Dare Eat That: A Guide to Bizarre Foods from Around the World

by Divya Anand

There are people who travel to eat and people who travel for adventure.
And then there are those who travel to eat adventurously.

Divya and Vivek are one such couple.

From using sign language to haggle over ant eggs in Bangkok to being hungry enough to eat a horse in Luxembourg, from finding out the perfect eel to barbecue to discovering the best place to source emu eggs in India, Dare Eat That explores their journey to eat every species on earth, at least once!

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2019

Reviews

[Nithya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting with Seattle, Divya and Vivek take you to UK, Pune (India), Luxembourg, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

From ant egg chutney, eel on the grill, boiled balut (fear factor – 5), Barbequed shark, rabbit curry, crocodile wrapped in vine leaves, steak de cheval sauce piquant (horse), fried water snake, ant egg bhurji, boat noodles with coagulated blood, roasted squab, and puffer fish the list is endless.

The book is laid out in a very easy-to-manuevre way and gives an elaborate gallery view of the food delights that Vivek indulges in while Divya records their reactions.
Dare Eat That is a foodie guide and is a book that every adventurous food traveller must read. Don’t miss the fear factor rating chart and the map showing the journey.

Each country they visited has a dedicated chapter and the varieties of bizarre and exotic food available the recipe described meticulously.
The food we grow up eating, like thayir sadam (curd rice) for me (and Divya) comfort us. Adventure lovers do have a threshold of what they can and cannot try. The mental barrier one needs to pass is often very strong and is difficult to surpass. For a vegetarian, I believe, I may not be able to move beyond fish or even chicken. I do sometimes wonder how a mutton rogan josh would taste like.

As Vivek says, it is all in the mind and you need to figure out if you can dare to eat that food? Do you have it in you?

For me, the food presented in the various chapters was like a revelation. I carefully studied my reaction, hoping to get grossed out or worst of all, faint or even feel queasy. I did turn the page quickly when Vivek tucked gleefully into snakes.

For vegetarian foodies, I do realize our world view is quite narrow. If ever I go to Cambodia, I might never move beyond some fish maybe.

Having said that, the pictures in the book have truly livened up the experience and take your visual stimuli to another level.

Steering back to trying out food, i realized while reading their experiences that our minds see only what we allow it to see. Somebody else’s reality is our fantasy. For instance, Vivek still feels queasy eating dishes made out of coagulated blood and maybe gives lizards a miss, the way we accept our surroundings is what makes us courageous. If I make up my mind to relish mutton or even beef, I might enjoy it. Who knows? Maybe it is all in the mind.

[Rashmi Pai-Prabhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review 72:
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Dare eat that by Divya Anand
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Foreword :
Finally.!! I've been wanting to read this Book for the longest time. Very interesting concept, new genre, bangalore based author and food related, so this one ticks all boxes pretty much. .
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About the book:
Vivek is actively attempting to eat his way around the globe and through the food chart while Divya his documenting his adventures in the most interesting manner. .
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As the couple traverse through USA, India, UK, Luxembourg, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore, the reader gets a mention of must visit sight seeing places, must eat local food, and more importantly , vivek's attempt to explore local food markets and eat the most bizarre food on offer. .
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To whet your appetite at this point I must make a mention of food like balut( semi fertilized duck eggs), barbequed eel, shark, rabbit, grilled camel, zebra seekers, crocodile in vine leaves, snake on a stick, ant egg bhurji, pigs organ soup... Well, u get it. :)
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Each bizarre food is rated and documented for taste, price, fear factor ( ahem) and new species. .
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Little nuance details add to the pleasure of reading this book, be it maps of the country, anecdotes which accompany the adventure and of course the beautiful photos. The centre spread has bright and colorful photos for further visual enhancement and appeal (well!) .
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In Conclusion :
While I'm not a foodie in any sense, I'm completely bowled over by the sheer eat-venture and zest of this unique couple. The method of documenting is crisp and unique. The starting and ending note on puffer fish is truly an icing on the cake (seems a mundane reference now).. Kudos to the author and a five star rating completely. A must must read!! .
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Rating :⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ excellent .

[Namrata Bhagtani-Sadhvani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think "Dare Eat That" is a book about some of the weirdest & most intriguing eats from all corners of the globe - you are absolutely right.

Butttttt - it's also so much more than that. The passionate journey of a husband & wife, as they travel the world - one seeking bliss in new lands, one discovering love of really interesting foods from around the world that we may never see or have even heard of in our own country!

But what happens when this love for foods that the hero of the book Vivek has makes you skirmish & quite uneasy? Well, they take care of that beautifully in this book - as the couple introduces familiar tastes, sounds & smells before upping the strangeness levels up several notches with each chapter. So by the time the food from around the world becomes the actual center piece of the story, we have gotten used to the eccentricity & almost look forward to it with every chapter.

There was one particular part in the book I connected with really well - when Vivek goes out & shops for 'Balut' & Divya at first is horrified at the duck eggs that have been incubated and have a half-formed birds but later curious enough to see how Vivek reacts to eating them. I worked with a large number of Filipino professionals during my time in Dubai & they used to tell me about Balut only to have me literally puking in disgust. I guess time has mellowed me down now - as I read on with interest. There are foods mentioned in the book that are far more up the weirdness quotient, so this one was really tame!

Don't be grossed out & read with an open mind - that's the whole lesson of the book. It's always interesting to immerse oneself in other cultures & hearing about food that we may have never have heard of or consider unusual but is the mainstay of life in different parts of the world. The book, the simple language & the passion with which it has been written explains it beautifully!

Published by Penguin Random House, Dare Eat That by Vivek & Divya is a beautiful reminder to be adventurous, fearless & open-minded. Read it, if you have the guts. You will definitely end up liking it & have some cool stories to discuss over mealtimes!

[Gracelinvidya · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book 'Dare Eat That', author Divya Anand describes some of the bizarre and weirdest foods that her husband- Vivek tries out while they travel around the world. The book is entertaining and shows the unique food scene from different countries. The best part is the way, the local food markets are described, feels like one is right there in the market! There's sparrow, horse, insects, puffer fish, etc. the foods described are weird! Different countries, travel, food, adventure, simple narration style- definitely an interesting book. If you are a foodie, bizzare foods like insects, puffer fish sound ok then go ahead and grab this book to eat.. Oh, I mean to read! :P

[Audriza Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare Eat That

Thank you Divya Anand for the review copy.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review

The cover is creepy but attractive.
The blurb us really interesting especially for adventurous food lovers.
The most intriguing, bizzare and wierdest of foods from around the world is clubbed into an amazing literary piece.
I had never had read anything like this save watch such things on channels like Travel and living,so it was a brand new experience for me.
I am a little disappointed with the writing style because it became monotonous at times.
The concept is great but narration needs a lot of improvement.
If one comes across this book anywhere one should pick it up.

💞 I may be wierd but I am not disgusting.💞

[Diptakirti Chaudhuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and courageous travelogue of a couple's quest to eat all the species of the animal kingdom! (Spoiler alert: they aren't done yet.)
The book takes us to cities in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia to eat food as diverse as fugu, snakes, insects, sea urchins, balut (Google this!) and what not. The research is meticulous and is good enough to be a travel guide to the above cities (even if you aren't planning to eat).

Overall, the book is not for the faint-hearted. It is an inspiring adventure for the gastronomically brave, who want to have food of all kinds and didn't know whom to ask!

[Sunayan Pal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quintessential book for every Gastronomical traveller who are adventurous enough to try bizarre food by breaking their mental barrier and trying something out of their comfortzone.

[Nathan Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of the book is really so dang attractive!
And something really different and unique 🤙
This book describes food and travel experiences of the couple and the writer
The writer nicely narrates the food flavors and discovering Unique foods from all around the world
This book really help us out and learn bout the food they eat which we've never ever ever heard in our life..!
There are some pictures between the book and those pictures are really look so great
I was actually hungry while I was reading this 😅
People who loves traveling and who are foodies this book is a gem for them! There are some pictures too in the middle which I loved them

Would recommend to every food lover!
Your going to love this#
Please do grab your copies now💛

And thanks to the Author for giving me this book for a honest review ❤

[Archana · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves food and travel, this book is an absolute delight. A breezy read about a couple who travels to sample the most bizarre foods in the world. The whole idea of eating through a species chart was intriguing and the serendipitous discovery of some of their dishes definitely brings a smile. It is quite surprising to learn that the author is vegetarian herself but has chosen to chronicle her partner's penchant for trying out the weirdest things on the menu. With apt descriptions of the smells, the taste and the sights; it is almost like you are travelling with Divya and Vivek on their many trips!
This book is perfect for anyone seeking adventure through food and travel. But keep in mind that it definitely is an adventure and it isn't for those with a faint heart or a weak stomach!

[Uma Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's such a fun read at the same time a book that is well researched too. Love the way how the book is structured.

Perfect addition to coffee table books.

[Hema Gayatri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a food enthusiast and totally enjoyed the passionate journey of the couple to discover interesting food across the globe. There is nothing to be grossed out about, I find this book as an interesting read. The language used is super simple and you can literally imagine what the author wants to communicate

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes one on a journey, sampling exotic foods of the world. The author describes experiences eating bizarre dishes in nine countries: the US, India, the UK, Luxembourg, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore. The foods include insects, balut, reptiles, game animals and fowl, and a wide range of seafood (including blowfish, a type of sushi prepared with surgical precision to avoid tainting the meat with a lethal poison.)

The book is organized by country in the order listed above. Some countries have many sub-chapters and others have as few as one depending upon how extensive the travels and how much unusual food was on offer. The book presents tables for each dining location, showing the cost, taste, and “fear factor” for each of the exotic dishes. Of course, the taste and fear ratings are inherently subjective. I know, among the items I’ve eaten, my subjective ratings would often be a little different. However, there is an inescapable cultural -- as well as individual -- bias to such ratings. By cultural bias I don’t just mean at a country level, but if you grew up in a coastal region versus a landlocked one, your ratings would probably vary considerably. That said, I thought it was a nice way to give the reader a quick insight into the experience of each food.

The biggest disadvantage of this book is that the experience is once removed. That is, the author is mostly reporting her spouse’s experience. As a vegetarian who shifted to eating chicken, she tried very few of the foods first hand (though, among those she did try was durian melon – proving she’s not a coward, because durian is nastier than much of the insect, seafood, and game food.) Still, because of this distance from the experience, the description could probably be more vivid in places. On the other hand, there is an amusing tension created between the husband who is an intense bizarre food foodie and the author who is squeamish about meat markets that adds to the entertainment value of the book.

Besides the aforementioned tables, the book is loaded with pictures -- including a section of color plates -- and has maps and diagrams as well.

I found this book interesting, readable, and – as a traveler – a potential reference source. If you’re a traveler and / or interested in exotic cuisine, you should check it out.

[Aayesha Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover page and content of this book are unique. A couple Divya & Vivek take us through a surreal journey of the food chain where Vivek has relished eating most of the living things!

Each chapter's title is interesting and intriguing in its own way. The experience was classified into Taste and Fear Factor which give you a fair idea as to where those food items stand at. The book has pictorial representation - both in B&W and color. It has also included few recipes at the end of the chapter.

The book has covered the couple's journey in Americas, India, U.K, Luxembourg, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia presenting us with different cuisines and delicacies from around the world. This book is a genuine journal of wanderlust - through the lens of a foodie. It is a good collection of the world's most daring dishes. The narrative is extremely refreshing with easy to read language.

If you are a foodie and a globetrotter and is always in the lookout for something adventurous, unique and strange, do not miss reading this book. It is a quintessential read as it gives you a fair idea as to what to look out for in the above mentioned places. But keep in mind that it definitely is an adventure and it isn't for those with a faint heart or a weak stomach!

Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...

[Yajnaseni Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a couple of grouses with this book: Firstly, the writing seems a little childish, with multiple unnecessary dialogues and attempts at being funny. I feel the book could have done with a good amount of copy editing.
Secondly, the book is majorly a second hand account of what the husband of the author is eating because the author is essentially vegetarian and mostly squeamish about eating otherwise. Which leads me to the third point as to how the book focuses only on weird bizarre foods of the non-vegetarian realm, nothing on several weird things which vegetarians also happen to eat. Weird need not mean that which is disgusting to the sensibilities of the author, it could have simply meant unusual food habits making the book more inclusive. Although the author may not have had such an intention, it ended up being slightly stilted.
And lastly, while there were some very good examples of weird foods such as snake and bugs and creepy crawlies, the author even clubbed things like baby shark available widely in fish markets in coastal Maharashtra and gave it a fear factor of 4!! I mean really?? Long passages about barbecuing eel, really? The author could have done a little more research to give the readers more insight on each food, the development of such food habits, the nutritional values, the local knowhow of making such foods... The book really had a lot of potential.

[Zarreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

'I may be weird but I'm not disgusting.'

This line from the book really captures the essence of it. It's about the strangest food from around the world, not the most disgusting, and while you may go ewwwww while reading about some of them, not once do you feel you can't stomach it. You feel intrigued, you feel lost but so very often you just want to eat the stuff yourself! Stuff you never in your wildest dreams would've thought you'd like to try!

The book is beautifully written. It's got generous amounts of humour, some very Masterchef like descriptions and observations and also makes you look at travel from a very interesting lens. My only issue with the book is the black and white pictures. But thankfully there's a blog of the book that has pictures in their full glory!

Read it if you're a non vegetarian, like the Rocky and Mayur sort of shows and love to travel. A very fun summer read!

Disclaimer: I know the author and her husband and that's what made me pick up this book. But if I hadn't read it, I would have deeply regretted it.

[BBS]

'Dare Read That!' is a book about some of the most weirdest foods available around the globe. This book is about a couple Vivek and Divya who love exploring the world. On their journey they wish to eat every species available on the earth.

There maybe times when you may feel grossed out. But don't let it get to you and read this book with an open mind. It will help you understand about an absolutely different couple. People who explore the world to eat adventourously.

It helps us understand and learn about various cultures and the food that they eat which we may have never herd or even thought of eating it in our wildest dreams. The language used by Divya is very simple which keeps the reader engaged.

Overall its an amazing read. It reminds me of Bear Grylls from Man Vs Wild, one of my favourite shows on Discovery. If you like something adventurous then you would certainly enjoy reading this book.

[Princy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a book lover all my life and have read everything from fiction, motivation, autobiographies and what not and so when I got this book in my hands -
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I just had to explore and read to know the mystery "Dare Eat That" holds
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Any food lover will enjoy the bizarre food experiments that have been showcased in this book.
there are people who travel to eat, some people who travel for adventure and some who travel to eat adventurously. .
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My review and take on this book -
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If you love to experiment and keep looking for foods that are not your ordinary everyday food - you NEED TO get your hands on this. .
you are going to discover some unique and bizarre food options across the globe. .
The cover is revealing and apt sufficient to give you an idea about what's inside ( exciting )
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Apart from food, the book also follows the passionate and adventures culinary journey of husband and wife duo across the globe.

[Pradeepthi Vissamsetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves to travel and try to taste varieties of foods this book is a complete pleasure. A cheerful read about the couple Divya and Vivek who travels to sample the most bizarre foods in the world. Some of their dishes definitely brings smile. It is rather surprising to learn that the author is vegetarian herself but has chosen to support her partner's interests for trying out the weirdest things mentioned in book. The best part of the book is to travel along with Divya and Vivek as they explain apt descriptions of the smells, the taste and the sights; the read makes your soul and tummy full.
This book is perfect for anyone looking for adventure through food and travel. But do remember that it definitely is an adventure and the book is definitely not for those with a weak stomach or a faint heart!

[Sreoshi Acharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way both Divya and Vivek complement each other.
The most intriguing, bizarre and weirdest of foods from around the world is clubbed into an amazing literary piece. Their journey is something which inspire thousands of foodies as well as travelers.

Going by the book, each country and its bizarre eating habits is wonderfully penned down separately. Even if you are breaking up the journey and going to a particular country, you can separately pick up their bizarre foods.

On the other hand, I appreciate Vivek to try out everything. As he says its all in mind.

Its a different concept book with an amazing narration. i would definitely suggest you pick up a copy whenever you come across.

[Ashutosh SHUKLA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the journey of author and her husband tasting wide variety of species. Her husband Vivek knocks off, the found species, from both from the Animal Kingdom and their own list, which he has made since he first ate pork in India.
I would say the book does not have any of the facts wrong, that is the part I like.
It could have been better with actual maps of the places to scale, more like a travelogue and food experimenter book. And be forewarned about the literary tool of irony that you would get to see in the book - about eating wide variety of species AND mentioning karma.
Great read!

[Yadhu_Parambath · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give a 3.5 star rating but since Goodreads doesn't allow that let it be 3. The main issue with this book is the fact that the author is not the one tasting/eating all these weird foods from around the world, infact she is a vegetarian🥲. This realisation killed my reading experience. How can some one write a about food tasting without even trying it. I was very disappointed initially and thought of stop reading it but since I paid for it and I was short on other books at the moment read it completely. Divya is not a bad writer but everything here is soulless because she is just a spectator to all the adventures her partner experienced.

Won't recommend.

[Ravi Kiran · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting and fun read - definitely takes you into the world of bizarre food, and yet has you curious to try quite a few of the dishes outlined. I even felt hungry as I was reading it - I definitely didn't expect that! Divya Anand has ensured that her writing style keeps you engaged and takes you through quite the journey. I've got a few things on my list to try now when I visit any of the spots outlined in the book. This is a must-read if you're a foodie, you like travelling, and you are just a little curious about 'unique' experiences.

[Subhalaxmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare eat that is about the intriguing journey of two curious people who are ready to try anything and everuthing that comes their way. You need an open mindset to start this book and once you do that. You are hooked on to it. All the weirdest possible things are tried by this wonderful people.
People who loves travelling and are foodies. This book is for them. Also who don't, you can still read this book and i am sure you will end up loving everything it has to offer. Written in a very lucid language, this book is a must read.

[Rahul Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare Eat That -A guide to bizarre foods from around the worls. I love this book. This book is what I was looking for. The cover page is really tempting.This book is purely meant for non vegeterians who love to explore various food consumed which is bizzare for us. Also its a great book for travellers like me to gather information on what to eat where. It is really a handy and helpful book. I enjoyed reading it and was intrigued to know so many foodie facts through this book. Thanks author for writing this amazing book. Totally loved it!

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining travel tale with a twist, 'Dare Eat That', takes you on a journey around the world through many bizarre foods. The book hooks you from the very first moment ... while I won't spoil it by telling you what happens next, I will say that this book is a must-read for anyone who loves travel, food, or both. Loved the writing style, and the zingy dialogues. Fans of Bourdain and Zimmern will be especially thrilled!

[Krithika · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I had been looking at this book for a while on my Amazon wishlist. Finally i gave in to my whim and bought it. From the get go, it's clear that for the author and her partner in crime, travel and food go hand in hand! Often we travel and stick to safe, trusted and usual food places. It takes a lot of courage to explore beyond and eat what an average traveller wouldnt dare to eat! So kudos Divya and Vivek. Great job :)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a foodie, and more often than not, I do travel to eat. But I’m a safe foodie, and my level of adventure is limited to trying various meats like crocodile and horse but definitely no creepy crawlers. Here though, the authors go around the world trying some truly unique local foods. Some make me cringe but at the same time intrigue me. Pictures further add to the experience of what’s being written. A must for travel and food lovers but also those interested in world cultures.

[MONIKA SEHDEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waoh, Im In Love With this book and its super cool cover.
Dare Eat That, A Guide to Bizarre Foods from Around the World is a book which must have for foodies and i think we all.

And Kudos to Divya Aanand, she is an awesome author. I love her talent & creativity for this book & her cool good writing skills.

[Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we have Author and her husband who travelled around the world and put up a list to try out the bizzare foods. And I say one gutsy couple. In this book they have shown that different culture or country has unusual / bizzare food which they are known for.
DARE EAT THAT BY DIVYA ANAND is one adventurous ride that we should try it atleast once in your life time.

[Varsha Tyagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect weekend read, takes your taste buds to another level, easy to read, good collection of the world's most daring dishes.The write connects with you on a personal level, which makes it interesting to read.