We all have those meals we prefer not to talk about to others in the fear of being judged and/or frowned upon. It may be that egg mayonnaise sandwich mom put in your lunchbox in high school that you secretly loved but when opened the entire class stank and you threw it away out of shame; or it might be mixing your entire bowl of authentic Indian curry with chutney, simply because you like the tangy flavour – whatever it is, I feel you! I have some pretty “gross” habits too. I honestly don’t think they’re gross. I believe calling any type of food gross is a sin. However, whenever talking about my following food obsessions to my friends, they’ve always laughed at me before ending off with an “eew, gross.”

So here are my top 5 “Gross”  but yummy foods (and drink):

1. Liver spread and mayonnaise.

 

 

My nanny used to give me this after primary school each day and fifteen years later I’m still hooked. I don’t know how she managed to come across this combination, but I’m so happy she did. Smothered between two slices of soft white bread, it’s a winner. My mother still won’t try it though.

 

 

2. Smoked viennas and tomato sauce.

Yes not those delicious German sausages or Boerewors  – I’m talking about those wobbly processed viennas you find at Pick n Pay behind the glass lid which cost something like R2 each. Pop them in the microwave till you hear them shriek and they’re done! No bread. Just viennas and tomato sauce.

3.  Baked beans with chorizo sausage and cherry

 

 

 

 

This is actually a really delicious and substantial meal, however the moment my friends hear the word beans, they pull their faces as if to say “Oh gosh, Dom’s going to be farting all night now!” And it’s not like that at all. If you have farting tendencies, by all means, stay away from the beans.. But why not spoil yourself a little on a night in.

 

 

 

4.  Marmite spread and cheese

 

Marmite is like Bovril. It’s really salty and the black colour isn’t too appealing. It almost looks like back glue, but it’s only some kind of yeast extract. Spread over toast, topped with a slice of cheese, it’s heavenly. I usually put cheese on any kind of spread – cheese & jam – delicious! However, the fact that I won’t even touch marmite in other peoples’ houses makes it valid enough to be part of this list.

 

 

 

5. Strawberry Squash & White wine

 

I used to hate dry white wine, complaining it tasted like old men. I guess it is an acquired taste, but I’m just not there yet. Give me red wine and I can guzzle it down like the next pavement special, give me rose and I can deal, the drier the champagne, the better – I just don’t know what it is with white wine. Now I only do this at home, because I’ll admit it’s a little more embarrassing than the food specials. Woolworths sells this concentrated drink called “Strawberry Squash”, it’s generally used for punch bowls, however a dash of that in a glass of dry white wine – amazing. The best thing is that it doesn’t kill the white wine flavour; it simply takes away that initial dry bite.

What are your favourite foods that people just don’t understand? At the end of the day, it’s just food. It’s going to come out anyway, so be adventurous! & Don’t knock it till you try it!