Great question! I was at the supermarket last week trying to shop without dipping into savings and discovered that they weren't carrying eggplant anymore! Also noticed the zucchini, chayote, and calabacita bins were full and untouched. So I think I'd answer your question generally and say vegetables! Omnipresent yet omni-underutilized. Dishonorable mention: mutton and tempeh. PS, an amazingly refreshing summer drink full of fiber (!) is agua de chayote, which is just lime- or orangeade with whole chayote puree from a blender passed through a fine chinois added in. Sounds weird, but worth the effort.
Jun 10, 2022·edited Jun 10, 2022Liked by Andrew Zimmern
In Northern Europe eel is smoked. It is a much better delicacy than smoked salmon (now a commercial, farmed, and abused, foodstuff). Eels are now quite hard to source in parts of Europe, but the Dutch are quite good at farming them sensitively. Here in England they have all but disappeared and are heavily protected (elvers, young eels, are prone to poaching and ending up being illegally exported to Asia - we all suffer from this trade).
There is nothing in my mind better than buttery smoked eel with scrambled eggs for breakfast (but it is fabulously expensive, so you may as well top it with some cheap caviar for good measure).
What in Eeyore Hell! *just kidding* While I rarely eat meat, and happen to work for the Humane Society, there’s no judgment here. As long as animals are humanely raised and processed, I get it. Just like with religion, everyone has got their own thoughts and beliefs. Live and let live....just be kind.
Goat, yes! Slow cooked cabrito in northern Mexico with a stack of just-made tortillas. Heavenly!
I love grilled eel. Several of my fellow mammals enjoy cabrito and properly cooked catfish. Put me in that group!
Never have had it. I do think more people would like catfish if it was cooked properly in more places.
I know I speak for a multitude of food folks when I say the more Zimmern the better, just sayin'....
Smoked eel is delicious.
Great question! I was at the supermarket last week trying to shop without dipping into savings and discovered that they weren't carrying eggplant anymore! Also noticed the zucchini, chayote, and calabacita bins were full and untouched. So I think I'd answer your question generally and say vegetables! Omnipresent yet omni-underutilized. Dishonorable mention: mutton and tempeh. PS, an amazingly refreshing summer drink full of fiber (!) is agua de chayote, which is just lime- or orangeade with whole chayote puree from a blender passed through a fine chinois added in. Sounds weird, but worth the effort.
In Northern Europe eel is smoked. It is a much better delicacy than smoked salmon (now a commercial, farmed, and abused, foodstuff). Eels are now quite hard to source in parts of Europe, but the Dutch are quite good at farming them sensitively. Here in England they have all but disappeared and are heavily protected (elvers, young eels, are prone to poaching and ending up being illegally exported to Asia - we all suffer from this trade).
There is nothing in my mind better than buttery smoked eel with scrambled eggs for breakfast (but it is fabulously expensive, so you may as well top it with some cheap caviar for good measure).
What in Eeyore Hell! *just kidding* While I rarely eat meat, and happen to work for the Humane Society, there’s no judgment here. As long as animals are humanely raised and processed, I get it. Just like with religion, everyone has got their own thoughts and beliefs. Live and let live....just be kind.
Agree with the need to get away from beef and pork, both mass produced and so toxic to the environment. Can't go for the donkey though...