No I haven't seen those threads Harry, I like reading personal accounts of journeys etc..travel books use to be my favourite. If I won a million pounds, a fair bit would be spent on travel. With all your traveling to different countries, what is your food policy and have you ever got bad food poisoning , whats the worst/best food you have eaten?
Food policy - none ....eat on the street what you find wherever it's possible and best far off the mainstream areas.
Never ever had any food poisoning during my travels. Having a good stomach is certainly a big advantage when you travel a lot.
Worst food must be the monkey brain we were served once at a top government conference in China. The monkeys were beaten first, then slaughtered just before serving. Apparently, the added adrenaline makes the brain tastier. I didn't know about the procedure, nor what it really is at first, but my Chinese agent couldn't wait to gulp it down.
Others include beef arteries, braised duck beak, century eggs, dog, meal worm (non-fried, disgustingly gooey), scorpion and a few more. My approach has always been to try everything at least once, if I like it I'll eat it again, if not I'll spit it out in the worst case.
Best foods is difficult to say as there have been many moments in the last 3 decades where I felt that the meal I was having was the best ever. My grandmother used to say: "Every time you are very, very hungry, the food on the table will be the best ever."
I had quite a few occasions where I experienced a pleasant surprise. One in Saigon has stayed in my memory where a local friend took me to one of the countless backyard eating places. Small plastic chairs, low metal tables and open-fire cooking outside. The food was just divine. They ordered some 10 dishes and with that you get a huge platter of big green leaves. No forks, no nothing other than those on the food plates. Everyone simply took a leaf and then placed some food on them, fresh mint leaves on top and rolled up to eat. It was literally an explosion of flavors.
Been scouring the net to find some pics which look similar:
- Tom Yam Kung Soup - Soi 7, Sukhumvit, Bangkok (closed down a few years ago) - heavenly delicious cooked by a very old lady - Kung = seafood, Ka = chicken
- Chicken Noodle - Soi Sookjai, Sukhumvit 40, Bangkok - the best chicken soup I have ever eaten, only 30 Baht (GBP0.60). Had it countless times as they would set up their mobile stall every lunchtime close to my apartment.
- Pla Kapong Neung Manao - small street eating place next to The Montien Hotel, BKK, steamed fish with lime, garlic and chili - absolutely divine
- Best steak - St. Mary's, NSW, Australia, the cook would refuse to serve it well-done and he was right.
- Best curry - Fish Head Curry - Singapore, served with some strange looking buns, sooo tasty
- Best BBQ chicken - Abidjan, Ivory Coast - marinated chicken slapped on to a converted drum (cut in half), close to the beach. Plus a cold beer on the side!
- list by far not complete
I feel really blessed to have been able to experience so much in my life and food was always a big part of that. Not in the fancy restaurants, but anywhere on the street or some small eating places / family restaurants. Of course I had my fair share of high end dining when e.g. customers would invite me for dinners and those were surely very good too but IMO, you only experience real life when you roam the streets.
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