Ackislander

There is a very funny current thread asking whether the OP should go to the Cafe Sacher to eat expensive Sacher Torte. The thread is funny because most responders agree that Sacher Torte is at best dull, often nasty.

Other parallels might be the best place in London to eat jellied eels or the best place in Normandy to eat tripe a la Caen.

I realize we all have different tastes, but am I missing other iconic dishes that might best be given a miss?

sparkchaser

Tete du veau comes to mind.

But yeah, I would definitely try something that was considered iconic even if that meant it wasn't compatible with my tastes.

sparkchaser

Oh, add ortolan to the list.

And also century eggs and balut, even though neither is European.

Odin

Surströmming
Tete de veau with sauce gribiche
Ambelopoulia which is extremely cruel and illegal
Chinculines
to name a few

IMDonehere

I don't icons, they usually get between my teeth.

adrienne

That Sacher thread is a couple of years old. Someone revived it.

I hate Sacher Torte no matter where it's served. Very dry and doesn't taste like chocolate, even though it looks like chocolate. I tried it because I was in Vienna even though chocolate cake is way down on my list of desserts.

I once went to Chartier in Paris based on an article by Pauline Frommer extolling the virtues of the restaurant. I'm sorry I even went once. The food was really bad and everyone was served hearts of palm as a first course, no matter what was ordered.

No. I do not order food that I know I will not like just because it's a regional/local dish. Although once in a while I do try something I'm uncertain of and find I like it such as wild boar.

Fra_Diavolo

When in Iceland, I passed on the hákarl, which is rotten shark. Apparently, when fresh the meat of the shark they eat is poisonous, so the obvious solution was to let it rot. I'll have some salmon, thanks.

sparkchaser

I'd try the shark but first I would make sure I had plenty of beer to wash it down with.

hetismij2

There is plenty of iconic French food I happily pass on.

fourfortravel

As one living in Vienna, I discourage all visiting friends and family from choosing Wiener Schnitzel, as well as Sacher Torte. There are a handful of other Austrian dishes, and many, many more tortes that are superior to the flat pork nugget and dry chocolate cake.

adrienne, I love wild boar. Especially in a goulash.

sparkchaser

I love Wiener Schnitzel. Done well it is amazing. Done not so well and it's still better than nothing.

adrienne

fourfortravel - what Austrian dishes would you recommend?

I happen to like Weiner Schnitzel, also known as Veal Milanese but I order the veal rather than pork.

Can you get wild boar in Vienna? I've only had it in France and Italy.

sparkchaser

Mmmm...wild boar. You're right, fourfortravel: wild boar (and venison) make excellent goulash. I love goulash with Semmelkloß.

jaja

Black pudding.

mama_mia

My son ordered haggis in Scotland and I felt compelled to try it. It wasn't too bad.

Loved veal wiener schnitzel in Austria, brats in Nuremberg at Zum Guldenen Stern Bratwurstkueche, wild boar in Tuscany and escargots and frogs legs in France. But I don't think any of those qualify as too unusual, like eel or rotted shark.

I would travel to a place to order an iconic dish.

sparkchaser

<i>Black pudding.</i>

More for me. I love Stornoway black pudding.

Blutwurst on the other hand, depends on who makes it. A local butcher that is my normal go to for meat has a Blutwurst that is too strong and chunky for my palate but there's a butcher two villages over whose Blutwurst is amazing.

Dukey1

I simply refuse to eat anything that is still moving or that is staring back at me and no, I will not change my mind if I run into you at the next Fodorite GTG and learn how "nice" you are, either.

sparkchaser

Whole fish or shrimp is a no-go then?

Continental_Drifter

I'm not a Bizarre Foods kind of girl. It makes me feel like I'm on Fear Factor.

One should ALWAYS try different cheeses, however. Especially if you already know you like stinky cheeses.

I was not a fan of the octopus dishes in Spain. I'd avoid them. I do love calamari, however.

I find it unnecessary to eat things simply because they use the "entire animal."

Grandma

Don't like venison but do like wild boar.. and like both calamari and octopus.
But… there's a sausage native to the Chablis region that I insisted on having against the
waiter's advice. He was right.