What is your experience eating a foreign food that was way out of your comfort zone?

What is your experience eating a foreign food that was way out of your comfort zone?

Back in early 2000s a couple of my friends and I were travelling through Kawardha district in what is now Chhattisgarh. On our way we came upon a village of lower caste people who were really dirt poor.

But, poverty didn’t put any dent on their spirit of hospitality (you get that hospitality anywhere in India). They wanted to serve us a meal. Free. But, they were not sure if we baboos (gentlemen) from big towns would appreciate their food.

We had to convince them. Really convince them that we eat everything. I had to tell them my stories of eating dog-meat curry and dried python. One of us had an experience with eating boiled tree roots. We were no Bear Grylls, but we were no ordinary travellers either.

Thus empowered they finally decided to serve us whatever delicacy they had.

Ant eggs…

And, ricegrass seeds…

Boiled in earthen pots. Garnished with wild lemon juice and salt.

How was it?

Bland. Very bland.

But, it was the best food they had at the time. And, that selfless hospitality rendered a lot of taste and flavour to the food.