Have you ever eaten anything that most people haven't eaten?

@TheHorse (205767)
Walnut Creek, California
April 3, 2017 12:27pm CST
Two things that I've eaten that most people haven't are miner's lettuce and rattlesnake. Minter's lettuce is a plant that grows in California (and probably other places) in the early Spring, when things are moist, and the first wildflowers are blooming. It's all around the trails here, and a lot of people don't know it's munchable. We ate rattlesnake when one was in our campsite during a river rafting trip a couple of decades ago. One of the guides and I cooked it up in an oil, vinegar and garlic marinade. To me it tasted more like squid than chicken. Maybe we undercooked it a bit. Have you ever eaten anything unusual?
22 people like this
28 responses
paigea
@paigea (35693)
• Canada
3 Apr 17
Well, we eat the wild rose petals and most people don't. We eat the dandelion leaves too.
7 people like this
much2say
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Apr 17
I eat dandelion leaves for breakfast . . . but only ones that have been farmed and bought from the store.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 17
I'm not sure if I've eaten either of those. I DO eat snow pea leaves. They taste like the peas themselves.
2 people like this
paigea
@paigea (35693)
• Canada
3 Apr 17
@much2say I only eat the ones from our own yard and only in the spring. Although, I have dug up the roots and dried them for dandelion tea.
4 people like this
pgn
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
3 Apr 17
Reminds me if that old joke: Q: What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? A: Finding half a worm in your apple... For @DaddyEvil : ^^^^ Punchline ^^^^
4 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
5 Apr 17
So.... I'm still waiting for the joke...
4 people like this
pgn
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
4 Apr 17
@TheHorse I fell out of my tree ;)
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 17
Yep. Last time I heard that one I fell off my pet dinosaur laughing. (You've probably heard that one too.)
4 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130064)
• India
4 Apr 17
Are you sure it is rattlesnake - could be ratsnake? I have eaten frogs legs which I am sure most do not.
4 people like this
vanny
@vandana7 (98827)
• India
8 Apr 17
Does it matter..it is a snake...and he ate it...smh...snakes eat rats, so indirectly he ate rat also....
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 17
If it rattles, we consider it to be rattlesnake.
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458121)
• Switzerland
4 Apr 17
Minter's lettuce does not grow here, but Purslane grows everywhere and it tastes like spinach. Rattlesnake was on several menus in Arizona, but I hate so much the snakes that I have not been tempted to try it. I have tried Abalone, that is very good, alligator nuggets, that taste like very hard to chew chicken and I like octopus.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458121)
• Switzerland
5 Apr 17
@TheHorse Do not lose your time trying alligator, it taste like chicken, but it has the texture of squid. Here is a photo of the purslane, we call it portulaca, it is an invasive.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Are the branches very hard? The look reminds me of our manzanita (small apple, in Spanish)!
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr 17
I've never had alligator! Do you have a picture of Purslane?
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325793)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 17
Did the snake have poison glands you had to avoid? I guess they' only be in the head and I can't imagine people bothering to eat that. I've eaten bardie grubs (big, fat, white grubs found under the bark of trees) which probably many people haven't.
4 people like this
vanny
@vandana7 (98827)
• India
8 Apr 17
What is birdie grub...blink
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr 17
Slimy yet satisfying? I think we chopped his head off pretty low.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325793)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 17
@TheHorse They weren't slimy but had quite a nutty flavour, They were served poking out of an apple which was pretty cute.
3 people like this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (53679)
•
3 Apr 17
I can't believe you purposefully cooked rattlesnake and ate it.
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 17
Once we'd buried his head, we couldn't figure out anything else to do with the rest of him.
3 people like this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (53679)
•
3 Apr 17
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Apr 17
I used to find and eat a weed named "Lamb's Quarter". Just a green weed. It's much like mustard greens or spinach. Leaves have a frosty look on the back and that is how you can tell them from other weeds.
3 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Apr 17
@TheHorse ......I don't see any around here. A lot of greens can be utilized.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
9 Apr 17
@TheHorse Did "sour grass" have a yellow or pink cup shaped flower, pony? Of so, then it was probably in the same family as celticeagle's "Lamb's Quarter". All of them are in the Wood Sorrel family and all are edible.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 17
Interesting! We used to eat something we called "sour grass" when I was a kid, but I don't know what it was.
3 people like this
Nawsheen
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
4 Apr 17
Well i know about a friend who has been eating wasps. He told me that they fry the wasps and cook it in a tomato sauce.
2 people like this
Nawsheen
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
10 Apr 17
@TheHorse neither have i tasted it nor do i want to
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 17
I kind of wonder what they taste like. And kind of don't.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Apr 17
@Nawsheen Crunchy yet satisfying? (from Lion King, sort of)
1 person likes this
much2say
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Apr 17
Can't say I've had that lettuce (and I'm in CA) or rattlesnake - I wouldn't know where to find them! Being in Los Angeles, I would think folks here have tried most things - not sure what is considered "exotic" anymore. We do eat baby octopus - does that count?
3 people like this
much2say
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Apr 17
@TheHorse I was going to poke fun at the name - to say maybe they are near the "mines", but apparently CA goldminers really did eat this stuff! Do you literally pick 'em and eat 'em while walking the trails?
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 17
That sounds exotic. Hmm. Miner's lettuce is near the hiking trails on Mt. Diablo here up North. Not sure where the best place to find it in the LA area would be.
3 people like this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (62147)
• United States
4 Apr 17
The closest I have been is watching Andrew Zimmern eat weird things on Bizarre Foods.
2 people like this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (62147)
• United States
8 Apr 17
@TheHorse -- TMI. Despite all the goofy stuff Zimmern eats I love that show, because it is so educational, explaining the cultural, religious, and/or necessity backgrounds for cuisine in other countries.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 17
Eeps. What kind of stuff does he eat? I have never eaten grubs. (where my "slimy yet satisfying" line comes from).
2 people like this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (48958)
• United States
5 Apr 17
I tried octopus once . It wasn't very memorable tasting
3 people like this
vanny
@vandana7 (98827)
• India
8 Apr 17
@Tampa_girl7 .. Thank god..otherwise pearls would get a tad more expensive than they already are..evil grin. lol
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (48958)
• United States
5 Apr 17
@TheHorse I only had a bite of my brother's. It didn't have a bad taste. It just wasn't anything I'd want again
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr 17
I think I've had that.
3 people like this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Apr 17
ostrich? had goat. Hmmn, prob some odd fish in Japan.
3 people like this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
4 Apr 17
@TheHorse was tiny and had whiskers, lol, but that was only one dish, to be honest I rarely knew what I Was eating in Japan, I ordered based on photos most of the time
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 17
If you don't know what it us, call it "white fish." Heh. Probably carp.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr 17
@Jessicalynnt Catfish?
3 people like this
Morgan
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
3 Apr 17
I'm an adventurous eater, but I can't boast truly odd things. Sand shark, ox tail, escargot (I know tons of people eat them in France! But not so much here), frog legs, rose hips, bayberry leaves, sweet clover, red clover petals, and I'm sure there are things I've forgotten.
3 people like this
Morgan
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
3 Apr 17
@TheHorse Escargot is good. Now that they are smothered in butter I can't eat them. A lactose thing.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 17
I've eaten escargot (actually like them!). And shark. But not ox tail.
3 people like this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
3 Apr 17
No. And don't plain to. Lol.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 17
If I made you a hearts of palm salad with a bit of miner's lettuce thrown in, I bet you wouldn't notice!
1 person likes this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
3 Apr 17
@TheHorse i dont eat salad so im sure i would. Lol
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Apr 17
@Courtlynn Oh dear! Well, maybe I'll secretly put some in your herbal tea!
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
5 Apr 17
Well, no, I guess not. After all, almost everything is eaten somewhere, right? Uhm... you do realize that miner's lettuce is sold in the farmer's markets out here, right? Most people just call it Indian lettuce.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
5 Apr 17
@TheHorse Uhm... last time I looked I lived in Aurora, Missouri. Have I moved in my sleep again? (Last time that happened, I only packed half my stuff! and had to go back and find Pretty, too.)
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Apr 17
Where is that?
2 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Apr 17
Well let's see I guess not many people eat beef lungs. But here they are inexpensive and when they are boiled in broth and I stuff pancakes with them they are very tasty. Even out cat love to eat them.
2 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Apr 17
@TheHorse I have to laugh when my hubby gets hungry late at night and fondly looks at the cat eating his wet food soaked in some kind of gravy.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 17
EVEN you cat? Have you ever smelled wet cat food? The humanity!
2 people like this
Angie
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Apr 17
Tripe! I used to eat this all the time, now its $10 a can I will not pay that for it. Its cow stomach.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 17
Things like tripe and gizzards I tend to avoid. What does tripe taste like?
1 person likes this
April
@thislittlepennyearns (58140)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
7 Apr 17
I've had squid, es cargot, alligator, shark fin soup, mullet gizzards, various seafoods that other people would frown upon.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 17
I avoid ANY gizzards!
1 person likes this
Sasha
@diosabella (4789)
•
4 Apr 17
I don't eat "exotic cuisine" like fried cricket or beetle, iguanas, not even frogs. I eat some that alot of people considered as weeds, but from other countries its herbs.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Apr 17
Do you like escargot?
1 person likes this
Sasha
@diosabella (4789)
•
4 Apr 17
@TheHorse No. The name is so fancy but its always a snail for me.
1 person likes this
Alexander Wahome
@lexwahome63 (47)
• Nairobi, Kenya
4 Apr 17
Maybe African cuisines since I'm from Kenya. However you can get almost all the African Cuisines in New York (If in USA) a place called Karanja Street.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205767)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 17
I've eaten Ethiopian food, but I don't think I've eaten anyhing from further South in Africa. What does it taste like compared to the familiar (to me) Asian, Indian, Mexican, American, etc. foods?
1 person likes this