What I’m picking on is the idea of going into the international grocery store and buying some random thing. I’ve cooked all over the world with a variety of ingredients, many of the dried, fermented, salted…randomness is fine if you’re cooking for Ted Allen otherwise at least look it up first.
I wasn’t trying to be antagonistic, just defending “gross” foods. I absolutely agree that one should know what they are doing before inflicting it on others… but if cooking for yourself or others who are in on the adventure, there’s no harm (except maybe nausea) in trying things without knowing what they are.
What I’m picking on is the idea of going into the international grocery store and buying some random thing. I’ve cooked all over the world with a variety of ingredients, many of the dried, fermented, salted…randomness is fine if you’re cooking for Ted Allen otherwise at least look it up first.
I wasn’t trying to be antagonistic, just defending “gross” foods. I absolutely agree that one should know what they are doing before inflicting it on others… but if cooking for yourself or others who are in on the adventure, there’s no harm (except maybe nausea) in trying things without knowing what they are.