This blog was written on work experience by Eloisa Webster.
We all know the best thing about going on holiday is trying the weirdest and most wonderful food you can find. Immersing yourself in local cuisine is something to really look forward to when travelling. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, ordering the more bizarre items on the menu is always exciting – you might even find your new favourite food!. In this blog, you’ll find a helpful guide to all of the craziest eats from around the world, including Spain, Greece, Mexico, Dubai and Israel.
Snacks from Spain
Goose barnacles
Goose barnacles are a local treat in the northwest of Spain, found where the sea crashes into the rocks along the coastline. They are boiled in seawater and eaten when the shell is taken off them. They taste similar to razor clam, so if you’ve enjoyed that before, you’ll love goose barnacles.
Callos
Callos is a mixture of veal tripe and vegetables in a hearty stew, which may not sound appealing at first, but it’s a popular dish in many tapas restaurants. Give it a try, it might just win you around.
Baby eels
Whilst baby eels may look like spaghetti, they taste completely different. Best served in a mixture of garlic, salt, and chilli, this Spanish delicacy is definitely one to consider – trust us.
Gourmet dishes from Greece
Fried octopus ink sacs
I mean, have you ever heard of anything more appetising? This is a rare dish, served primarily on the island of Kalymnos. The ink sacs are carefully removed from the octopus, then boiled, and then deep fried. This serves as an extremely memorable dish as it’s something that you won’t get anywhere in the UK.
Sea urchin salad
You can either eat this in a salad or raw with a twist of lemon, directly from the sea. Sea urchin is considered a summer delicacy and it is usually found in seafood tavernas all around Greece.
What’s on the menu in Mexico?
Grasshoppers
You can find this delectable treat at any market in Mexico. They are particularly good sprinkled on top of guacamole, a tostada or just straight from the bag. They make for a delicious, chilli-infused, salty snack and they are full of protein to boot.
Huitlacoche
Known in English by the very appealing name of corn smut, huitlacoche (pronounced weet-la-ko-tcheh) is essentially a grey fungus that grows on corn. It is actually quite tasty and is served in quesadillas and some soups. It definitely has a unique, almost sweet, fermented flavour, but you’ll find yourself wanting more.
Escalmoles
Escalmoles is an insect caviar that is considered quite the treat in Mexico. Its taste is nutty but its texture is closer to cottage cheese…yum!
Cactus flower ice cream
Cactus flower ice cream is rather exotic. It has a delicious, sweet taste with an almost cucumber-like texture, and like all ice cream it’s refreshing and delightful on a hot summer’s day.
Delights from Dubai
100 year old eggs
100-year-old eggs are preserved in ash, salt, lime and rice husks. They taste like eggs as we know them, but smokier and with a jelly-like consistency. Not the type of thing you’d see on a full English breakfast, they are usually served with a hot bowl of chicken or duck congee.
Sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers have a slippery texture and bland taste, so they’re usually infused with flavour from other ingredients like meats, other seafood or spices. They are often combined with produce like Chinese cabbage, winter melon and shiitake mushrooms. They can also be eaten raw, pickled or fried.
Stuffed camel
Stuffed Camel is one of the unique dishes of the UAE. Major ingredients of this meal encompass whole camel, lamb, chickens, boiled eggs, fish and rice.
Israeli eats
Arak cocktails
Anise-based spirit has a flavour that is either loved or hated. It’s too intensely licorice-y for some people to drink neat, but it shows up in plenty of cocktails, like gimlets, also known as Arak cocktails.
Salman and wasabi sorbet
Served at one of the most popular high-end restaurants in Isreal – Uri Buri – this dish is a curiosity that’s definitely worth taking a chance on. The contrast between the salmon and the cold wasabi sorbet is extremely unique and special.
Sample some of the craziest eats from around the world on your next beach holiday…
