Various ethnic foods you love, that others may be hesitant to try.

Yakizakana (salted, grilled whole fish) People are hesitant to eat this because they are used to having fish de-boned and beheaded. But this is so damn good they shouldn't care. Kawaebi Karaage (tiny whole fried shrimp) They are crunchy and delicious. They also have (crunchy and delicious) antennae and eyes. Soft Shell Crab I don't know what it is, but I am like the only person who eats these around here. Two of my all time favorite things, crab, and frying, all in one. And no shelling!

Not exactly "ethnic" but in general all the various body parts of the animal that are typically thrown out in American food are pretty damn tasty. I especially love tripe and sweetbreads. The rest of the world seems to love them too. It's really only the Americans who are the picky eaters who can't stand to see a head here and there.

That stuff looks tasty, TS.

Staying with the Japanese theme I looove me some Ankimo (steamed Monkfish liver) as well as Uni (Sea Urchin row). People tend to avoid them because of the "WTF is that" factor.
I still remember the first time I had Uni, a family friend, who was a diver, stopped by with three or four huge Urchin he had just pulled out of the Pacific. We broke them open with a hammer and eat the row on crackers. I was about eight or nine.

Originally Posted by NorCal

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Staying with the Japanese theme I looove me some Ankimo (steamed Monkfish liver) as well as Uni (Sea Urchin row). People tend to avoid them because of the "WTF is that" factor. I still remember the first time I had Uni, a family friend, who was a diver, stopped by with three or four huge Urchin he had just pulled out of the Pacific. We broke them open with a hammer and eat the row on crackers. I was about eight or nine.
Man I love uni. I remember watching an episode of Big Brother (don't laugh! I am shamed enough) where the contestants had to eat these "weird ethnic foods" and one had a whole plate of uni and was gagging as she reluctantly ate it. Seriously, get me on a ******* plane to the Big Brother house. I will eat that **** all night long. I too had a similar diving-uni experience. Was in Hawaii and snorkelling with a friend when a friendly old man chatted us up who was shallow-water diiving for sea urchins. We joined him on the beach for some of the fresh stuff.

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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I don't know what it is, but I am like the only person who eats these around here. Two of my all time favorite things, crab, and frying, all in one. And no shelling!

Soft shell crab tempura is the best thing I have ever had in my life. Gawd.

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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Yakizakana (salted, grilled whole fish)

People are hesitant to eat this because they are used to having fish de-boned and beheaded. But this is so damn good they shouldn't care.


Kawaebi Karaage (tiny whole fried shrimp)

They are crunchy and delicious. They also have (crunchy and delicious) antennae and eyes.

Soft Shell Crab

I don't know what it is, but I am like the only person who eats these around here. Two of my all time favorite things, crab, and frying, all in one. And no shelling!

Soft shell crab is scarry to people? I had delicious soft shell crab at Alinea. It's incredible to eat and it's a favorite comfort food of mine.

Soft shell crab is quite good. I've had it a few ways. . . one particularly good way was fried and served on a sandwich.


I eat organ meats, animals like goats, horses, and um "other", etc. I also particularly enjoy bone marrow (things like ossobuco are my favorites due to the bone marrow).

I also will eat just about any edible creature that comes from the ocean. I too have had fresh sea urchin roe, and while it isn't a favorite, it is a nice treat now and then. A lot of people are scared of preparing sea food of various types, and I'm not sure why, since most of it is edible raw.

Originally Posted by Milhouse

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Soft shell crab is quite good. I've had it a few ways. . . one particularly good way was fried and served on a sandwich.


I eat organ meats, animals like goats, horses, and um "other", etc. I also particularly enjoy bone marrow (things like ossobuco are my favorites due to the bone marrow).

I also will eat just about any edible creature that comes from the ocean. I too have had fresh sea urchin roe, and while it isn't a favorite, it is a nice treat now and then. A lot of people are scared of preparing sea food of various types, and I'm not sure why, since most of it is edible raw.

Sea food is a little more nerve wracking since you need to be more careful about preparation, and in general people are just a little too unfamiliar. It's quite easy to overcook fish or ruin the gentle texture of a scallop or other shell fish. Vis a vis eating raw... I think that is ok as long as you know you have fresh product.

Regardless, people in America need to eat far more seafood. Fish is extremely healthy in most cases, and we need a lot more of it in our diets.

Originally Posted by SField

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Sea food is a little more nerve wracking since you need to be more careful about preparation, and in general people are just a little too unfamiliar. It's quite easy to overcook fish or ruin the gentle texture of a scallop or other shell fish. Vis a vis eating raw... I think that is ok as long as you know you have fresh product.

Regardless, people in America need to eat far more seafood. Fish is extremely healthy in most cases, and we need a lot more of it in our diets.

Agree, I totally get fish cravings and end up ordering a lot of good seafood at nicer chef-centric places...

I can't believe anyone woul scoff at eating soft shell crab, I like to fry it in a light garlicky batter.

a lot of folks out there in the west, who can't stand to see a face/head served with their food, is missing a lot eating fish head parts, or sucking on a fresh shrimp head.

Originally Posted by acidicboy

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a lot of folks out there in the west, who can't stand to see a face/head served with their food, is missing a lot eating fish head parts, or sucking on a fresh shrimp head.

mmmmmm... cheeks and collars, I love me some.

Originally Posted by NorCal

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mmmmmm... cheeks and collars, I love me some.

Some of the best parts of the fish.

Originally Posted by jpeirpont

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I can't believe anyone woul scoff at eating soft shell crab, I like to fry it in a light garlicky batter.
I know its more common on the east coast where they have abundant Blues and a tradition of enjoying a good soft shell in season, but aside from the Asian population around here, (and I don't see many of them eating it, either) I don't think I've ever seen any of the white folk eating a soft shell crab. I had to really, REALLY convince an ex that it was amazing - and she was pretty freaked out about it the first time I had her try it. J gave me a weird look the other day when I was eating a spider roll at this sushi place we were at. It just seems so strange to me that even people who love crab, hesitate to eat soft shell or think its weird. Regardless, it's absolutely delicious. And if whitey is afraid to take a bite out of a whole fried crab - so be it. More for me.