[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The other morning, I sat down for breakky with a few slices of Vegemite and avo on toast. My German friend stared at me in disbelief from across the table. “You’re actually going to eat that?”
For people who haven’t grown up with Vegemite, I understand that it might not be their first choice of spread. It probably didn’t help that I’d also been swept up by the ‘millennial avocado movement’ and found myself putting it on everything.
A daily staple for some might be a whacky “dare you to eat that” for others.
With this in mind, I went searching for the craziest world food and even managed to convince my colleagues to try some.
Pork Floss – Rousong
This traditional Cantonese dish is known as meat wool and it is exactly what it sounds like. Dried pork is teased apart, mashed, cooked and dehydrated to create a flossy clump. You’ll often find it on top of a congee or tofu dish or stuffed into a bun or pastry. Some hard-core pork floss enthusiasts even snack on it straight out of the bag. Be mindful, some dodgy food retailers will actually use cotton balls to recreate their own fake pork floss. Make sure if you’re trying it, you purchase it from a reputable store or restaurant.
Pork floss buns can be found in bakeries all over China. Photo: Shutterstock
Salted Liquorice – Europe
If you’re not familiar with (or a fan of) the taste of ammonium chloride, chances are, you’re not going to like salted liquorice. It was once manufactured in Nordic countries as a cough medicine but became a popular candy around 1930. Common in countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, this black, chewy treat comes in a range of different shapes, sizes and intensities. If you’re trying it for the first time, I probably wouldn’t recommend the triple-salted version. We tried regular Dutch liquorice and, well, you can watch the video to see how well that went…
Zanzibar Pizza – Africa
The glorious union of a crepe, stuffed pita and, of course, pizza. Fried in a hot tava (large, flat frying pan), these unique African dishes sizzle as they crisp up on the outside, melting everything from cheese to chocolate on the inside. They tempt the taste buds of both sweet and savoury food lovers with a range of flavours limited only to your imagination. Cheese and Snickers is one of the strangest combinations I’ve come across.
Pacific Geoduck – Asia
This large, salt-water clam is considered a delicacy in China but is native to the Canadian & United States coasts. It’s also used in sashimi dishes in japan and sautéed with spicy chilli sauce in Korea. Our digital editor, Alison, first came across this unusual sea-dweller on a recent trip to Hong Kong. I couldn’t help but laugh when she showed me the photo.
Some say this strange looking sea creature is an aphrodisiac. Photo: Alison Godfrey
Fried Coke – United States of America
I’m still intrigued by the sheer science of it. How the heck do you fry coke? I figure if anyone can lower the health star rating on coca cola even more, it’s the country that put it on the map in the first place. Born out of the Texas State Fair in 2006, Coca-Cola and deep-friend dough are joined in a mass of sugary goodness. It’s then finished off with whipped cream, coke syrup and a cherry on top. I can feel the cavities in the my teeth growing already.
Curry Mee – Malaysia
“Curry Mee” might sound like something you’d hear yelled out in a New York diner at a waiter, but it’s actually a tasty dish from Malaysia. This mixture of mee-hoon noodles and spicy broth is a staple of casual Malaysian cooking – and stands out as an integral recipe in a culture which is famed for its cuisine. The broth often contains coconut milk and chilli, while optional additions include tofu, prawns, cuttlefish, vegetables and mint leaves.
How good does this big bowl of noodles look? Photo: Shutterstock
Deep-fried Bluff Oysters – New Zealand
These salty delicacies are also known as Dredge Oysters and can only be caught by fisherman for a few months every year. The oysters have a creamy texture and are worth timing your trip to get your hands on. You can tuck into these treats in a number of ways, but the locals prefer the battered and fried approach – although natural is pretty delicious too. For the authentic experience, make sure you try one right out of the shell.
How do you get kids to try oysters? Depp-fry them! Photo: Bound Round
Manti – Turkey
I’ve listed this as a Turkish dish, but in truth its appeal has spread all the way across most of the east. Countries such as Russia, India and practically all of southeast Asia make their own version. Spiced ground beef or lamb is stuffed into a pastry pocket and then fried. Simple, savoury and delicious bites that pack a punch.
This crunchy delight is an awesome side dish. Photo: Shutterstock
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I was blessed with parents who really saw the value in travel. After our first family trip abroad to Thailand, I became obsessed. I was hungry for anything new and different. I yearned to be in the middle of a city on the other side of the world with a suitcase in one hand and google maps in the other, stumbling around trying to figure out where I was going; literally and spiritually.