Gordon Eats

Maybe it’s because I didn’t really have that time in college for me to acquire the taste but alcoholic drinks don’t really appeal to me. The foul bitter taste has done most to deter me. But, again, in the past couple of years I have timidly tried out some drinks. I think the social aspects like how most people like to drink, people will turn to alcohol to soothe away a bad day, and how it’s kinda expected that you do when you’re an adult fascinate me. It’s that and curiosity that’s got me trying different drinks. And interestingly there are a few drinks that I’ve found that I do like: Stella Artois, Guinness, and wine. Stella I’m not sure why I like but just that it tastes better than other beers I’ve had. Guinness I like because of the rich chocolate-like taste. Wine I mostly like white wines. For wine, I became interested in it because I watched this Japanese TV series called Kami no Shizuku about wine. It was what the show was about and was practically one of the characters. Before this I had written it off because I thought it was really bitter. But having learned about some of the background behind wine I decided to give it another chance and be more open minded.

I also don’t like soda nor coffee. Again, two drinks practically everyone drinks. But both I was brought up that it wasn’t good for you.

So what do I drink? Water, juices, milk (not as often as I used to), and (iced) tea.

For most of my life I’ve been a picky eater sticking to mostly to Chinese food related items. There have been times on vacation when I was a little kid where my parents have driven around looking for a Chinese restaurant. Fortunately, over the years I’ve become more open to new foods or foods I did not like, though little by little. It’s only in the past three or four years that I’ve started to really try new foods and food I previously didn’t like. The cause was mostly curiosity and peer pressure. I had started exploring the city and my sense of wonder at these new foods I found helped me overcome my stubborn, “yeah I don’t like it.” That was also the case working at Serious Eats pushed me to try new foods. But in addition to that I didn’t want to seem like I didn’t like or was close minded to food.

But still like everyone there are foods I generally don’t like. It’s not at the level where I hate these foods but just a general dislike. There are exceptions and derivatives, so it’s not like I dislike with a broad brush.

Seafood
This is fish and shellfish. I actually dislike shellfish more. In general it’s the taste that gets me. Then it’s the texture. I’d also say its the tiny bones and shells. I wonder though maybe that’s a symptom of me being lazy. There are fish I do like: salmon and flounder. I really like the baked version of salmon steak and the salmon fat parts. Flounder I like it both steamed and deep fried (so that you can eat some of the bones) Chinese style. Another fish I really like is Chilean Sea Bass. It’s melt in your mouth goodness but  I refrain from eating it because I don’t want mercury poisoning or contribute to it’s extinction.

Cheese
Again it’s the taste that I don’t like.  I know there’s cheese in a lot of things. Which is why I prefer a Sicilian or square slice to the regular NYC style. It’s also why I usually get a hamburger and not a cheeseburger. But the thing is, is that I like mozzarella sticks and I really really like cheesecakes. I also really like cream cheese and spam(?) spread for crackers.

Cherries
Reminds me too much of cough medicine.

Broccoli Rabe and Bittermelon
I don’t like the bitter taste.

Durian and Truffles
The smell.

Yogurt
Its the smell and consistency.

That’s pretty much most of the bigger dislikes. Again I’m still open to them depending on the way it’s prepared. But for the most part I’ll do without.