Buzz
The renowned British newspaper, Telegraph, has compiled an intriguing list of the 10 most special dishes in the world. Surprisingly, Vietnam, a small country, owns or is related to three dishes in this unique top 10, namely rat meat, durian, and catfish.
1. The cheapest dish
'Rats cause harm to crops, so farmers catch them, grill them, wrap them in banana leaves, and sell them in the market as a dinner dish,' Telegraph described this dish in Vietnam. In addition, at rural markets in Thailand, field rats and grilled bats are also sold at very low prices.
In fact, Telegraph's comment on this is not accurate, as field rats are currently a specialty dish at some restaurants in Vietnam, and their price is not cheap at all.
2. The most expensive dish
In January 2007, Cristiano Savini – a renowned Truffle hunter from Tuscany, Italy – along with his father and their dog Rocco, discovered a white Truffle weighing 3.3 kg. This giant mushroom was later auctioned at a casino in Macao for $330,000 USD. It's a rare and precious type of mushroom, rich in flavor and grown underground.
3. The most divisive dish
Durian is a fairly common fruit in Southern Vietnam. It has a deliciously creamy and sweet taste with a pungent odor. Due to its strong aroma, durian is prohibited from being taken into taxis and public transportation in Southeast Asia. Hence, it's earned the nickname 'the most divisive dish in the world'.
After eating this fruit, writer Anthony Burgess described it as, 'It's like eating a sweet dessert in a bathroom.'
4. The most terrifying dish
Telegraph rates Smalahove as the scariest dish in the world. It's a traditional dish served during Christmas in Norway, consisting of a sheep's head, shaved and gutted, then boiled for 3 hours. Ears and eyes are the first parts eaten while still hot, followed by other parts of the sheep's head. The tongue and eye muscles are considered the most delicious parts of this dish.
5. The most bizarre dish
Casu Marzu is fermented sheep's milk cheese. During the fermentation process, flies will appear and crawl all over the cheese. So when eating Casu Marzu, diners will feel the flies wriggling in their mouths. On average, a piece of this cheese will have thousands of flies buzzing around.
6. The 'cutest' dish
Although it's also a rat, Peruvians consider guinea pig as a source of nutritious protein for their families. They often roast it whole. Its skin is very tough but the meat tastes similar to rabbit.
7. The most vulgar dish
Sushi, the famous Japanese cuisine known worldwide not only for its delicious taste but also for its visually appealing presentation and artistic flair. However, Nyotaimori – sushi served on the naked body of a woman – is one of the most vulgar ways to eat sushi, as rated by Telegraph. The price of such dining experiences is also not cheap at all.
8. The most dangerous dish
Fugu is made from pufferfish meat and is highly popular in Japan. It's famously known as the most dangerous dish in the world because pufferfish contains a large amount of deadly toxin in its liver and ovaries, which can be fatal if not carefully prepared.
9. The most pungent dish
In 2004, a group of scientists at Bedfordshire University invented an electronic nose capable of analyzing the smell of various cheeses. Through this, they discovered that Vieux Boulogne – a soft cheese from Northern France – is the most pungent cheese in the world.
The aroma of Vieux Boulogne is even stronger than Epoisses de Bourgogne, a type of cheese banned from public transportation in France.
10. The spiciest food
Infinity Chili has a spicy taste reaching 1,067,286 Scoville Heat Units (Scoville Heat Units measure the spiciness of chili peppers, proposed by American chemist Wilbur Scoville in 1912). Those who consume this type of chili pepper often end up in the hospital due to swelling and mouth burns.
Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 17, 2014
