Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

I've not tried dog and I never will, knowingly at least. I'm less disgusted by the thought of bats, but still the question at the front of my mind is, "why would I eat a bat?"..

I must admit I have a distinctive bias when it comes to culinary preferences.

If an italian chef cooked pig snout, I'd eat it and probably enjoy it, if an indonesian, chinese or thai chef cooked it, I wouldn't even try it (unless they were preparing it in an italian manner). Basically, and this will sound bad, I don't entirely trust eating 'abmormal' things in asia, but I'd trust such in italy and france. I'm afraid, when it comes to culinary arts, the french and italians are a few hundred decades ahead of indonesians - for me at least.. Part of my lack of respect for the indonesian taste bud stems from the fact that 90% of indonesians would pick a pack of indomie over almost any foreign cuisine and most of that 90% probably think indomie mi goreng is great food..

Now, on another note, I had joined a gym a few months back in surabaya and upon joining got the blah blah blah - free personal trainer for a session.. As I paced the treadmill, he was telling me how much he loves eating dog - he was from sumatra.. He took great pleasure in explaing to me how the dog had to be killed a certain way and that he only ate it at a certain time of year and that the dogs they eat are not like normal dogs, they're fatter (he proclaimed)..

Also, a few years back when visiting indo, my wife and I went out with one of her school friends and her fiance.. He was one of the nicest guys I'd ever met.. Halfway through the meal, she let's out that he likes eating dog.. I know this is irrational but suddenly I felt as though I was sitting in front of a saddistic bastard. After that, regardless of what was being discussed, every 5 minutes, I'd look at him and say, "kok iso yo, makan anjing? Nggilani suoro rek!", which literally translates to, "how can you, eat dog? That's absolutely disgusting (or extremely disgusting)".. He was such a nice guy, he'd just giggle.. To this day, when ever I see him, we joke about it.. And whenever his wife calls to speak to my wife and I answer the phone, I ask, "how's the dog-eater? I mean your husband, the dog-eater.."

Anyhow, must sleep - driving up to Ubud tomorrow.

Any good suggestions for some decent western food there?

Ct

Pigs trotters are a common dish in Ireland where I spent some of my childhood and even Pigs Head was often found in my aunt's fridge - though admitedly it was just my uncle who liked the head. I think my aunt used to make Pate out of it too though.

And as for why eat bat - It may have been economical reasons when Made was a child, one of ten and living not even in the village but in the jungle. These days he and his freinds he hunts with can eat what they want so I'm guessing they just like the taste!

Part of my lack of respect for the indonesian taste bud stems from the fact that 90% of indonesians would pick a pack of indomie over almost any foreign cuisine and most of that 90% probably think indomie mi goreng is great food

I think that is not true. Indonesian food is almost always freshly cooked and is of excellent tast and infinate variety. Folks use Indomie as a snack but I have never in almost 26 years heard anyone say it was great food. they know what is great but perhaps cannot always afford it.

You want some GREAT western food. Go to the north of England, pigs trotters, tripe, black blood pudding and brawn await you

Mmm, well yes jimbo, I was going to refer to 'europeans' as opposed to just the french and the italians in my previous post, but then remembered that england's a part of europe and majorly bucks the trend.

besides the sate babi close to wardani in denpasar, the only indonesian food I remotely enjoy is padang type food (without having to eat it from a window) - rendang, belado, kari, etc..

Ct

You should try my wifes cooking which is superb. My children will not eat western food unless they have no choice.....apart from junk food of course

I'm afraid, when it comes to culinary arts, the french and italians are a few hundred decades ahead of indonesians - for me at least

Geez, Balilife, is there anything you like about Indonesia??

When my wife finally arrives next month I'm looking forward to not having to touch western food EVER again in all my life (with the exception of Nanna's lamb roast ) Indo tucker is great and Western food doesn't even compare IMHO. Maybe you need to stop being paranoid about your hygeine so much and try REAL Indo food cooked in a REAL kampung with fresh local ingredients. Restaurant food is ok, but not the real deal. And for me at least, I'd certainly choose a pack of Indomie over anything French - butter,garlic and onions smothered on everything doesn't do much for me all the time .

Humble Whoppers will stay on the menu from time to time but

In our area, at least, of East Java there is heaps of Fat Tailed Sheep, which are an animal that I've not seen or noticed anywhere else in the world. They look like a white goat/sheep mongrel crossbreed thing and taste halfway in between too. Quite a strange lookin beastie, does anyone know anymore about these things???