Steel White Table

Nearly every culture invents a food that is weird or disgusting to outsiders. These are cultural markers that show who’s a member (they like it) and who’s not a member (they gag.)

Foods don’t make it onto this list just because they are unpopular. Some people hate broccoli. So what? Foods get on this list because they are cultural markers. There’s stuff you like (and you think is normal) that other people refuse to allow in their house.

Poutine (France, Quebec): grease-impregnated French fries called Frites or Chip by the locals, soaked with fat-laden gravy topped by cheddar curd cheese which melts from the heat of the French fries and gravy into a sticky and stringy mess.

Cod Tongues (Canada): Deep-fried cod tongues–or cheeks–are as common as hamburgers on St. John’s restaurant menus. Eaten plain they’re a little slippery, like oysters.

Seal Flipper Pie (Canada): Soak flippers in water and soda for 1/2 an hour. Trim excess fat. Dip the flippers in seasoned flour and pan fry in the pork fat until browned. Add the chopped onion. Make a gravy of flour, 1 cup water, and Worcester sauce. Pour over the flippers. Cover and Bake in a moderate oven (350f) until tender.. which should be two to three hours. Cover with pastry and bake at 400f for 1/2 an hour.