One down, 29 to go
Today, I finally managed to scratch one item off my list of 30 Things to Do Before I Die.
Only 8 years of watching them be eaten by others at dim sum, I finally tried chicken feet. I was at dim sum with two friends today for lunch and I said I would give them a try. I thought it would be no problem until they were on the table in front of me.
I am not usually a squeamish eater. I have eaten frog, snails, intestines, stomach, rabbit, 1000 year old egg, and food served by dozens of dubious-looking street vendors without flinching. None of those were nearly the challenge of the chicken foot.
Once it was on my plate, I couldn’t get past the nubs where the claws used to be. Every time I looked at that part, I felt a little woozy. But if I didn’t do it today, odds were I was never going to do it. So I hiked up my sleeves, drew my chopsticks and took a nibble off a chicken knuckle.
It wasn’t terrible. Mostly slightly greasy skin, but my teeth bumped up against cartilege or a joint or something and that was the end of that. I could go no further.
But the nibble was enough to mark it off the list.
Now, I don’t ever have to feel obligated to do that again.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I’ve had duck feet at a dim sum place. That’s close enough. I didn’t find them a problem to consider eating, but not much meat on the bones. I hope when you finally try a durian its better than the one we tried - I can only assume ours wasn’t really ripe. It smelled bad, but didn’t really taste like much.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Brave, brave you. I think I couldn’t do it. And I have eaten plenty of weird stuff too…
Congrats!
July 28th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Eeeeewwwww, but hey, you go, girl. After reading about your teeth bumping up against a joint or whatever it was, I think if I’m ever presented with the opportunity to partake I’ll just say “no, thank you, I once read the blog of a girl who tried them and didn’t like them”. I must admit though, that they look kind of tasty in the picture.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Get up the nerve to try Durian.
You must do this one next since you are on the whole odd Chinese food theme! I was fascinated and yet afraid of durians…have you read all the websites where people praise them as the king of all fruits? So, I finally got up the nerve and bought a package of frozen durian at our local Asian grocery. My husband and girls avoided opening the refrigerator while it was defrosting. We tried giving a piece to the dog first. She eats cat poop, but spit out durian! It was hard to get past the smell……..it reminded me of old, moldy gym socks. But I figured I had gotten this far, so I tried it. And loved it! If you can get by the smell, it is a delicious combination of tropical fruits.
In Toronto, I ordered durian bubble tea. At the mention of “durian’, my children pull their shirt up over their nose and plug it! The clerk said, “I was going to ask you if you knew what it was, but I can see by your kids, you know what this is.”
July 28th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Oh, that is too much! As a vegetarian, “try meat once a year” is on my life to-do list, and I find just that very painful. I can’t imagine eating chicken feet. Wow.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Oooh, you are a brave woman. My FIL doesn’t even bother pointing out the plate of chicken feet. I figure I did my time with the giant platter of cold jellyfish they served at our wedding banquet.
As for Durian, I see those things at the store and wonder how people ever thought of EATING them, let alone actually eating them once they SMELLED THEM.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Chicken feet are totally gross. They are up there with Durian and stinky tofu. And yet, people in Greater China LOVE THEM.
*shudder*
July 28th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
That’s hardcore. My (Chinese) husband won’t even try them.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
At least they have sauce on them! When we were in China the unadorned chicken feet were mixed in with the rest of the vegetables and sauce. And at another meal there where goose bills in with the pressed goose. I passed on both.
Congratulations for trying them!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Oh my gosh! I would see Chicken feet in jars(and pigs feet for that matter) in jar in my local grocery store for ages! but congrats! for doing something, I would not even dare do! How on earth did you get a hold of a 1000 year old egg?
July 29th, 2008 at 12:13 am
You got farther than I would have! In fact, it never would have made my list. I used to watch “Fear Factor,” and say “Oh HELL no!” every time they had to eat something. No kidding — I’d just walk away from the competition. I’m a huge wuss, too, but as terrified as I am of falling and all of the stunts they had to do, I’d choose that over eating something gross!
July 29th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I think because we call it “Phoenix Claws” it sounds more tasty than Chicken Feet?
July 29th, 2008 at 2:47 am
@ Nora
> How on earth did you get a hold of a 1000 year old egg?
That’s just the name of the egg
It’s a type of preserved egg that’s blackish in color. It’s really good with tofu!
July 29th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I enjoyed this post so much! You had me giggling and out right cracking up! I love your sense of humor so much! : ) I don’t think I could eat them either! You are a brave one to give it a shot at least! : )
July 29th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
MEAT IS MURDER!!
http://www.AnUrbanStory.com
July 29th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
You might consider reading the new book, “Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A sweet-sour memoir of eating in China.” I’m really enjoying it and learning a lot, too.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Greg was just in singapore for a conference and brought home durian cookies. We haven’t trying them yet though.