{"id":15459,"date":"2022-05-04T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=15459"},"modified":"2022-05-22T15:01:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-22T19:01:30","slug":"curious-delicacies-from-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/curious-delicacies-from-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Curious Delicacies from Around the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The unique thing about New York City<\/a> is that it\u2019s the melting pot of America. A term coined in 1908, it still remains true to this day. What\u2019s so special about having so many nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures in one spot is the opportunity to try curious delicacies without going out of the city. When we travel, especially out of the country, one of the perks is getting to eat food that is different from ours, but that\u2019s all localized with NYC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Having all these foods from different cultures can also have one experiencing delicacies that they would normally have to go out of the country to try. A delicacy is a rare or expensive food that’s nice to eat. While the foods on this list are delicacies in their respective cultures, they might be a little bit curious or intimidating for outsiders. However, if you\u2019re a resident of NYC<\/a> or are visiting, why not just go for it? Worst case: you don’t enjoy the food and never have to try it again.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Balut<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Photo Courtesy of Taste Atlas<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This popular egg dish is extremely popular in Southeast Asia and especially the Philippines. It\u2019s essentially an unhatched baby duck egg. Balut is \u201cmade\u201d when a fertilized duck egg is incubated and the fetus starts to form. Experts<\/a> say the best egg is incubated for 17-18 days. Then, it’s hard-boiled like a normal egg. Unlike the boiling situation of a normal egg, when boiling balut, the liquids inside the egg turn into a broth that gives it its flavor. Most people will eat this cooked, right after boiling for a warm broth, but some prefer it\u00a0 raw. Locals in the Philippines will eat balut as a street food or pair it with a drink. If you\u2019re wanting to try some, Phil-Am Food Mart<\/a> in Woodside, Queens<\/a> has some to buy!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Raw Octopus<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Photo Courtesy of Tastemade<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ethical reasons aside from eating an extremely intelligent animal, raw octopus is a fan-favorite delicacy in Korea. In Korea you can order raw octopus in certain restaurants. However, it’s more common to visit fish market, select your octopus, and have a nearby market prepare and serve it to you. The tentacles are the parts that are cut up and served, usually with different sauces for flavor. When you get the dish, the neurons in each tentacle are still alive which result in watching your food move. This is a dish that is not recommended if you\u2019re squeamish about your food still being able to move, but it is definitely an experience to at least try it once. You can try it out at Sik Gaek<\/a>, a Korean restaurant in Queens that is famous for its raw octopus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Menudo<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Photo Courtesy of Tablespoon<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In Mexican cuisine, Menudo is a traditional soup made with the lining of a cow\u2019s stomach (tripe). This dish takes a while to make, as the tripe needs to be boiled for several hours in order to get rid of its strong smell. Some say that the room can smell like a barnyard when the tripe is cooking, so the longer it boils, the less it smells. When traditionally prepared, you’ll rinse the tripe, boil for three to four hours along with an onion to eliminate the odor, and then remove and cut it into strips. The boiled tripe combines with a broth of oregano, red chili powder, lime juice, and hominy. With all the ingredients combined, it makes for a delicious soup that is hearty and filling. Tulcingo Del Valle<\/a> in Manhattan<\/a> has some to try.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Century Egg<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Photo Courtesy of Master Class<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This Chinese delicacy can be found in most Chinatown markets across the city. It\u2019s a duck egg identified by its gray spotted shell, clearish black \u201cwhites\u201d, and a dark green yolk. For people who are smelling it for the first time may say it has a strong sulfur smell. The outside is squishy and the yolk itself is mushier as it gets to the center. Chinese people usually prepare the egg like a side dish by slicing it up and mixing it with vinegar and soy sauce. Try pairing it with congee, rice, or eat it by itself.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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