It can be tough to refrain from eating your favourite foods. That’s why we’re celebrating National Eat What You Want Day on May 11th! On this day, people are urged to indulge in sweet tooth, carb-loaded food without feeling obligated to run a marathon or skip having meals. No one will tell you what you shouldn’t eat on Eat What You Want Day, so go crazy. We know that you guys already have a whole list of arteries clogging food you crave. Instead of telling you what unhealthy foods you should eat on this heavenly day, we are going to share with you some of the most obscure dishes you can get in Singapore.
Fish Sperm (Shirako)
Image Credits: allthatsinteresting
The mushy, brain looking dish in the image is weirder than it looks. It’s sperm-filled fish male genitalia (cod milt), or Shirako in Japanese (white children). You would probably wonder why anyone would ingest sperm at all. It actually isn’t that much different from Ebiko (shrimp roe) which you can find as a topping on dishes like chawanmushi (steam egg). Similar to its glistening orange counterpart, Shirako is high in micronutrients, anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, and even vitamin B12. There are plenty of Japanese establishments here in Singapore that serve this dish.
Where To Find: Keyaki
Location: 7 Raffles Blvd, Singapore 039595
Raw Beef (Steak Tartare)
Yes, you can eat beef raw. Steak tartare is a dish that is commonly served in French or Italian restaurants and is not as rare as you would imagine. This unusual dish would most likely cater to those who like their steak a touch more special. As a rare steak lover, I can stand by this dish. Beef has a compact meat structure, making it one of the few meats that can be eaten raw like fish. Although this dish like other meats is tasty and safe to eat, there still exist some serious risks when partaking of it. Eating a chopped up steak tartare is safer as compared to eating a piece of raw beef steak since more of it’s surface area is exposed to germs or bacteria on the preparation surfaces and plates. This dish can be found in various high-end restaurants in Singapore which means, you have to fork out top dollar for it.
Where To Find: Bistecca Tuscan Steak House
Location: 26 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 238970
Shark Meat
There are actually dishes that calls for the meat of the shark and not just it’s fin. This dangerous sea monster’s meat has been compared to a cross between a chicken and an alligator, with a much chewier texture. Shark meat remains common with enthusiasts despite fears that it contains especially high levels of mercury. Since shark meat is tough, only a small portion (softer parts) of it get served to customers. Personally, I don’t think a little shark meat once in a while will hurt but, do be mindful of the fact that certain species of sharks are on the brink of extinction.
Where To Find: Lao Liang Pig Trotter Jelly & Shark Meat
Location: #02-37 Jln Berseh, Food Centre
Crocodile Paws
Another dish that will have you gnawing away on the meat of a lethal animal.
The dish has been compared to sea cucumber by some, on the other hand some see striking parallels between eating crocodile paws and eating chicken feet. The crocodile paw undeniably looks like a much larger version of chicken feet. If you have had chicken feet before, there is no reason why you should be skeptical of trying out crocodile paws, as they taste the same and have an almost similar mouthfeel. If you are ever feeling adventurous, this is the dish you should try since it’s packed full of nutrients.
Where To Find: Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck
Location: #05-42/45, Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd, 238859
Pufferfish (Fugu)
Image Credits: Today
To even get a piece of Fugu (pufferfish) in your mouth, you must be bold and have complete faith in the chef. In this case, the animal is still deadly even after its death, if not deadlier than when it was alive since you are willingly ingesting it. The organs of the pufferfish, contains tetrodotoxin, a substance that is 1,200 times more toxic than cyanide. The worst part is that that is no known antidote to neutralise the tetrodotoxin, instead you will be forced to face a slow impending death by suffocation.
To prevent ingesting the poison, you have to carefully fillet the Fugu. Chefs who prepare the dish must complete a mandatory training that spans three years before they are legally licensed to serve Fugu. So, there actually is nothing much to worry about, however accidents do occur.
Where To Find: GUENPIN Singapore
Location: 32 Maxwell Rd, #01-06 Maxwell Chambers, Singapore 069115
If you are down for a challenge this Eat What You Want Day instead of the usual fish and chips with extra chips, why not try one of these dishes? They really aren’t as bad as they seem.
This article was first published on Gutbitez.com.
