I got humbled by menudo (the soup, not the band)

**CitizenDan** · 10-19-2009, 09:56 PM

I've been guilty of sitting on the couch watching tv shows like No Reservations or Fear Factor, quietly saying to myself, "I could eat that, what's the big deal?". And for the most part, I consider myself fairly adventurous when it comes to food - Tofu, raw oysters, sushi, sashimi, raw meat, squid, octopus, to name a few, no problem. But this last weekend while visiting family in San Antonio, I decided to try menudo for the first time...

CIMG0095.jpg

The flavor was good but the texture of the tripe - not so good.

I got a few pieces down but then I flipped one over and saw the honeycomb, inner part of the stomach and got grossed out.

I'm glad I finally tried it, but too bad I don't see it turning out to be a dish that I love to seek out and try in various restaurants.

So let's hear it guys, what's your food gross out tales?

**Fnord5** · 10-19-2009, 10:05 PM

Uhm, as long as it isn't still alive, I am game.

I happen to love tripe(especially in Pho)

I have also eaten Balut. Disgusting, but edible.

**Leche** · 10-19-2009, 11:24 PM

I LOVE Menudo!

**Cities** · 10-19-2009, 11:29 PM

I'm on the fence with tripe at the moment. I've only had it a couple of times. I've had it in pho, and it was delicious. However, I recently tried it in huo guo and almost lost my lunch. As adventurous as I'd like to think I am, the texture got to me.

**Monkeyboy** · 10-19-2009, 11:49 PM

I tried menudo as well. I made it about halfway through the large bowl. I couldn't get over the chewy/cartilage texture of the meat.

I've also tried balut which was also featured on no reservations. It's a popular filipino/vietnemese food consisting of a softboiled fertilized duck egg (ie tiny duck inside). It was pretty disgusting.

**Kouros** · 10-20-2009, 04:27 AM

Capozelle -- cooked sheep's head

**WhosYerBob** · 10-20-2009, 05:21 AM

Used to be game for anything, but not as I get older now. The killer for me was having a very expensive Valentine's meal with my wife once and getting foie gras. The flavor was spectacular, but the interior was just too pink for me visually and the texture was too raw in my mouth. Pretty much ruined the entire meal for both of us.

**professorchaos** · 10-20-2009, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Fnord5

Uhm, as long as it isn't still alive, I am game.

I happen to love tripe(especially in Pho)

I have also eaten Balut. Disgusting, but edible.

If you can eat Balut, you can eat anything.

**Spivey** · 10-20-2009, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by professorchaos

If you can eat Balut, you can eat anything.

Here, Here.

I've eaten tripe in Pho several times. I can take it or leave it and rarely ask for it anymore.

**lamina** · 10-20-2009, 06:51 AM

Once i was in Macau and a friend asked a soup...same here please......a spiral was floating in each bowl...what the h*** is this?? Eat, eat...Good, good... OK then...at the end i know what it was:dried tiger penis!!

Good, good for sexual improvment!!...

**Confilo** · 10-20-2009, 07:10 AM

If you like Menudo, you should try Pata y Panza which is a stew made with pig or cow feet (PATA) and beef tripe (PANZA) it also includes chick peas and vegetables. lots of collagen,Tryptophan and delicious

**Confuzius** · 10-20-2009, 07:15 AM

I've only had tripe in Pho... It was pretty meh. The flavour to weird texture ratio was not ideal.

It reminded me of

the back of my toothbrush.

I'm sure prepared in a certain way tripe is good, but straight up boiled, I can take or leave.

**Barcochris** · 10-20-2009, 07:25 AM

First time I had Menudo I saw the soup and said what is that... I thought he said Noodles... so I took a big bite..... so not what I was expecting.... I have not been able to eat it since

**gurana** · 10-20-2009, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by Fnord5

Uhm, as long as it isn't still alive, I am game.

I happen to love tripe(especially in Pho)

I have also eaten Balut. Disgusting, but edible.

lol... I'm filipino, and was going to suggest he try dinuguan (essentially pig's blood stew w/ tripe). It's actually one of my favorite family meals... we usually only have it at thanksgiving though, because I'm basically the only person that eats it. I'm not sure if tripe is common in dinuguan, but that's how my family makes it. Good stuff.

**Crazy Dave** · 10-20-2009, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Leche

I LOVE Menudo!

+1! I love it too, along with Sopa de Mondongo. The Pho experience is very different. I will have to try some of the other suggestions!

Dave

**arghblech** · 10-20-2009, 09:03 AM

Menudo is pretty good but tripe is best served in pho with some of that gooey tendon. A bit of the blood cake is pretty good too.

**Fnord5** · 10-20-2009, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by arghblech

Menudo is pretty good but tripe is best served in pho with some of that gooey tendon. A bit of the blood cake is pretty good too.

Tendon

My favorite Pho is Tripe, Tendon, Beef Balls(not the testicular kind) and rare brisket. Plenty of sriacha and fish sauce, fresh lime and jalapeno. Heaven any time, almost orgasmic on a cold blustery winter day.