one question for Italy - has anyone had Cazu Marzu??? I always ask and haven’t yet met one who’s had it. I even met people from Sardinia who haven’t had it. And you know that ive had drunken live shrimp in Shanghai. Plus snake. I still fear the Cazu Marzu. Just the maggot word instills fear.

I haven't, and unless I lose some kind bet, I ain't ever gonna either. I've got a few associates who have had it, enjoy it and were genuinely incredulous when the EU banned it; they simply couldn't understand the rationale, since it was a normal thing for them to enjoy, I assume since childhood.

Not that I'm knocking it or anything, but I generally am not that adventurous when it comes to food. So, if I can help it, no live shrimp, balut or insects, though I've had to eat some things for business that I'll likely never share with anyone, and if there's ever a time I've thought about therapy, this would probably be it.

Dinner tonight. Pork chop and mashed potatoes.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...89da5f64c.jpeg

Cheese steak on an onion roll
Southern potato salad
Chopped kale salad with sweet poppy seed dressing

I spent over a week in Sardinia almost 6 years ago to the day and casually looked around for it but never saw any. Maybe something you need to ask the right people in the right manner.

I love that people know Cazu Marzu. I was so grossed out when I read about it in nytimes in 1999 - after I had already had the live shrimp in Shanghai in 1998. I haven’t had horse or closer domestic and know that people can keep domestic chicken etc. They’re all cute and yes I do eat a lot of this stuff. I eat cow and haven’t had veal in years!!!

Only time I've had the live shrimp was in Japan. Some part of the populace - mostly urbanised - in developed countries have developed a fear of eating foods that they know what the living animal was. Not like me who may see lambs prancing in the pasture and say, "lambs chops tonight sounds good!". Eating more veal the past couple of years than I've ever had before as I've found cheap-ish sources. Veal chops, veal goulash, Wiener Schnitzel..... Suckling pig remains too expensive (high floor price due to inspection requirements) to acquire for regulatory reasons. Horse? A delicacy in Europe!

There was a comedian in Vancouver who had this monologue on how he made $100s as an elementary school student by eating a single balut. He told his father (a Pinoy grocer) who praised him for making $100s on a single egg while it took his father close to a 100 eggs to earn the same.

Couple slice of italian loaf with some butter... unfortunately it wasn't fresh out of the oven...those would have been great!

Turkey meatloaf, green beans with bacon, and bacon macaroni and cheese.

What happened to the meatloaf's bacon?

LOL, I didn't think to suggest adding bacon to the meatloaf. I'm still not able to stand without crutches, so I'm still not cooking.

They eat donkey in Sicily. (asino)

France they eat horse.

Haven't tried any since I don't eat four legged animals.

Turkey tacos

Rosalind bakery cookies


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...26adb2f31.jpeg


I first saw horse at a restaurant in Bruxelles when I was 23 - I still don’t desire it despite discussion. I fear that I got a forgettable dish, probably coq au vin or watzooie.

Not an issue for me, since whenever I see a cow, I think of a ribeye. However, while the animal from which my food is from doesn't phase me, I have an issue eating it while it's alive and kicking, e.g., the live shrimp, squirming worms in cheese and that live squid thing in South Korea. I mean, unless it's necessary to close a deal where I personally will be amply compensated ($$ is the great equalizer), it ain't gonna happen.

Dinner a simpler affair

A variety of fruits today with blueberries and plum to start ..
Banana , papaya and water melon followed by fig and almond tart . Iced latte to finish


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2bb6b7ec9.jpeg
Angus steak , broccoli , mash and sweet & sour garoupa

I believe it's octopus but I get you. For me, it's no need for the cruelty. The other one that was popular in Singapore and possibly some other parts was a fish deep-fried, where the head was still alive.

Back to cazu marzu, IIRC the desired product is the frass, or excrement (purely digested sheep cheese) of the larvae/maggots, not the larvae/maggots themselves.

You all are making me sick.🤮 Can we get back to normal food?

But that is sooo pedestrian.....

LOL...that's ok. With this topic bringing back a flood of memories, not all of which are pleasant, I'm enthusiastically ready to have Kipper's meatloaf and bacon with mac & cheese for the next several weeks.

You already don’t like tongue, correct?? Plus cabeza and buche. How about tripe and sweetbreads? Foie gras? You have zero issue with pig tummy. We love our corky and we don’t want to be nauseous for you; I am curious about your borderline.

I’m amused by your ft user name and Cazu Marzu. I know these are different creatures.
hey how about that special coffee made by certain excretions of the coffee bean?

Tongue should not be a no-go for people. It's a muscle, much like gizzards (ones from poultry are delicious, at least how the French make them). That said, the process of preparing tongue (i.e., skinning it) is said to be rather laborious.

Coffee fruit eaten by a civet and the beans recovered from the excrement? I am w-a-a-a-y too cheap to pay for that stuff.

I need to start taking photos, but tonight's dinner was mini chicken pot pies with carrots, celery, onion, and broccoli.

Steak and cheese sub from subway... and a garden salad.

Moki’s sushi & grill carryout Ahi Poke
chicken Karaage
veggie Gyoza
Fish And Chip
Moki Roll
Kahuna Roll
Shiitake Maki
drum Roll
tiki Roll
veggie Caterpiller Roll
Volcano roll
Spicy tuna hand roll

HK egg roll patisserie
harry & David chocolates

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d1e19049e.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b3cd5f124.jpeg

I love tongue - it’s fun how it’s there for Jewish and Mexican cuisine.
I haven’t had the civet coffee. I still haven’t had the fruit part of the coffee.

Last night, local Italian restaurant:

Zucchini fries
Pasta Fagioli soup
Chicken Marsala
Fettuccini

Split a bottle of Italian merlot

Shake Shack has as a relatively new menu item, the Black Truffle Burger, made with "real" black truffle sauce, gruyere cheese (my favorite for sandwiches), and crispy marinated shallots. It was actually very good, though next time I'd probably ask for some extra cheese.

Mostly leftovers with clear soup , char siew and prawn “ cheong funs “ .
Banana , mango , papaya and watermelon


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5e17e0bf7.jpeg
Crab fried rice
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a6031b13e.jpeg
Char siew noodles
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dea40ba4c.jpeg
Kai lan
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e8d1dbb2b.jpeg
Bacon and mushroom quiche with some mash

“Book club”
novy, San Francisco ca

shared appetizers incl polenta, dolmas, and spanakopita

lamb gyro - my first lamb in over 18 months
fries
horta (warm chard)
2 / lagunitas ipa


easy breezy fro yo
mango lassi
strawberry creamsicle


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8fafb03d6.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1546ec01a.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a18e834e4.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0ad7b6182.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7b523ee2f.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ca14898ea.jpeg

Roy's Eating House Poipu, Kauai
 

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...965bd786a.jpeg
Potstickers
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e49f5df68.jpeg
Mongolian ribs
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...95320a1a1.jpeg
Kamameshi with Butterfish
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...15b92535f.jpeg
Chocolate souffle
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...85463248b.jpeg

Is this the same Roy as the others? Food looks awesome.

It's a different concept than the traditional Roy's. "Named after one of the first restaurants constructed in HawaI'I, by a Portuguese businessman named Peter Fernandez, Eating house plays homage to the popular casual eateries of the mid 19th century that incorporated a medley of flavors from the Island's growing and diverse communities."

Some of the regular Roy's dishes are so popular that they serve them at Eating House too, however.

Woke up with a sudden craving for a Monte Cristo. So, gonna see if I can sell an early dinner at SF's Mama's, along with Swan Oyster Depot highly recommend this restaurant to those visiting SF, and pick up some focaccia from Liguria.

yum - bonus to walk from mamas to Swan and back to Liguria.

I love Swan but I've always suspected that it's really just a tourist joint. (Though I'd love for an SFer to tell me I'm wrong.) I laugh whenever I have the occasion to visit friends staying in hotels locally -- I'll pick up one of the Chicago tourist guides and read about restaurants that appear to be the most popular spots in the city but in reality are spots locals rarely if ever go.

it’s both. Locals and tourists; it’s great and I last ate there in January 2012. The only reason why I don’t eat there is because there’s a long line and limited space and nobody has asked if I want to eat there. For me, zero restaurant is worth a long queue unless it’s a bakery that lacks reservations and online ordering. I eat at restaurants with reservations because I have zero desire to wait so I’ll never suggest Swan’s for seafood. There are so many amazing restaurants all over the world so that I don’t care about what I’m missing - I only care about where I am.

Ah, the answer is a little nuanced, in my view. I've been eating at Swan ever since my Father brought me as a child, a tradition I've continued to this day. Locals still enjoy Swan because I suspect, like me, many have grown up with eating here, and probably have something off the menu made to their specific preferences.

Before social media, it wasn't always crowded, and I really can't remember the long lines. Once upon a time, having lunch there was a relatively simple affair, and, at worst, the line would consist of a few people--never anything remotely like what I've seen. It reminds me of the time I saw that long queue at a Shake Shack in Singapore, and I had to ask those waiting if the food were free. While I'm sure Swan's owners appreciate the extra business modern social media has brought, I certainly don't eat there nearly as often as I have in the past. What was it Yogi Berra said? It's so popular now that no one goes.

While only speaking for myself, I enjoyed Swan much more in the past before all this social media craziness, and rarely go there for lunch these days.

Gintei, San Bruno ca

grilled cow tongue
Agadashi tofu
prawn tempura
fried chicken

assorted sushi including tuna belly
hamachi with truffle & roe


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4bc665f6a.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...79cf4b1ff.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c41de9533.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e285d87ac.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a060b5388.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6f59f1265.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8616a6a04.jpeg

One of those meals that tasted delicious but looks blech.
Pasta with duck confit.
Starters were a loaf of hot pretzel bread and thai beef skewers.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...53baa39620.jpg

That looks like orecchiette... should be good for anything that needs to suck up sauce...

That's true. It is just that the duck and the pine nuts and the demi glace are all sort of the same color. Thank god for parsley and peas. But I scarfed it up---very good.