Food dislikes-as guest, but will politely eat

[MomOnBike]

Hmmm, interesting question.

Please don't feed me bananas. Or sweet potatoes, especially those fixed with marshmallows melted on top (shudder). I won't make a big deal of it at the table, I'll just "forget" to put them on my plate.

I will make a big deal of Campbell's tomato soup. IT WILL NOT PASS MY LIPS!!! For that matter, most commercial tomato-based products (spagetti sauce, etc.) are not fit for human consumption IM(insufficiently)HO.

As a matter of principle I don't eat veal, or endangered species - stuff like that.

I'm sure there is more, but I can't think of anything else right now. Generally, I just eat what you put in front of me, and it shows.

[shootingstar]

Hmmm, interesting question.

Please don't feed me bananas. Or sweet potatoes, especially those fixed with marshmallows melted on top (shudder).

One of my nieces (she is only 18 months old) is allergic to bananas.
Sweet potatoes & melted marshmallows....I see. Sounds like something originally to tempt..children? Combo just sounds like bad fusion.

I will eat it, but not necessarily be thrilled: Spam. It astounded me that it is popular ...in Hawaii as an ingredient in some dishes. I didn't want to try anything with it when we were vacationing in Hawaii. Yes, I know the history behind it...but to me, a sad abomination for a cultural food cuisine that was more tropical produce based. Even used in some sushi...seriously...I support nouveau fusion cooking, but there are limits.

Maybe someone can explain pulled pork meat for me it terms of what constitutes good pulled pork. Again I'll eat it without complaint if served...just as I did as a child when mother pulled apart some cheaper pork cuts and "pulled" the meat off. Back then, I ate the meat in a bored way. This is the sort of memory I associate with "pulled pork"= tough poor times.

[blackhillsbiker]

I don't like candied yams/sweet potatoes (although I love them just baked). I hate giblets in gravy or otherwise. I hate melon. Even watermelon. Usually I just quietly don't take the things I don't like. I do like some beers, and I love coffee.

Deb

[VeloVT]

Shootingstar, what are traditional Canadian Thanksgiving foods?

I'm not super picky in general (though left to my own devices I certainly have my preferences). However, as a guest, there's very little that is commonly served in western households that I would refuse. Anchovies, served filleted, are kind of gross to me but I could smile and tuck them away if it were important. Certain insects or worms or rodents might be difficult for me (not commonly served here). Tripe, sweetbreads or haggis would be hard for me, but liver and maybe heart (of animals that are commonly eaten) would probably be OK for me (I actually like foie gras, for instance).

I'm fine with most sushi.

Fine with all soy products.

Not a beer drinker but on occasion I can have a glass and drink it slowly.

The one think that truly activates my gag reflex, no exaggeration, is wheatgrass juice. Prior to trying it, I thought it was the most amazing, fantastic smell, two, but after having a shot or two, even a whiff gets the bile going.

[OakLeaf]

Pork. For me that's not religious, it's just the combination of my general reluctance to eat m**t at all, my especial reluctance to eat factory-farmed m**t, and the high cognitive and emotional sophistication of swine. As I put it in another thread a while back, slaughtering something that's capable of forming a close emotional relationship with an unrelated animal - even an animal of another species including a human - just repels me. Call it hypocritical, but if someone offers me a vegetable lightly flavored with pork that I can serve myself a portion that doesn't contain any actual meat (like bean soup or boiled green beans, e.g.), I usually will still have some.

Veal and lamb. Pretty irrationally in the case of lamb I suppose, but really a gut response in both cases.

I'm allergic to a long list of foods, but not the life-threatening kind of allergy, just the kind that makes me congested, fatigued and edematous. So unless it's the peak of pollen season and/or I'm already sick - or maybe if I have a big event in the next couple of days - the only thing I completely refuse because of my allergies is ice cream. The combination of the dairy and the cold temperature just kills me. Passing on dessert isn't a big deal in any case - even if it's the only thing that's served, rather than ice cream with cake or pie as it usually is - so I don't feel I'm being rude.

Other than that, I'll have a taste of anything, to be polite (including tongue and sea cucumber, which I just can't abide the texture, and konnyaku, which is on the same list). Is sea cucumber served raw as sushi? That might be interesting - although honestly, with the exception of amaebi, I'm not a huge fan of shellfish sushi. (And yes, I relish the tempura shrimp heads! ) I haven't mustered the courage to order natto yet, although I enjoy other fermented East Asian foods like kimchi and Chinese preserved tofu. But if I were a guest and someone served me natto, you bet I'd try a small bite - as much for the adventure as for the etiquette.

[Onix]

I'm a vegetarian...so...meat is off the table. I also don't eat fish--so that is off the table too.

Otherwise...umm....I'll try anything just about once.


I can usually get my self out of anything though with a simple: "It looks really good, but my stomach has been really off the last few days, and I think I've got to stick with the boring stuff "

[ginny]

this is fun...

Um, the only food I really really hate is onions. Even in a nice restaurant, I will take the time to pick onions out of something, or I just won't eat. I swear there is some compound in there that only the onion hating among us can taste...

I have mild food allergies to peanuts, corn and soy. Unfortunately, I really like all three of those things, but as I get older, I learn it's just not worth it to eat corn chips, or yummy, salty peanuts.

I have had fresh Durian... I won't go out of my way to eat it again. If I found myself in Singapore again and it was offered to me once again, I would eat it to be polite. I also will not eat fois gras or veal from personal convictions. I was at a formal dinner last year, where the menu (not revealed prior to arriving at the dinner) involved BOTH fois gras and veal. I ate both as it was already prepared and set before me. I felt horrible about it.

I like the idea of gently trying foods a number of times. My SO will not tough asparagus. I'm sure he would appreciate it if I could hide what it is - though, if he did the same to me with onions, I would not be pleased, so we have eliminated asparigus from our diets.

[Mr. Bloom]

onions and garlic exile me to another room

boiled okra - yuck!

hog jowls and blackeyed peas - not since my mother force it on me in 1972! - Double Yuck!

Squash - eke

Grits - Despite my southern upbringing - NEVER!

Tea - Pass out allergic!

Coffee - can't stand anything with that flavor

[arielmoon]

I am every hostess' nightmare. I am a strict healthy foodie vegan. No refined sugar, enriched flour, alcohol, caffeine or anything coming from an animal.

[7rider]

I have no food allergies or dietary restrictions. Generally, I eat anything that doesn't run away from me.
That said, I don't care to eat, and would politely refrain from eating if offered: liver, brussel sprouts, and.....well....I think that's about it.
I'm not counting the really bizarre in there: crickets, worms, monkey brains, fried cicadas, suff like that. (A neighbor sauteed some newly hatched cicadas with garlic and butter when the 17-years hatched a few years ago, and claimed they were quite good. I'll take her word for it. I imagine anything is good cooked with butter and garlic, but I have my limits.)

[szsz]

I am every hostess' nightmare. I am a strict healthy foodie vegan. No refined sugar, enriched flour, alcohol, caffeine or anything coming from an animal.

That, add gluten intolerant and allergies. I am also a nightmare.

[PamNY]

I am every hostess' nightmare. I am a strict healthy foodie vegan. No refined sugar, enriched flour, alcohol, caffeine or anything coming from an animal.

Vegan isn't even remotely close to a nightmare IMO (unless the person wants to be a nightmare and make drama).

Pam

[aeiea]

There's nothing I dislike that I would politely eat.

However, I have very few dislikes:

1. bugs
2. things that are still moving while you eat them (like live uni in shell)

[Medianox]

I just cannot handle the taste of black licorice in any form, anise, whatever.
It gives me a physical reaction immediately if tasted accidently....yecch.
The other thing that I will not eat is liver of any kind, beef, chicken, no way.
I guess also you could include any organ meat, though I have never had anything but liver, the idea of eating something's brain (or kidneys or heart, etc) just makes me want to vomit.

And bugs. I will not ever knowingly eat a bug served to me (though my mom tells me I used to eat ants when I was a kid, but I gave it up when I was 3), like a grasshopper or crickets or grubs or anything like that. No thank you. I had a co-worker a few years ago who was very adventurous and signed up for a "Cooking with Bugs " class. He came back and told us in glowing terms how yummy all the stuff was....and maybe it was, but we never let him sign up for any pot lucks after that.

I never buy, order or eat veal either, but thats more of a personal choice. I grew up liking lamb because my grandmother would make it a lot, but one day my oldest son (who is 8) overheard me talking about cooking some and burst into tears, crying out, "thats not fair-those lambs never hurt anyone-they are just LAMBS! You can't eat lambs!".
Made me cry too, and I haven't mentioned it since.

Beyond those things, not a picky eater.

[shootingstar]

For thxgiving dinner, he's making a carrot soup, a seafood dish (not yet determined). I'm making 2 different focaccia from scratch, one of them smoked salmon with dill and focaccia, other one is a dessert one embedded with fresh grapes, flavoured with ginger,honey, anise, etc.

Probably 1-2 more items. Not sure. Probably serve a strong lovely smelly cheese. Our thxgiving dinners are pretty eclectic. We like it that way. Other years, dinners have been way more elaborate.

No, ever since I've been with him we have never made the effort to cook a whole bird. I don't even know how to cut up a chicken properly to cook or post-roasting/baking. If I prepare chicken, I buy chicken breast. Lazy me.