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Extreme Foodies and the quest to eat the best raw, wriggly & unexpected cuisine

Food tastes may be changing, but few Canadians are ready to follow the extreme eaters who seek out exotic and even dangerous meals... like live octopus.
CBC Radio ·
Fearless eaters actively seek out exotic meals no matter how squirmy and revolting. Author Dana Goodyear says the definition of what is daring, dangerous and disgusting in food is changing and the search for new tastes and sensations is transforming our food culture.

People in southern China sometimes joke they'll eat anything with four legs except the table. But even the furniture may not be safe from the newest development in food culture, the fearless eater.

anything-moves-dana-200.jpg

Dana Goodyear (Photo: Gertrude Mabel)

You really have to crush those tentacles , otherwise the suction cups can adhere to the inside of your throat and you can choke to death.Dana Goodyear, author of "Anything That Moves"

The tentacles squirm in your mouth and the suction cups can stick so firmly they're a choking hazard ...but with the right amount of chewing and soy sauce, many consider Sannakji, or live octopus, a real treat.

• 7 animals that are eaten alive by humans — Mother Nature Network

It's not the only dish you may find hard to swallow. Prized ant eggs and coffee made from civet cat droppings are also making their way onto restaurant menus.

Some chefs pride themselves on serving ingredients that teeter between the disgusting and sublime. And their customer don't want to be the last to try the newest, dangerous, and sometimes illegal dishes.


anything-moves-book180.jpgDana Goodyear is the author of Anything that Moves: Renegade Chefs, Fearless Eaters, and the Making of a New American Food Culture. She was in Los Angeles.

So, live octopus, dog, manure... If you're an extreme eater, or have eaten foods that would challenge most palates, tell us your stories.

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This segment was produced by The Current's Natalie Chu, Shannon Higgins and Pacinthe Mattar.



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