I’m all for trying new foods when I travel.
Octupus, lamb, alligator, turtle soup… I think sampling local foods is one of the best ways to learn about the culture of the place you’re visiting.
But I draw the line at guinea pig.
The picture above is one I snapped in a small town in the Ecuadorian Andes in July 2002. We saw them grilling on the sidewalk in front of restaurants. I suppose it’s a way to entice customers.
Not me.
I never had one of the squeaky creatures as a pet growing up, but I visited my college roommate once when she had two guinea pigs and I will never forget the squeaking they made all night long. I can’t eat that.
Pigs squeak and squeal too, you say. Cows moo. Chickens crow.
I know, I know, I know.
But it horrified me to read this USA Today story about how guinea pig is all the rage in restaurants in Lima, Peru.
Good thing I’m going to Buenos Aires and not Lima this winter.
At least there they only eat regular pigs and cow.
Vegetarians everywhere, I beg you, pray for me!
What’s the strangest food you’ve eaten while traveling? Post a comment and share.
I can’t say I’ve eaten anything that unusual. But I loved my guineas and I couldn’t imagine eating them.
I agree Jen. I could NEVER eat guinea pigs. Omigosh! It makes me sick just thinking about it. And, as a kid, I had a couple of guinea pigs as pets. I just can’t get past the vision of eating one of my darlings.
If you’re a meat eater then what’s wrong with eating guinea pigs?
What you’re saying that cows and pigs are ok to eat, but guinea pigs are not.
This is what you call a hypocrite.
“Good thing I’m going to Buenos Aires and not Lima this year at least they eat regular cows and pigs”.
Not being rude here, but you’re being a hypocrite here.
Because you are saying it’s ok to eat cows and pigs, but not guinea pigs.
I’m sorry if I’m being rude, but it just is.
What’s wrong with a “meat eater” eating a guinea pig?
Oh wow… my best friend loves her guinea pigs very much. She’d kill the chef if she saw this on the grill. I’ll have to warn her never to go to peru.
As far as weird food, I think the weirdest that I’ve eaten is a honey ant. In australia, they dig up the nests of the things and then eat the honey that the ants store… because most honey ants will store food in the abdomen. They’re really sweet, if you can get over the fact that you’re eating an ant’s butt. these are some really well-fed ones: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RNFVfLBCRjE/SAUm7G5Y99I/AAAAAAAAANk/zGf7mSwi494/s400/HoneyAnt.jpg
I think the weirdest that I’ve eaten is a honey ant. In australia, they dig up the nests of the things and then eat the honey that the ants store… because most honey ants will store food in the abdomen.
That’s a good idea,like it!