The VGT Omnivore's Hundred

I found this list on a website the other night, during The Night Of Much Puking (don't ask). It intrigued me and, since my own blog is still not public, I thought I'd post it here. It would be interesting to see what everyone else comes up with. Go to the site and follow the instructions and re-post for us so we can see your epicurean limits. You can click on the highlighted items to look them up in Wikipedia. I'm betting Kristine has tried most of these things (anyone who can bungee jump off of a bridge would have the balls to try crocodile.) I couldn't figure out how to strike through so I used an asterisk for step number 3. I am italicizing things I want to try. Have fun!

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding *(I think this is like blood pudding - no way.)
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese*
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (anyone want to do this with me?)
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O (If this is the British version of Jell-O shooters, then YES!)
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk (does cheese count?)
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu* (I'd be in the 4% who gets the poison part and dies instantly. No thanks.)
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel*
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin*
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer*
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini (I've had a classic, never a dirty one.)
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine (OMG, I want to try this!)
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads*
63. Kaolin*
64. Currywurst
65. Durian*
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis*
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette*(even deep frying couldn't make me eat pig's ass)
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini (had them seperately, but not together. Does that count?)
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill *(are you kidding me?)
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie (Nope, never had one.)
78. Snail*
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse* (Not only does the thought repulse me, my daughter would never speak to me again!)
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (unfortunately.)
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake*

Basically, if it's cheese, alcoholic or involves curry I'm all over it. Japanese/raw/smelly? Not so much.

Bottle Cap Puzzles

I couldn't believe it when Vince Camden from 'Citizen Vince' cracked open a beer and solved the puzzle from the bottle cap. That opened a memory from my childhood I completely forgot about. My parents, when they were feeling flush, would buy the beer with the puzzles on the caps and my brother and I loved to solve them.

It was escpecially entertaining on camping trips as the picnic table was usually covered with them by night's end and it would provide the rest of us kids some entertainment while our parents became more inebriated. Good times.

Here's a link for more bottle cap puzzles: http://jokelibrary.net/yyDrawings/bottle_caps.html

I also found it funny that he was reading some sort of Dante's Hell book and was learning about the fourth level of hell.

Molly's Review of 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy

I cheated and read this book before 'Citizen Vince'. Don't worry I won't give away any spoilers. Here's my review:

I thought it was okay.
Okay?
Okay.
Really? Okay?
Yes, okay.
Why?
It underwhelmed me.
What?
It was so simple.
I think that's the point. They were so tired. They didn't want to expell much energy by talking.
Okay.
You really just thought it was okay?
It was okay.
Okay?
Yes.
Okay?
Okay.
Okay?!?
Can we stop saying "okay" now?
Okay.

Interesting Covers

Is it me............


.............or are these covers just wrong?

Worst Book Ever

The following is an e-mail that Jackie sent out a few weeks ago. It made for some entertaining reading and whenever I feel bad about my writing/ storytelling skills I just have to read this and know that I'm okay.

"Okay, I may have found a new "worst book ever written". I haven't actually read more than an exerpt, but it looks pretty darn bad. The woman who wrote and self-published the novel was actually banned from all Amazon.com discussions because she was spamming all the discussion boards promoting her own book. It's like a train wreck and here's an excerpt." ~ Jackie

Antigua: The Land of Fairies, Wizards and Heroes (Part 1) is the first of a trilogy. This story is a fantasy with magical characters such as a Sorceress, a Dragon, Fairies, Wizards, Knights, Kings, Queens, Pixies, and Gnomes. Here is a sample from the book: Suddenly, there were black clouds in the sky. Everyone heard a loud noise coming from the sky and they all knew that Voltar the Dragon was coming. King Artor yelled out, "Daughters, Voltar comes! Get ready your weapons! The time has come for you to fulfill the prophecy!" Princess Sasha, Princess Trina, Princess Alexandra and Rebecca walked up ahead of the army and lined up together in a row. They looked like warriors! Rebecca was not afraid! She took a deep breath and got her weapon ready for the task that lay ahead. She understood the prophecy now and had faith in herself and the Princesses. They each pulled out their bows and prepared to kill the dragon. Fire came out of his nostrils and his mouth. Princess Alexandra handed each of the other girls one of the special arrows that they had gotten from the Queen of the Unicorns. All four of the girls pointed their bows up into the air and waited for Voltar to come nearer. Voltar let out such a loud noise that the ground shook! Then fire came right out of his nostrils. The Wizard Thandor held his mighty wand up toward the sky and yelled, "Mighty clouds of the sky, I call upon you to bring forth lightening to destroy the Dragon Voltar!" Large lightening bolts came out of the clouds toward Voltar. One lightening bolt struck Voltar and wounded him, but it didn't kill him!

YPU Recap

First, I'd like to welcome Kim Windsor to the GAB.

Our meeting for YPU was a lot of fun. Those that finished the book said it was a bit dense which was good to hear from those of us that didn't finish it. Overall it was a well liked book. Wish I could give you more insight but I was one of those that made it to page 80 and then stalled.

Our November pick is 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides3/road1.asp
I will order the book from Book People today.

Next month's meeting is 'Citizen Vince' hosted by Faye. The date is Wednesday, October 8.