mon Nov 23 09:55:44 -0800 2009 5200457 66556 Solstice444