Most of the time we eat healthy. We don’t ravish ourselves with fast food or dining out much.

But everyone is entitled to be a little naughty once in a while when it comes to food. Since Thumper is from Germany, there are a few things he wants me to try the next time we are in Europe. It has been a while since he has eaten this cuisine also.

So I agreed to his fast food need-to-try suggestions. I know likely they will be exorbitant in calories and cholesterol. On that admission I have added some exotic cuisine from the countries we plan to visit.

I find this more of a challenge than most others. Since I often place restrictions on myself when eating. I like to eat healthy; I tend to refrain from bread, pasta and cheese. This is when I feel I have indulged too much.

So we do pride ourselves on being very self disciplined. For instance, I like to avoid any food that I can relate a movie character to.

And I would like to conquer my food phobias, which are:

• Venison - Bambi!!! I was devastated when my dad told me what venison was in the restaurant after seeing the movie.
• Roasted BBQ pig - visually seeing the head just sickens me. And then there is Babe.
• Snails - just can’t get past muddy swampy feelings.
• Mahi Mahi - Dolphin fish. Although this fish isn’t related to Flipper, Thumper wont try it. EDIT: He will.

So after getting these out of the way, here are Bunny’s Top 10 Exotic Foods to Try This Winter.

Photo above by VirtualErn

1. Quesadillas with Cactus

Now cactus isn’t new to me. I have had it in several different ways. In sauces and soups. Made into candy, so good.

This is a Mexican delicacy. Very traditional in Mexican cuisine.

Since my childhood, this candy has been a treat on holidays. I tend to want to make it for my own kids someday.

Photo by jasjadekker

2. Escargot

I have always passed on snails. I have eaten oysters raw. Enjoyed frogs legs and I love most seafood but there is just something about snails!

They are one of my Mom’s favorites though.

The plan is to walk the 1,672 steps all the way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower first. This is #9 on my bucket list. Then have wine, lots of it! Then escargot.

So when we are in Paris we will try these. I don’t know how many glasses of wine I will need but I think it is the best time and place to have escargot.

Photo by Williamnyk

3. Alligator Jambalaya

I am very interested in trying alligator. I have been told it tastes like chicken (I guess everything does).

There is something about it though; it is somewhat mysterious! After all, it does make a durable briefcase.

Or a great pair of shoes.

Photo by Colin and Angie

4. Smoked Ostrich Carpaccio

This may be a mind blower to Thumper but I want to give it a try. EDIT: He tried it already. Shoot. Whats it going to taste like? Probably chicken.

I have seen ostriches often on farms in upstate New York mingling with lamas. Strange to the eye, at first, but I feel they are grown for the restaurants in the city.

Photo by salsaboy

5. Turtle Soup

Okay people. Have you ever been barreling down the road and suddenly there is a turtle in front of you? Bigger than you have ever seen before. He isn’t in any hurry to cross the highway. You just have to pull over and look at him.

He is very ugly and you think maybe this is a snapping turtle. The ones that bite. So you immediately jump back into the car.

Photo by ronnieliew

6. Ethiopian Cuisine

Another one of Thumper’s favorites that I would like to try is Ethiopian food. Many of the dishes are made with a mixture of spices called berbere. I read cayenne pepper can be used as a substitute if you can’t find the original spice mixture. Traditionally, ethiopian food is eaten with your fingers.

In this picture, you can see the different foods serving on a piece of bread called injera. This is a flat spongy bread. You tear a piece of injera off to scoop up the food with your fingers.

Ethiopians use a variety of sauces for meats and fish or vegetables. Traditional custom is to feed each other. The custom is called Gursha, and I like that idea very much.

Photo by Crystal

7. Venison

Once driving around in upstate New York, we came across a deer farm at the end of a dead end road. There were many little Bambi’s in a fenced in yard. Yes, these too were being grown for their meat to be sold at the restaurants in New York City.

Now I have had plenty of friends that hunt and say venison is best cooked in beer or Jack Daniel’s. I ask you, how could you ever eat Bambi?!

8. Pig Roast

This is something I have I seen many times. A pig roast has been a custom at a few barbecues, but I always passed on it. Heading directly to the vegetables and salads.

There is just something about the head and the eyes.

Scary to see the eyes of an animal you are about to eat.

Photo by Eric Dickman

9. Currywurst

Currywurst, I have had in Germany but not at Thumper’s favorite fast food place. EDIT: This makes it sound as if Thumper loves fast food. He doesn’t. Really. I remember a friend in Munich making Currywurst at home for us when we visited him.

From Thumper I found out that some recipes for the bratwurst differ. Many butchers add curry and other spices to it, giving it a very delicious and unique flavor.

Photo by James Cridland

10. Turkish Döner Kebab

This fast food is very popular in Germany. Thumper was very surprised I hadn’t had one before. Since many Turkish people live in Germany, their food has become very popular. There are as many as 1,500 Döner shops in Berlin alone.

The kebab is seasoned and placed on a skewer to be cooked. The meat is traditionally sliced off with a long sharp knife. But I did see where they shave it off also. The meat strips are then placed on bread has been made right there in front of you. You can also select from an assortment of breads. Then it’s topped off with fresh vegetables and a yogurt sauce.

I promised Thumper I would try one. I doubt I could eat the whole thing though.

Photo:Alex Kehr

Here is a video of the many different varieties of doner kebabs.

Well there you have it. I am making a confession now, since I already made the promise to try these next time. I can guarantee that with some it will be the first and last time I try them. About the others; every once in a while when traveling - why not?

If you have any suggestions on traditional or exotic foods to try, please feel free to leave us a comment!