Thursday, March 17, 2011

Acquired Taste


{mmm. yes please.}

The other day I was watching one of my favorites shows:
It's about traveling and food. I happen to be quite fond of both.
It made me think back on some of my travels...hooray
And of course, some of the bizarre foods...sometimes hooray

One story in particular stands above them all.
A smorgasbord of bizarr-o food in Rwanda.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love Africa. The people, the culture, and most of the food.
Really, I wouldn't trade any of it.
Except for this one night.
Anyone want it? We'll travel back in time and you can have it!

We had been invited to travel out of Kigali and into Burundi to film a documentary about the genocide of '94. After our long and semi-treacherous, (almost sliding off of a cliff during a rainstorm), journey by bus, we were abruptly given a quick tour around the town and thrown right into the wonders of some movie-making-magic...

For the next 15 hours.
I kid you not.
Africa time is real. Oh so real.

Finally. An angel from above, aka the director, said we could wrap-up and grab some food.
I'm pretty sure I cried a little and vowed he would be my patron saint of everything for the remainder of my life.
Since we were the "guests of honor" we went to our host family's house to partake in the feast.
I had visions of chai tea, fanta, rice, beans, chips, mayo, sauce, and salad dancing in my head. A saltine cracker. Anything.
Nope.
So many of my un-favorite things, it was almost funny.


{via}

The weird peanut sauce with huge squishy green Imboga vegetables in it.
The lumpy dough-like Banku, (fermented maize/cassava root), that smells and tastes similar to what I imagine a horse barn would,
Annnnnd
The fried sardines that are piled up high on your plate, complete with eyeballs.
A single banana was my only saving grace

Being the good little houseguest that I am,
I ate everything.
And then was promptly given seconds.

P.S. Somewhere in theaters across Africa, you can have a glimpse of me on the silver screen. I'm probably a celebrity over there by now, with my award-winning acting and all. Never took a lesson.
Hello sarcasm.


xoxo

{Bon Bon}

27 comments:

melissa said...

That does NOT sound appealing at all but seems like the trip was an interesting experience for you! Good thing it's behind you and you can try to remember the good moment?!?! Minus the food!! Sardines with eyes??? Ewwwww! xo

Mami en construcción said...

Ewwww.
You're brave!
I couldn't have eaten anything except the banana...
I admire you!! You're a really good houseguest!

mary said...

Dear Bon Bon, you are a Trooper with a capital T! Does that mean that this is what your want your birthday meal to look like? Perhaps? Happy Almost Celebration Little Darling! xox!

Jamie Walker said...

Oh sick... I think I just lost my appetite for my breakfast.

Fashion Ranger said...

Haha, you're a brave girl! Love your blog, the design and content both are very nice. :-)
Following!
Love from Sweden,
Jacob
Fashionranger.com - Streetstyle Sweden

Michelle said...

You're brave. I don't think I could have eaten any of this things! Sounds like a great experience though :)

Have a great day! XOXO

My Little Corner said...

You are very brave! Props to you for trying out bizarre foods :D

Laura *You Stir Me* said...

I love that I've found your blog - especially for stories like these:) I think you should always try the local food when you travel so props to you for doing so!

PS- your wedding was gorgeous. Stunning. I'm going to go look at the pictures again:)

Unknown said...

Wow. That is a lot of crazy sounding food! I had some food similar to that in the philippines...the fish head soup was...oh so delish. NOT!

aimee said...

Wow! Those are some interesting food! I also love sardines but only with tomato sauce. Sounds like you had a great adventure in Africa. :)

jessica // union shore said...

I don't think I could eat any of those things!!!

thanks for stopping by my blog! i'm so glad you did!!

Melissa: Write it in Lipstick said...

this story is so cool and crazy and I feel honored to know a celebrity. LOL.


Write it in Lipstick

Unknown said...

I once had dinner at my friends house, who's family was Vietnamese and her mom was so sweet that I didn't want to be rude and not eat the food ( even though I wasn't sure quite what it was). I was like you, put a smile onu face, ate my whole plate and she then gave me seconds. After begging my friend for 3 months she finally told me what the clear and black jello like thing I had eaten, was, a sea slug. It def had an interesting taste and texture and I admit a few times I descretely had to hide a gag, but I think it's a great opportunity to get to experience other cultures foods and ways of life. That's so neat that you were able to go to Uganda and experience so much of their culture and share your experiences with us:)

Lindsi said...

Oops, sorry Bonnie, the above comment is from me not my hubby, lol.

Becca said...

so did you eat your seconds? That actually sounds better than what I thought it was by looking at the picture...I thought it was a dead bird laying there on the plate!

Lindsay Eryn said...

Aww, my BFF was in Rwanda a couple years ago! Glad to hear some of your shared experiences. :)

Hannah Sullivan said...

You are a brave soul. Im glad you had an awesome experience though! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Selma @ Crazy Little World Of Mine said...

I like that, and don't think it's bizarre. Then again, I like all kinds of food except for when it craws towards me, still breathes, or resembles a bug or so I won't eat it, but these two don't look too bad. :)

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...

Oh my. Wow. I can relate because I lived in Brazil for two years and they eat some pretty bizzare stuff, too...and you have to be careful how fast you eat because they always want to give you more!!! Heaven help us. (c:

P.S. you are hilarious and made me lol...(c:

Elizabeth @ Love Is the Adventure said...

That is an awesome story and as strange as the food must have been, I bet you wouldn't trade that memory for all the pb&j in the world!

I've just started poking around your blog and I already love it! I'm posting a link for it on my blog. Thanks so much for the comment, btw! So nice of you to drop by!

Gertrude said...

Ohmy that food looks crazy!! I would have never eaten that fish. I never eat fish unless it's a fillet.

Nikki said...

That sounds...awful. But you're a better person for it. I'm sure of it. I don't know how, but you just are ;)

Kira said...

Oh man, don't you just love being the guest of honor? I ended up eating a lot of weird things in China because they were delicacies and our hosts wanted only to give us the best. It was very kind, but I can tell you that the whopper I had in the Hong Kong airport on my way home was the most amazing thing I had ever tasted!

Megan said...

Ewwwww, you poor thing!! That sounds horrible!! You are so sweet for eating it all though!

Shay said...

Wow, good for you! I can hardly look at that plate after reading what the items are, let alone eat it! You are officially my hero for the night;-)

Courtney B said...

Oh my lanta.... I don't know how you ate that. You are a saint! :)

Natali Puga said...

Jealous of your trip to Africa expecially to document such an important event. Very cool!

xx

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