James (Jim) Rookus

Thanks Marve for uprighting my cup and giving me an excellent refill !  Was that a custom brew you imported direct from Columbia?

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

I have been thinking about the Food Fight idea.  Remember,  one man's meat is another man's poison.  I don't have a photo but the most unusual thing I have had an opportunity to eat was in the Philippines.  Poached duck embryo still in the shell.  It is called balut.  You can go to google images and see what it looks like

I have European friends that think peanut butter is disgusting.  Depends where you grew up.

a favorite thing of mine for lunch in a French cafe is blood sausage.   If I am with my daughter she is just appalled, and she is a foodie.  
 

just about any kind of raw fish is a favorite also.

how about the rest of you Raiders?

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Well Wendy... I have always been a picky eater all my life.  Not many things I eat that other people crave.  As a matter of fact, if I could survive without eating, I would be happy.  About the only thing I like that most people would find strange is liverwurst and green olive sandwiches.  Don't seem to be many liverwurst lovers out there.

James (Jim) Rookus

Sorry Wendy ....  I'm wit Max .... along with Max I too enjoy Liverwoerst ....  sometimes just cut off a slice and "nibble" but never tried it with olives ... usually mayo & lettuce ..... also related to that is my craving for liver patte which I learned to love as a kid going to Sunday dinners at a family style restaurant that served it as an appetizer ... my mom perfected a recipe for it and passed down to my wife....  now she makes it for me every couple weeks ... nice thing is no one else likes it so I get it all to my self!

David Long

Wendy,  Living in the UK for a while, there were several delicacies that I tried because I was there.  Blood Sausage was a regular item on a lot of menus and in the meat markets.  I've eaten it but not my favorite. 

I did some work in Scotland (besides playing golf) and dined with some Scots and ate Haggis.  The Picture is not mine but a very wonderful representation of the 'product' before being sliced.

Haggis is a Sheep's Stomach filled with it's heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs.  Once you get past the thought of what you're eating, it's quite good.

Then there is living in the Philadelphia area and the staple there is Pannhas (aka. Scrapple).  It's commercially available and is known. as containing everything but the OINK.  It's best fried.

It's essentially everything left after butchering a pig mixed with cornmeal.

And then there was a special on one of the cruises we've taken.  I tried it:

Sliced Tongue with Squid.  It was actually very good. 

What's the Action for Tomorrow?

Julie Hart

couldn't pick a favorite mug.  i use all three.  have no idea where the first two came from i've had them so long.  the one on the right i got in iran on the roadside.  have really enjoyed seeing what everyone drinks out of.

Marvin Theobald

Liverwurst - I have always loved it on a sandwich with mayo. I can't remember the last time I had it. May have to put it on my shopping list.

Jim - The coffee is my own creation, Virtual Morning Starter. Glad you enjoyed it.

Wendy - Speaking of peanut butter, I never eat pancakes without it and maple syrup except in dire situations where they are not available. This photo is Judy with our friend visiting from Dallas on my deck ready to dive into some pancakes I made last August. Notice the mug of tea at my plate (see yesterday's post) and the peanut butter had not yet been applied. There were plenty of cakes on hand to avoid a food fight.

A charter fishing boat in Marathon Florida has a table where the crew fillets the catch and throws the scraps to a flock of starving pelicans. Talk about a food fight, some actually force their beak into another pelicans mouth to steal its catch. It makes for quite a show. This is a daily ritual.

As for strange food, Judy and I experimented at lunch in Marathon Florida last year. I had a Spicy Tuna Dog - Charred hot dog topped with spicy tuna, avocado, panko, green onion, masago, spicy mayo and eel sauce. It was sort of a sushi hot dog. Surprisingly tasty.

Judy tried the Soft Shelled Crab Sandwich. As you might imagine it was not quite what she imagined it would be but she was a trooper and ate without hesitation.

I suspect she was hoping for something more like her favorite Lobster Roll she had in New England several years ago.

Last but not least is a picture from July 20, 2018 of the perfect late summer lunch with luscious Illinois tomatoes and ripe cantelope. Nothing tastes better. Hopefully we will have some available in a few more weeks.

Julie Hart

  the worst i've ever had was fermented mare's milk in mongolia and doogh which is the fermented milk in iran. both really foul tasting.  had horse and puffin in iceland - both excellent.

ate these in south africa - good enough i brought some home to eat 

Marvin Theobald

Just came across this reflection photo from a really nice little zoo in Tyler Texas taken in April 2018. Thought you might enjoy seeing it.

James (Jim) Rookus

Julie...  love the mugs... but that pic of something you ate and brought home looks awful!!!

Marv... I'd love to sink my teeth into that BLT..with lots of mayo on it!  (Cardiologist would not approve!)

David Long

I grew up on eating liverwurst and grape jelly on white bread.  Don't knock it until you try it.

If you enjoy Foie Gras, I'll meet you anytime (post this Chinese Bat Soup Pandemic) at Big & little's.  The one on N Orleans St in Chicago.  After they pan frie the foie gras without any oil, they use the fat from frying to pour over their french fries.  So we'll be having Duck Fries with our Foie Gras.  

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

I would have to fast if some of this food was the only food to eat.  I'm not very adventurous when it comes to trying different foods.    I liked the pancakes, with peanut butter and of course, the BLT.  When we visited Canada and lived there, we ate french fries with gravy over them.  Not very exotic, but they was how they served french fries.  And it is good.  About the only thing I like, that most people don't, is peanut butter and mayo sandwiches.   When I was little my Grandma loved cow tongue and brains.   I didn't try it and didn't watch her fix them or eat them.  .  

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

I like liverwurst.  Never thought of it with the green olives but sounds good.  By the way, when I had the opportunity to try the balut, I passed on the opportunity.  I wish I had a picture to show.

i am not sure I could get past the visual on that larva in South Africa.  Good for you for being open minded, Julie.

deep fried soft shell crab is good.  Perhaps Judy wasn't expecting it!

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Sign me up for the liverwurst. I get it as a treat everyonceinawhile. But even better is Chopped Liver with rye from our local Jewish deli. When in Russia, there were so many foods that were new to me, I couldn't keep track of them nor do I have photos of them. Without a smart phone, I leave all that to the food junkies on FaceBook. But I have to say, one of my favorites in Russia was Black Caviar.

Julie, you are one of the bravest or craziest people I've ever known. What a menu!!! The most daring thing I've ever tried was pan fried cicadas when they were in season. Not very tasty, but they sure were cruchy. And in India, my hosts served a spiced pickle that was the hottest thing that ever entered my mouth. That was 46 years ago and my tongue still burns when I think about it.

Jack Keefe

This whole exchange reminds me of the days of Shepherd & Walden's market at Main Street and Oakland Avenue. They offered hog necks, sheep brains and cattle tongues among other "Americana." A friend on the railroad told me about it, but I never saw -- or tasted -- for myself. Nor would I. 

The photos are from the old Nickel Plate Bar in Fishers, Indiana last year. My order was pork tenderloin and cheesy fries. The meat was about the size of a square foot of ceramic tile in our kitchen. The cheesy fries were like Gorilla Glue. It was all good, but too much. Still, I couldn't resist ordering the mundane custard pie for dessert. It was great. 

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Does anyone remember Gary Walden?  I know he went to Irving Jr. High with me but don't remember him after that.  His mom Jean Walden, worked at Shepard & Walden.  Not sure what relation she was to the family.  I had totally forgot about that store until Jack mentioned it earlier.  We used to go there for their great candy selection!

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Mel, no way I would eat Cicadas!  I imagine they would be crunchy.  ha-ha.   Indian food is usually hot and spicy, I think I've been told.  I've never had any of that either.

Jack,  now that's my kind of eating!   All of that looks good.

Allida Frisch (Altemus)

I cannot believe how many people like liverwurst. I thought I was the oddball. I grew up on it. I am a very picky eater and have been all my life. I will say I have improved a little but I am like Max. If I didn’t have to eat it would be fine with me. I am very much a sight and texture person so if the food doesn’t look appetizing or the texture is weird no way am I trying it. I applaud all of you adventurous people but unfortunately I couldn’t eat any of the food pictured here. I do enjoy everyone’s posts and pictures. Stay safe and sane everyone.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

Don't know if this is a Free For All Friday, but I have been thinking about posting the picture below and talking about it.  My married name is Cullen.  It is Scots/Irish.  There is a Cullen, Scotland.  We went there.  I have a photo of Jim in front of every shop.  We stayed at the Cullen Bay Hotel.  When we checked in they asked our name ..."Cullen" we said.  They didn't bat an eye.  Our English friends suggest that every American named Cullen goes there.  Maybe???

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Yes, Wendy this is FREE FOR ALL FRIDAY. Very funny story about Cullen, Scotland. I'm betting your English friends are right about that. This is another example of people visiting places that have their name. When in London in 1999 with my daughter, we accidentally came across Theobald's Road and, of course, had to document it. Sadly, there was no one around to tell our story to.

Trying to keep the conversaton going...how about SPECIAL COLLECTIONS for tomorrow? Stamps, antiques, postcards and the like. As usual, your stories always make it more fun.

James (Jim) Rookus

Wendy & Mel ... really cool to have places named after you .... I've never found anything named after me. 😂

James (Jim) Rookus

Free for all FRIDAY ..... Mission accomplished !!!  Recently completed our latest new build project and today had the virtual tour photo shoot along with staff photos with hose as backdrop ..... 7400 SqFt  6 bedrooms, 2 master suites / their own laundry, 5 Full and 2 Half Baths, 3.5 acres   $1,800,000. ... anyone want to move to Michigan "Water Wonderland" ?

(Looks much better now Jim - MT)

ooppsss again.... have to be really talented to walk up those stairs sideways .... especially at our age !!! 😏

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Jim, did you help build that place?   It's beautiful.   Just a little bit out of my price range. 

There is a Singletary State Park in North Carolina that my oldest Son came across on one of their trips.  He couldn't find any history about it.

Wendy,  I knew a guy named Danny Ocean.  I asked him if he had been to Las Vegas and he said yes and he had a hard time cashing a check there one time.  They didn't believe his name was really Danny Ocean.  I loved the movie, Ocean's 11. But the original from 1960, not the new ones.  

Terry (Max) Maxwell

Maxwell House coffee, Maxwell Street in Chicago, and in the early years of the automobile there was a car named Maxwell.  I haven't gotten any royalties from any of them.  Still check the mailbox every day anyway.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jim, you're in luck and you don't have to go very far to find Rookus Drive. It is in Wayland, Michigan, just a few miles south of Grand Rapids. Just thought you should know. Hope that makes you feel better.  You can find just about anything using Google.

That house is beautiful. As with Sandy, it is a bit out of my price range. But when Max gets his royalty check, he might be a good prospect. Intriguing design. Who is the architect? What role did you play in its construction? Still scratching my head to figure out the layout of the 2nd photo. Very interesting choice of lighting for the kitchen.