Thanks, Chris for your comment! I did have a taste of vegemite from an Australian friend who brought me a sample and I totally see what you mean. I liked it 🙂

as a australian i have seen similar reactions to vegimite witch is made from spent brewers yeast and grain from making beer the brewery is next door to the factory that makes it its piped across.

many foriengers see the picture of it spread thickly on toast and think that’s the way it should be, wrong! it should be spread thin so you can see the toast or bread underneath a teaspoon full is enough for 4or 6 full slices of toast (some do like it stronger). yes its rather salty so its also used to make stocks and for umami flavour in sauces and stews etc. its a common thing when sick with colds and flu or upset tummy to have vegimite broth seasoned with a bit more salt.(you get some of the goodness of a beer with out the beer)

it is also used as a topical treatment for mouth ulcers get a bit on the end of your finger and dab it on the ulcer the saltiness will help it heal it also tastes better than some of the commercial preparations from the pharmacy.

Very good point, Amy! They’re also a fundamental part of the famous Ceasar dressing. Even in Italy, they are used very sparingly: 1 or 2 added to a pizza, or to an appetizer platter – often eaten with plenty of bread.

I think Canola Oil smells like rancid fish.

But I do like sourdough bread – (pain au levain – perhaps the SF version is more sour?)

I never have to drink drip coffee in Montréal.

To this day, even hearing the word "trippa" sends chills down not only my spine, but that of my brother and sister. We HATED eating it as kids. But obviously, had no choice but to eat it. Often, we'd stuff our mouths full of bread and add just a sliver of trippa in our mouths to mask the taste. Ahh, good times 😉

Thanks a lot for your contribution Keith!

I like lardo, but in small amounts and on good artisan bread. It was definitely an acquired taste for me: as a kid I was grossed out even by the vein of fat in prosciutto.

Interesting about Chinotto. My wife, who is Canadian, didn't like it at first, but quickly changed her take on it. Now it's one of her favorite drinks (after Coke, however).

Apart from root beer in the North American column, I never really appreciated any of the food items listed in the first column. And flavored water scares me haha