YumSugar

Let's Dish: What Food Smells Do You Find Repulsive?

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:50:44 -0800

Yesterday in the office kitchen, TrèsSugar, Fab, and I got into a discussion about durian, the controversial-smelling Southeast Asian fruit. Très loves it, but Fab said she simply can't get over the smell. The whole discussion got me thinking about olfactory offenses in the kitchen. Personally, I can't stand the sulfurous smell of eggs. What odors can't you handle?

Will You Give Certain Ingredients a Second Chance?

partysugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:50:17 -0700

Today over on the Atlantic's food blog, there's an interesting article about giving anchovies a second chance. In it, Ari Weinzweig points out that "so many people's first experience with these little fish was by being offered outstandingly bad versions of them that they form their entire opinion from that understandably negative impression." I agree with his point of view and feel that certain polarizing ingredients should be given a second chance. For example, my father hates asparagus, but I'm certain it's because when he was younger he was served a gross preparation of asparagus. I've been begging him to give it another try, but he won't budge. How about you?

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Let's Dish: What's the Grossest Thing You've Found in Food?

partysugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:15:24 -0700

Last Friday, YumSugar discovered a random strand of blue thread in her salad. It was disgustingly attached to a piece of feta cheese. We got to talking about gross things we've come across in restaurant food. Whether it's as simple as a piece of hair or as gag inducing as a rat, we've all had bad experiences with finding things in our food. It's time for you to spill the beans: what's the grossest thing you've come across?

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Let's Dish: What's Your Favorite Weird Food Combination?

YumSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:15:03 -0700

At a recent restaurant outing, a friend and I ordered an appetizer that was an unusual (but not unheard of) combination of flavors: gruyère cheese and Fuji apples.

The combination of melted cheese and apples has always been a favorite of mine, and it made me ponder the other unusual pairings that I've loved in my lifetime. As a 5-year-old, I wrapped Kraft singles around my bananas. In college, my roommate got me hooked on canned tuna with cottage cheese. And these days, I enjoy chips in my sandwich.

I'd love to hear your confessions: What are the unusual (or even gross sounding) food combinations that appeal to you?

Would You Eat This Soup?

partysugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:13:31 -0800

Perhaps, if I didn't tell you what was in this soup, you would gladly gobble it up. It looks appetizing and fragrant and was one of the best dishes Chubby Hubby ate on a recent trip to Bhutan.

However, when you find out the main ingredient is fried hornets, you might be a little disgusted. The hornets are stir fried with garlic, ginger, and shallots.

I would take a bite, but it would be pretty hard to swallow knowing I was eating fried bugs. How about you? Would you eat this hornet soup?

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Would You Eat This Bloody Mary?

partysugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:19:19 -0800

Welcome to our new recurring feature, would you eat this? With so many interesting dishes and exotic ingredients out there, I'm dying to know your culinary limitations! I like to believe my adventurous tastebuds will allow me to try anything, but I gag just thinking about digesting bugs or balut.

To get things started I've selected a dish not too high on the gag-o-meter. Stephan of Hands on Gourmet recommends drinking a Bloody Mary the Friday after Thanksgiving in order to cure hangovers and food comas. Not your average Bloody Mary, his is filled with leftover veggies like green beans and cooked carrots. It's garnished with a celery stick and a thick slice of bacon. I think it sounds interesting but might be too much, especially when hung over. I would probably be able to eat one. How about you? Would you eat/drink this Bloody Mary?

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13 Freaky Foods for Freaky Friday

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:09:19 -0700

In honor of Freaky Friday (today's Friday the 13th!), I thought I'd pull together a list of 13 freaky foods. Even if you don't have Triskaidekaphobia (the fear of 13), you may be afraid of some of the things on this list. I know that there are a bunch of other freaky things out there (how about almost anything Anthony Bourdain eats on his show?), so if you think something's missing, tell us in the comments!

#13 - Bubble Tea
I personally love this stuff, however I've known quite a few folks that are freaked out by the tapioca inside of the tea. Come to think of it, I know a lot of people that are freaked out by tapioca in general...

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#12 - Pimento Loaf
Processed meats are a bit freaky to begin with, but Pimento Loaf really creeps me out. Finely chopped pork and beef supplemented with pickles and pimentos? No thanks.

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#11 - Harry Potter Bertie Bott's Jelly Beans
I know these are just meant as a novelty item, but seriously Vomit flavored Jelly Beans that actually taste like vomit? No thanks...

#10 - Squid Ink Pasta
I don't have a problem with this lovely pasta dyed with squid ink. However some folks find eating black pasta to be just a bit too freaky...

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#9 - Edible Bugs
I've had a few of these, and while some of them are actually interesting to try, I just can't seem to get past the idea that they're still creepy, crawly bugs.

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#8 - Scrapple
I've actually never had (or even heard of) scrapple, however quite a few folks were quick to add it to their freaky food list. Based on the definition, I can see why it makes the list. What's not freaky about a loaf of savory mush from cornmeal, flour and pork scraps?

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#7 - Chou dofu - aka Stinky Tofu
This super popular Asian snack is one of the worst things I have ever smelled. Stinky Tofu is a fermented tofu dish that is very... um, fragrant. Some folks say it smells like stinky feet, baby poo or worse (use your imagination). Personally I don't get it (my mom has forced it on us several times a year), it's not tasty enough to get past the smell.

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For the rest of our freaky food list, read more

#6 - Sweetbread
I'm actually a fan of sweetbreads, but many folks can't wrap their heads around the fact that they're eating innards. My biggest problem is actually the name.

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#5 - Pickled Pigs Feet
The little piggy feet are salted and smoked like bacon and ham, but then are placed in a jar of hot brine and preserved for months. I don't know about you, but I just have a problem with eating feet.

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#4- Chicken Feet
As I mentioned above, I have a problem with feet. This time it's a delicacy that is usually served in dim sum. Chicken feet are usually deep fried then boiled and marinated in a black bean sauce. However there are a ton of little bones. It's gross to look at and quite frankly, just not worth the effort.

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#3 - Sea Urchin - aka Uni
When I asked the folks in the Sugar HQ to name a freaky food, 5 of them said Sea Urchin. Uni is served in many sushi restaurants and is actually the gonads of the sea urchin. It has a creamy texture and a yellow/orange hue. It's a bit like a firm custard, but I sort of think that it's like biting down on a squishy tongue.

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#2 - Black Pudding aka Blood Pudding/Sausage
Anything with the word "blood" in it deserves to be on the freaky list. Blood pudding - which actually has very little to do with pudding and a lot to do with blood - is a sausage made by cooking animal blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal.

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#1 - Balut

I love poultry and I love eggs, so I should love balut, right? I live by the "try anything once" motto, but even I might have a hard time chowing down on a boiled almost whole baby duck stuck inside of an egg.

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Dead Frog Discovered in Diet Pepsi Can

YumSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:02 -0700

How did a dead frog find its way into a Pepsi can? That's the seminal question at the center of the latest food safety gross-out. Fred and Amy DeNegri, a retired couple from Florida claim they discovered a dead frog in a Pepsi can, and have plans to take legal action.

Fred DeNegri took a sip of a newly opened Diet Pepsi and started gagging. DeNegri emptied the can in his sink, but could tell that a heavy weight remained inside. He shook it until something resembling "pink linguine" slid out, followed by "dark stuff," his wife said. They took pictures and called authorities. It wasn't until the sample went into lab testing that the larger object was identified as a frog or a toad "lacking internal organs," according to the FDA report, which could not conclude whether or not the frog was there before the can had been opened. The FDA conducted an investigation of the Orlando, FL, bottling plant, and found everything in normal condition.

On a recent CNN show, two correspondents discussed the controversy, insinuating that the situation could be a hoax, or even planted by competitor Coke. I'm repulsed by the situation - how could such a large animal find its way into an aluminum soda can? Do you feel for the traumatized couple, or do you see this as another finger-in-the-chili fabrication?

Source: Flickr User qnr

Top Chef Vegas: Episode 3

partysugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:30:03 -0700

For the first time this season, the Vegas theme was played down on this week's episode of Top Chef. Instead the cheftestants worked their magic with potatoes and had an emotional experience while cooking for members of the US Air Force. Did you catch the show? Want to talk about it? Well - warning spoilers ahead - please read more.

Was Mark Peel a judge because Bravo hoped he would go further on Top Chef Masters?
Do the quickfire challenges seem easier this season?
Who did you side with in the boiling water mishap: Preeti or Ashley?
How clever was Ash to change his ice cream into a custard?!
Gosh there are a lot of contestants! Did anyone else feel like the quickfire tasting went on forever?
Wasn't it interesting that the cheftestants selected an executive chef and broke into teams without Padma ordering them to do so? Or did Bravo edit that out?
If you were told you could only cook one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
How gross did the pasta salad look?! I felt like I could have made a better pasta salad.
How fun is the brotherly competition? I'm totally caught up in the drama of it all! (But, I'm on Team Mike.)
Did the judges get rid of the correct chef?

In general what did you think? Which chefs do you like? And not like?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

Top Chef Vegas: Episode 1

partysugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:31:07 -0700

Well folks, the moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived! The latest season of Top Chef debuted last night. There were showgirls, bright lights, deep-fried steaks, lobster, and Wolfgang Puck. Did you watch? Let's discuss this exciting episode after the break.