It tastes like chicken!

I think the adventure of food and travel go hand in hand. If you want to learn to appreciate a new culture, you have to try the local food. I love food and I love to travel, so this is a great combination for me. I'll try almost anything once (to be polite and to say that I tried it), but after that, I give myself permission to respectfully decline if it is not something I really enjoyed.

Several years ago, I went to Ecuador with friends. As we drove around Quito and other cities, we noticed a strange meat being cooked on rotisserie over the fire. Later, we learned that they were guinea pigs or "Cuy", which in many American families is considered a favorite little furry pet. Before I left Ecuador, I was determined to find my courage and try the local Cuy cuisine.

One night on the trip, we went to a nice restaurant where they brought us Cuy which was elegantly displayed on a platter. Everyone kept saying, "It tastes like chicken." I took a bite, and sure enough, it did taste like chicken . . . and then it definitely did not taste like chicken! It was greasy and sticky and had a weird aftertaste that I did not enjoy. So now I can say I have eaten guinea pig and that I experienced something special in Ecuadorian culture, for which I am grateful. I can also tell you that guinea pig is not particularly my favorite, but that does not stop me from trying new exotic foods in the future. You never know what you will like until you try it. Besides, eating is part of the adventure.