What do you mean you've eaten that?

Though I haven't been posting much, I still continue to diligently read many foodie blogs out there. I've seen the Omnivore and Vegetarian 100 lists going around and figured "Hey, why not see what I've eaten". Even though my mom is from the Philippines, I was surprised to find that my exposure to food puts me in an 'omnivore' category. I have tried 93/100 of these items! I truly feel that trying baalut gives me at least 1 of those 7 back

Here goes, courtesy of Very Good Taste:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at Very Good Taste linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison - two of my faves growing up were venison chili and venison jerky!
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile - yeah, like gamey stringy chicken.... it was on a stick...
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp - didn't know it was carp until after I ate it
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi - loved this recipe since trying it after watching Bend it Like Beckham
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses - I was skeptical, but it was a great tasting cheese!
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - plum wine my dad made and kept in the cellar for 20 years before bottling, boy was it FANTASTIC! (It's older than me)
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries - just had wild salmonberry and wild blueberry pancakes on Sunday!
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese - i believe its also called souse... I ate it before I knew all the cool kids didn't...
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - technically I ate it... does it count if I threw it back up 15 minutes later?
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - does it still count if I don't smoke?
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects - sorry I don't think I could bring myself to
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - the best one is the one they give you off the line while waiting....
50. Sea urchin - once - didn't really like the texture
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle - a must with chicken paprikash!
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips -
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads - beef thymus sweetbreads, not brains
63. Kaolin - umm yeah, I'm a geologist.... ate some Kaolinite on a bet....
64. Currywurst - love curry, love sausages... how can I not love the is combo?
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe - someday
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - does a wild goose the neighbor hit with his car count?
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict - once, I liked it, but my sister puking hers up all over the car likely put me off of it for life...
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef - wasn't that impressed, Nebraska corn-fed beef so much tastier!
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - it wasn't a religious experience, I've had better coffee
100. Snake

WOW, its been a LONG time

I've been scarce lately, I know. Things have been BUSY here. Several due dates at work lined themselves up, keeping me chained to my desk rather than to my oven and stove! I see the light at the end of the tunnel (for many reasons as I'll go further into below), and have found time, on occasion to get into the kitchen to create something tasty. Usually though, having come off a 12 hour shift, I find no energy to pull out the camera and take pictures. Yes I know, I am a slacker....

As I mentioned, things are starting to lighten up here. The main reason is due to our pending departure from the last frontier. I have to say that I am truly sad that G. and I are going to be leaving. This area is wonderful, if you enjoy nature and experiencing the elements in their raw, unfettered, form. Unfortunately, he ran into many road blocks trying to find employment here, surprisingly. A year ago, neither one of us figured he'd spend 6 months here not coming up with anything (yes, even stocking shelves at the grocery store). He just finished his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering after 9 years of going part time. He knew he may not find work specific to that particular field, but he didn't think he'd be thwarted at every turn:

Applies to municipality for engineering tech position, that has been 'open' for 3 years - told that they want a civil, even though he had all but the surveying experience the JD indicated. What you need to realize, is civil engineer or civil engineering techs don't wake up one day and decide to move to where we are.... This place is an endpoint in travel, not a waypoint to destinations elsewhere. I can't believe that the beggars here actually want to be choosers, but hey enjoy not having an engineering tech for 3 more years! (Yes, I am bitter..)

Applies to municipality for union-wastewater technician trainee - told they decided to not hire the position due to revenue cut backs. OK, I can accept the logic of this.

Applies to local branch of a national banking institution for open teller position. Told that he wasn't qualified, yet the person filling the position is just as 'unqualified' as G....

Applies to municipality for public utilities storekeeper position, only to be told they weren't sure they were going to fill the position (even though its still being advertised as open...).

So... in a moment of frustration, knowing his degree conferral was 2 weeks awa, he send resumes to openings at a few select companies back in Ohio. He had to go back right before graduation to present his final project on last time and while he was there interviewedat a few places. It was meant to be cathartic, it ended up being the catalyst for our departure. G. accepted an offer with a large company back in Ohio. He leaves the end of this week; I am here for a few more months.

There's a lot of changes coming up stay tuned!