Stumbled upon this recently...any of you tried any of this? Wouldn't mind giving that bird's nest soup a go! But probably not anything else on that list. haha
http://blog.hotelclub.com/7-asian-delicacies-you-probably-couldnt-stomach/
Monkey brains anyone?
well, I'm glad I already ate tonight, I've completely lost my appetite now...
Thats it, I am going veggie, and never, ever going to southern China. Gross gross and more gross!
I'd eat most of these things over a big mac eight days a week
I've had monkey brains and most of the rest in that list (i haven't had the coffee, though would try it if offered and i didn't have to pay: Apparently it's fantastic), plus some other very odd things that aren't listed: Lightly fried (and still alive) scorpion on a stick being possibly the one I was least happy to try, and silk worm larvae is the one that tasted strangest. It had the oddest texture and tasted unlike anything else I have ever had or could suggest.
I realised a long time ago, that many of these sorts of things actually taste OK - in some cases delicious - and it was just the mental block of knowing what it was, which told you it was going to be horrible. I don't go out of my way to try things, but when they are local specialities (eg not dishes made to freak tourists, as happens in some places), i'll try them.
I had sheep brains once. How different can it be? Tasted a bit like mushy egg to me 
Not mentioned in that list is boiled egg with the chick actually somewhat grown inside. Had that in the Philippines. Gotta say, once is enough - not going to try that again. It pretty much made me gag.
The coffee, yes, absolutely I'd have that. Anything for a great coffee 
If you think simply eating monkey brains is strange, I wonder how you feel about eating them while the poor monkey is still alive. This is a popular practice in southern China, where some restaurants have specially designed tables to allow monkeys to be restrained and their skulls opened. Sometimes monkey brains eaters use the top of the skull as a bowl where they mix the brains with alcohol.
The eating monkey brain while it's still alive is pretty much an urban legend. Try asking those who gave you this info and they will never be able to say that they've personally seen it, and so will their sources. It's all a hearsay. I'm not saying it had never happened -- it probably had a few hundred years ago by rich Chinese officials during the imperial dynasties. So to say that it's a popular culture is not true at all. But if you say cooked monkey brains is a delicacy, then it's believable. If you say fresh brain from a dead monkey is taken as a medicine, is also possible.
The monkey's head was supported by its neck in a bracket, two pieces of wood with a semicircular hole on each side such that when you put them together, they form a complete circle around the animal's neck, allowing the head to be exposed above the plank. The hair around the head is shaven with a shaving razor. A small chisel and a hammer is used to quickly chisel a circle around the crown, and the top part of the skull is removed. A teaspoon is used to scoop up the brain, which is immediately eaten. This has to be done before the monkey dies.
Watch out! this following site is a bit gruesome....
http://maxent.org/ch/monkey_brains_ad.html
BUT>>>>>>>>
http://maxent.org/ch/monkey_brains_ad.html
kind of explodes the myth........
[ Edit: Edited on Jan 4, 2009, at 7:36 PM by wildfk ]
This sounds like the kind of thing that requires a special discovery trip, mythbusters style, with documentary attached