What I Won’t Try For Love Or Money

Yesterday, I mentioned that - for all that I enjoy exploring culinary flavors - there are some foods that I won’t taste.

I’m definitely not a fan of Survivor or Fear Factor type shows.

Long ago, I too was a foolhardy teenager who could be bribed to take on idiotic challenges.  Friends still shake their heads recounting the time that I dove into shark-infested waters for a measly $20 dare.  Another challenge - sporting a purple streak of hair for a week - netted me a cool $100.

Sure, I was an idiot, but at least I wasn’t losing dumb bets.

And, with the greater wisdom of age, I have no problem turning down “special dishes” when they belong in the wild, not my plate.

My dear husband; however, is not so easily immune to a food challenge.

Back in 2004, on a family vacation in Vietnam, we found a restaurant that served an unusual assortment of exotic foods.  It was a once in lifetime opportunity to sample adventurous fare such as scorpions, field rats, or worms. 

Now, I had no trouble just saying no.  Dave, on the other hand, was torn. He didn’t want to pass up such a rare opportunity, and the kids were begging him to get the scorpions.

He has afraid, but how could he resist the challenge?  Macho man just had to order the scorpion dish.

Once he placed the order, that was it.  We weren’t going to let him back down.  And, we weren’t above a few chicken cackles.

Then, again, there was the coup de grâce.  Our four-year-old friend, Joseph, had no fear handling the scorpions.  He even seemed to enjoy them!

Now, I’m not going to tell you that this turned out to be a surprisingly delicious dish.  I wouldn’t even know, as I held firm.  However, Dave did taste the scorpion and claimed it was alright, just a bit crunchy.

At least one member of our family is a truly adventurous epicurean.

Tell me.  Are you an adventurous eater?  What’s the most unusual dish you’ve ever tasted?  Can you share suggestions for encouraging kids to be adventurous eaters?

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