Foodies

Taste Buds: The Tastes are Changing

By Talyn Torres/Entertainment Editor

Photo credit: google images

When I was eleven, I used to hate raisins, mushrooms, and avocados with every fiber of my being. But now, at age eighteen, I find that I am quite fond of all three of these foods. Why is this the case?
Well, according to EdibleCommunities.com, “our taste buds die off... Every two weeks or so, our taste buds naturally expire and regenerate like any other cell in the body.” The reason why our sense of taste changes, however, is because “over time, these taste cells aren't replaced, and their numbers start to decrease. So all of those flavors that were too intense when you were a child are actually more palatable when you get older.” (GoodHouseKeeping.com) This is why vegetables and other bitter foods that parents have to pay their children to eat, eventually stop being abandoned and scraped into the garbage disposal, and become a welcome part of every meal.
This process is typically said to take five to seven years, but sometimes other things can change taste buds in a shorter amount of time. For example, the hormones of pregnant women can make it so that they crave foods that usually do not enjoy for the sake of the baby’s health. The natural weakening of one’s sense of smell that comes with age can also be held accountable for changes in taste.
In general, people have a different number of taste buds, anyway. BonAppetit.com reports that, “an average adult taster might have 10,000 taste buds in his or her mouth. A supertaster—one of those 15 to 25 percent of the population whose tongue is extra sensitive—might be gifted with twice as many. A non-taster, meanwhile, might have to get by with half the norm.” According to ScientificAmerican.com, by squeezing out a little bit of blue food coloring on your tongue, swishing with water, and using a magnifying glass, you will be able to see your taste buds and determine what sort of taster you are.
While it is impossible to gain more taste buds and jump from being a nontaster to being a supertaster, the natural reduction of them will alter the foods that you enjoy. So, if you find yourself loving foods that you used to hate, now you know that it’s just because your taste buds are perpetually dying.

POSTED: 4/10/18

Insane Carnival Foods

By Sydney Browning/Foodies Editor

Deep fried chicken skins, photo credit: google images

Naked shrimp, rice, and pineapple-pineapple bowl, photo credit: google images

Here are some delicious foods that you thought only existed in your imagination. I’m sure that by the end of this list, your taste buds will be begging for something fried, on a stick, or that can only be found at your favorite summer carnival or fair.

Deep fried chicken skins - ah, our favorite part of fried chicken. Finally, somebody had the incredible idea to fry just the skin. This dish is just fried, crispy, and deliciously fattening goodness.
Deep fried doritos - yes, fried chips are a thing. Here is a comment about these chips from foodbeast.com. “Doritos covered in batter, then deep-fried. Somehow they get lighter and flakier in the process. Couple your order with some Ranch dipping sauce and have yourself a good time, probably one of the most necessary finger foods you should try at the fair this year.”
Naked shrimp, rice, and pineapple-pineapple bowl - if you want a dish on the lighter side of the carnival, this pineapple bowl is for you. A half pineapple is your bowl, it’s holding a scoop of sticky rice topped with fresh pineapple and perfectly marinated shrimp. Here’s a short review about this dish from Elie Ayrouth, a writer on foodbeast.com. “We're talking about a dish that's not deep fried and it won't immediately send you into a cardiac arrest, but it was one of the most delicious, fulfilling and scrumptious things at the fair.”
Deep fried Jack Daniel’s - this is a Jack Daniel’s whiskey infused churro, wrapped in bacon, and deep fried. This dish also comes with a side of whipped cream and maple syrup, but it’s at its best without all the toppings. A perfect, breakfast (for adults, hence the whiskey).
Giant Pop Rocks donut - this giant fluffy ring of heaven is as big as a big pancake, covered with warm, pink frosting and topped with Cherry Pop Rocks. Here’s a little about the star of the show (the donut itself) from foodbeast.com. “The donut is what makes this thing incredible, the dough is perfect, the warm fry keeps it edible for awhile and it's a messy delight for everyone involved.”

POSTED: 3/22/18

The Most Exotic Foods You'll See!

By Emmery Willey/Science and Techie Editor

Think back to the weirdest thing you have ever eaten. Was it sushi? Live ants? Any insect? All over the world, people love food, cooked food, and raw food, but to them, it is just a part of life. However, to others, it seems strange and exotic. Here is a list of some of the most exotic foods around the world. While reading this, please keep an open mind about other cultures and countries.

Balut: This dish is mainly served in the Philippines. To be blunt, it is a bird (usually a baby duck) still inside of its egg. It is about 17-21 days old, so it is still a developing embryo when it is eaten (roughguides.com).
Fried Tarantulas: In Cambodia, during the Khmer Rouge regime, many people were starving, so their fried tranchulas. Today, it is a crispy snack that is common among Cambodians (listaka.com).
Casu Marzu: Many people think that Italians are all about pasta, pizza, and gelato. However, this dish is a cheese that was fermented, but mostly decomposed by little larvae. Yes, there are live bugs crawling in the cheese. It could be eaten without the larvae or even with the live bugs!
Century Eggs: The title about gives them away. The eggs are covered in ash, clay, and other different chemicals to give a distinct flavor and color. The egg, after weeks or even months of being in the ground, has a very distinct sulfur smell, that it disgusting to some, but a pleasant scent to others.
Haggis. This sounds like an old grandma, but it is a type of food. “It is a savory pudding containing sheep’s liver, heart, and lungs”(listontap.com). It is cooked in the stomach of a sheep. Mixed in with all the meat is onion, spices, etc. This dish is usually served in Scotland.

So there you have it folks. There is a brief rundown of a couple of some interesting foods all around the world. As you can see, there are many different types of food from many different countries. All this food may seem weird to some, but to others, it is just their normal, everyday food.

POSTED: 3/8/18

Sydney Browning

Foodies Editor

I am a Junior, I am a thrower on the track and field team, I've read the Maze Runner series at least 18 times, and, I don't know....I like food.

Likes: rock music (with the exception of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC), the aquarium, tea, and going to the movie theater.

Dislikes: pickles, walking in the snow, running, and haunted houses.

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Arugula
Brussel Sprouts
White Asparagus
Endive
Kale
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Chocolate

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