The Bucket List
British food site Very Good Taste recently posted The Omnivore’s Hundred, their list of every food a good meat-and-grass eater really must try during their time on this planet. You’re supposed to bold everything you’ve already tried, and cross out anything you would never touch. My pride wouldn’t let me cross anything out, although I may one day live to regret that.
I got a 62 out of 100, so it looks like I have plenty left to live for, or at least 38 meals. How ’bout you guys? Post your scores and thoughts in the comments.
(Via Capital Spice and The Feisty Foodie).
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea…Seriously? Why is it so great? Anyone?
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare…I am so embarrassed I still haven’t had this…pathetic
5. Crocodile Tried in South Africa…I know it’s cliche, but I swear, it tastes like chicken
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush Better than hummus? I’m not on board with that
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich Awww…thanks, Britain. But, come on, America makes better food than this. How about including a reuben instead?
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper Hmmm…this might go on the cross-out list for me, but I guess if you’re gonna challenge me…
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda Woah! Sounds delicious. Sign me up.
Keep going…
31. Wasabi peas I really don’t love these
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi Wow. I am a big fan of mango lassis, but I did not know about the salted kind. Sounds pretty perfect though.
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar Unless you’re eating the cigar, I don’t see how this belongs on the list
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O Thank you, college
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk…Hmm, I guess I should try, huh? Considering how much I love goat’s cheese
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more Haha…not even close – I might break the $12 mark
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut...I’d replace this with the Luther Burger
50. Sea urchin Just tried at El Quinto Pino. I thought it was not worth the hype, but now I’m glad I ordered it!
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal This list is starting to lose legitimacy for me
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini Don’t forget the pickletini!
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips Um…why?
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads Another one I’m a little ashamed I can’t bold
63. Kaolin LOL…I won’t be sad if I never try this
64. Currywurst Hook it up! I’m getting a plane to Hamburg…looks like I might need that Kaolin-based digestive after all
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake Do I get four points for this?
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail OK, I’m going out for steak tartare, sweetbreads, and snail tomorrow, who’s coming with?
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini It’s excellent gay or straight
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. I’ll take per se rezzies for my next bday, whoever is still reading
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers Does lavender count?
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa Interested…I love harissa – did not know there was a high-end version
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox Hellsyeah
97. Lobster Thermidor Woah – sounds like eggs benedict stuffed inside a lobster shell. Count me in.
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
Photo: Joe Shlabotnik
I think I got a 70 something. I was surprised by some of the items, and surprised at others… I’ve been looking for lobster thermidor – I’m not inclined to make it – but only two places I could find in the city have it. One is Delmonico’s but they have the Newburg version, and it’s $40+ … and the other is S’Mac which isn’t really thermidor. Sigh. If you find it, let me know!
PS I am dying to try sweetbreads.
Great minds…this is all over the place today. I got 50 of the hundred.
Yvo, sweetbreads are fantastic. You will not be disappointed.
I got an even 50 out of a hundred, but that has a lot to do with me being essentially a pescatarian, and a vegetarian previously. I know someone came out with a vegan version of the list, but are there any other versions out there?
I don’t think alcoholic beverages should be on the list.
the list tries to be diverse but its pretty heavy on the Anglo… I think they should drop the Haggis (nasty of nasties) and clotted (ew) and integrate more fare from the southern half of the globe. But that’s just me.
Alcoholic beverages should certainly be on the list. I’ve got a bottle of 15-year scotch in my cabinet that is simply amazing. (but still short of the $120 mark!) Also, beers above 8% ABV can present some really remarkable flavors that anyone with tastebuds would admire.
I agree – sweety breads are tasty & should stay on everyone’s list.
I only got a 61; how could BS beat me? Perhaps it’s the PB&J? Not something an Irish-born person would eat.
BS: Your favorite aunt ate at Per Se. Maybe she’ll take your hint.
Mmm, where can I get me some kaolin?
70, with the latest being currywurst. My understanding is there’s a special variety of German ketchup you have to have with it.
I had 48. Some of the things I have no idea what they are.
Umm wasabi peas are AMAZING
Yeah, wasabi peas rule. I got 88 out of 100!
http://croquecamille.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/the-omnivores-hundred/
i got a lowly 49
dont kick me off the blog!