100 Things to Eat Before You Die

If you haven't already noticed from the wine reviews and the snotty comments about Champagne, I am somewhat of a foodie! I love eating new things and trying different regional specialties (remind me sometime to tell you all about my rude introduction to Country Ham, courtesy of my sweet MIL). So to make a long story short... Actually, why make it short? Here's the long: I was Facebook stalking a guy I knew in college who was three years older than me, and who I thought was gorgeous and smart and amazing until he crushed my dreams by coming out... and HE had this list of "100 Foods to Eat Before You Die" shared on his account along with the number of them he had eaten (64... which I have to say is not nearly as impressive as my 70). After I looked through the list I decided to post it here and share it with all of you (along with my loooove of trying new foods)... Aren't you lucky!

So without further ado.... Here are the 100 Foods (you must!) Eat Before You Die... accompanied by colorful editorial comments by yours truly. Again, aren't you lucky!...??................??

100 Things to Eat Before You Die

1. Venison: Yes. Also Deer Jerkey. Yum.

2. Nettle tea: No

3. Huevos rancheros: Yes

4. Steak tartare: Yes. At JG’s in Washington, D.C. @MeganSeston (I'm sorry that I tag Twitter-style when I'm obviously not on Twitter. It's one of my many flaws. Love me anyway?)

5. Crocodile: Yes

6. Black pudding: Never would I EVER


7. Cheese fondue: Yes

8. Carp: Not that into fish

9. Borscht: No

10. Baba ghanoush: Yes

11. Calamari: Yes. Never Again.

12. Pho: Yes

13. PB&J sandwich: Yes

14. Aloo gobi: Yes

15. Hot dog from a street cart: Yes. Shout out to the cart that sits across from the National Portrait Gallery.

16. Epoisses: No

17. Black truffle: In the most delicious Truffled Mac and Cheese I’ve ever eaten. At Smith & Wollensky in Dallas.

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes: Strawberry Wiiiiiiiine (Very few know the true meaning of this reference. Haha)

19. Steamed pork buns: Yes

20. Pistachio ice cream: Yes

21. Heirloom tomatoes: Yes

22. Fresh wild berries: Yes

23. Foie gras: Yes (So divine. Except for the way it’s made. Which makes it not so divine if you have a heart.)

24. Rice and beans: Yes

25. Brawn, or head cheese: Yeeech. And No.

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper: No because I am NOT a lunatic and I value my tastebuds.

27. Dulce de leche: Yes


28. Oysters: Yes. Bay Oysters in Galveston, TX. BIG mistake.

29. Baklava: Yes

30. Bagna cauda: No


31. Wasabi peas: Yes. Yuck.

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl: Yes. Not a clam fan.

33. Salted lassi: Yes

34. Sauerkraut: Yes. Yummmmmm.

35. Root beer float: Yes

36. Cognac with a fat cigar: No. Haven’t had cognac and I can’t STAND the smell of cigars.


37. Clotted cream tea: Yes

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O shot: Hahaha Yes.

39. Gumbo: Yes

40. Oxtail: No

41. Curried goat: Yes, weirdly enough. 


42. Whole insects: Does at the bottom of a tequila shot count? Then yes.

43. Phaal: No

44. Goat’s milk: Yes

45. Single malt whisky: Yes

46. Fugu: Yes

47. Chicken tikka masala: One of my favorite comfort foods of all time

48. Eel: No

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut: Hot and fresh. Yes.

50. Sea urchin: No

51. Prickly pear: Only in martini form.

52. Umeboshi: Yes

53. Abalone: No

54. Paneer: No

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal: Yes

56. Spaetzle: Yes


57. Dirty gin martini: Yes

58. Beer above 8% ABV: Yes


59. Poutine: No

60. Carob chips: No

61. S’mores: Yes

62. Sweetbreads: Nope. Can’t do it.

63. Kaolin: No

64. Currywurst: No

65. Durian: No

66. Frogs’ legs: Yes

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake: All. Of. The. Above.

68. Haggis: Can’t and won’t.

69. Fried plantain: Yes

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette: No

71. Gazpacho: Yes

72. Caviar and blini: Weirdly, no.

73. Louche absinthe: Oh college. Yes.

74. Gjetost, or brunost: No

75. Roadkill: Almost had squirrel stew once. Almost.

76. Baijiu: No

77. Hostess Fruit Pie: Yes (Sidenote: Why have I answered “Yes” to all of the gross greasy American things??)

78. Snail: Ahhh Escargots with butter and garlic. Butter. Is there anything better than butter?

79. Lapsang souchong: No

80. Bellini: Yes. Yes to anything with Champagne.

81. Tom yum: No

82. Eggs Benedict: Yes. Even better? Eggs Chesapeake.

83. Pocky: Yes

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant: Not yet.

85. Kobe beef: No

86. Hare: No


87. Goulash: Yes. I am 50% Hungarian after all.

88. Flowers: Yes, on desserts?

89. Horse: No

90. Criollo: No

91. Spam: Yummmm.

92. Soft shell crab: Can’t get over the “eat the shell” thing.

93. Rose harissa: No

94. Catfish: So many times.

95. Mole poblano: Yes. Droooooool.

96. Bagel and lox: Never had lox.

97. Lobster Thermidor: Alas, Julia Child, I have not.

98. Polenta: Yes. Another fave comfort food

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee: Is this “special coffee”? No.

100. Snake: No. But someday I will, with Michael Douglas, inside the fuselage of a crashed drug-running plane. (Name that movie?)

So how many have YOU eaten?