Andrew Zimmern's Favorite 'Bizarre Foods' Dishes
Andrew recounts his 10 most mouthwatering encounters of the Bizarre Foods kind.
10. Mixed Grilled Udders, Intestines and More at La Brigada (Buenos Aires)
I was brought into the kitchens at La Brigada and served a variety of grilled beef dishes. The meat literally melts in your mouth. I will never forget that meal. It was meat heaven.
The best meat of any animal is in the face.
9. Cuttlefish in Its Own Ink at Al Covo (Venice, Italy)
Cuttlefish ink makes for fantastic flavoring. It's delicately briny, with the faintest hint of lemons. I can't get enough of the stuff. Cesare Benelli is one of the world's great chefs, and this dish captures the essence of Venice.
8. Pork Brain Tacos at Carnitas Kiko (Baja Peninsula, Mexico)
Sliced thin and stir-fried, donkey is one of the great wok-tossed dishes of the world.
Chopped pork brain with red-hot chilies, onions and cilantro. The brains are so creamy, they're just like meat butter.
7. Cajun Head Cheese at Cochon Butcher (New Orleans)
The best meat of any animal is in the face. Chef Don Link takes those delicious bites and adds some amazing Louisiana flavors with his German grandmother's technique. Many cultures in the world make this dish, but Cochon has perfected it.
6. Pig-Skin Spaghetti With Wild Boar Sofrito at Incanto (San Francisco)
It's no coincidence that Chris Cosentino's Incanto makes it onto this list twice. He is a master at making the impossible possible. In this dish, he combines the best of 2 worlds with a carb-free pasta dish of pig on pig.
5. Grilled Tuna Spines at Incanto (San Francisco)
The grilled tuna spine sounds foreboding, but in chef Chris Cosentino's hands, it's a seafaring version of Japanese barbecue.
4. Donkey Skin and Donkey Tasting Menu at Beijing Qun Sheng Shi Jia Can Yin (Beijing)
Sliced thin and stir-fried, donkey is one of the great wok-tossed dishes of the world. The stuff is amazing and tastes like an earthier version of veal.
3. Horse-Mane Sashimi at Koshin (Osaka, Japan)
A slice of raw horse mane (the fatty flesh and fat beneath the skin that the hair is attached to) with a bit of ginger and soy sauce. Fatty umami awesomeness.
2. Sea Urchin and Lardo Crostini at Marea (New York City)
Sea urchin with pork fat on toast. The dish is insanely simple but has so much flavor.
1. Goat Butter Burger at AZ Canteen (Minneapolis)
Goat is eaten around the world, but often, Americans will hesitate before trying it. I might be biased, but the goat burger from my food truck, AZ Canteen, is one of the best things I've ever eaten. The meat comes from my pal Pat LaFrieda, and the roasted tomatoes, charred onion and pickles add the perfect kick of flavor.
MORE: See What Travel Essentials Andrew Zimmern Packs in His Suitcase
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