A bit off topic - sea cucumbers!

Moorf · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:24 am Post subject: A bit off topic - sea cucumbers!

Ok, this is WAAAAY off topic but I just had to ask..... Rolling Eyes

One of Rarotonga's delicacies is the sea cucumber - apparently they pick them out of the water and squeeze out the innards and eat the innards raw... Embarassed

(did I mention to have eaten dinner prior to reading this?!).

I just wondered if anyone out there has tried this?! Or seen it done...? I'm always up for a challenge but forewarned is fore-armed!! Laughing

By the way - for animal and nature lovers amongst you - the locals toss the empty sea cucumber back into the sea where it regenerates its innards!! Cool huh - apparently its akin to the lizards self defence mechanism of losing its tail .... these little cucumbers just lose their guts!!

Sorry for that little diversion!! Embarassed

Moorf

karltsmith · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:05 am Post subject:

Sounds like a bush tucker trial to me! Hmmm

I have heard of it though. The most Icky thing I've eaten was a live scallop fresh from the shell and still pulsing as it went down...a lovelly little dive club initiation Uhoh

Karl

PS. Again off subject but normanl cucumbers are really expensive here1 Telegraph cucumber, as they are known, is currently about NZ$5.00 wow! Eek

Raeven · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:56 pm Post subject:

ROFLLLLLL!!!!! Karl!!!!! Must be an international custom... I had the exact same initiation into my dive club 25 years ago!!!!!!! Actually... taken in with a mouthful of seawater.. that scallop wasn't bad!!!

I won't be sampling sea cucumber guts, however. I'm still recoiling from watching my sisters-in-law honk down their whitebait sandwiches!! Gaaaahhhh!!!

Thanks so much for the memories!!! - Rae

sesame · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:53 pm Post subject:

the 'european' cucumber (organic mind you) clockes in at 3.99U$/each here - at whole foods, wild oats (maybe 3.59 U$ there), ..... = ~7.00 n$????

Happy Raro, Moorf!

Timbo · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 3:08 am Post subject:

Sesame. I hate to tell you this but sea cucumbers are animal not vegatable. They are actually very pretty critters.
Have never tried eating one personally, but hey who knows, maybe one day.

sesame · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 4:39 am Post subject:

Moorf · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:49 am Post subject:

Yummmm whitebait - eyes'n'all! Yes

Timbo · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:02 am Post subject:

Have you seen the ugly little fellas Moorf? Hmmm

michelle · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:04 am Post subject:

Just found this in lonely planet for Rarotonga

" The creatures internals look rather like spaghetti and a reference to eating spaghetti probably means rori (motu rori is another name for sea cucumbers) rather than pasta. Rori are best cooked with butter, garlic and spices but the locals are happy to eat them raw. Its not uncommon to see someone pick one up in the lagoon, tea the skin open, squeeze the guts out as if from a tube of toothpaste toss the black skin away and eat the spaghetti on the spot "

Think I might stick to Buitoni spaghetti.

Michelle

Moorf · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:09 am Post subject:

Which ugly fellas Tim?!!

Cucumbers? No.... ! Although having seen "garlic and spices" associated with their guts I think I might be able to give them a try! (Tried goat testicles once and they are surprisingly nice - altho not sure the goat was too pleased!! Hmmm

)

Whitebait? Yep - love them! Deep fried of course with lemon! Yumm

Michelle - LOL @ Buitoni... u think they do Motu Rori Ragu sauce?!! Laughing

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

Moorf, have you decided to go to Raro now?, there are loadsa sea cucumbers there! i wouldn't want to tread on one, at least the water is clear, you can see them....black, fat and sausage shaped, a delicacy i hear, yuch, not on your nelly!

Lisa

Moorf · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:13 am Post subject:

Hi Lisa - yep, we are planning to go to Rarotonga for 10 days on 4th October Yes

Although we have been scuba diving many times before neither of us have our PADI certification so we are going to do that in Raro.

Can't wait!

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

Moorf,

You wont regret it, it's a beautiful little island, the place of honeymoons, the people are beautiful, the food is good, we had no complaints, where have you decided to stay?

Lisa

Timbo · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:40 am Post subject:

Ugly little fellas being what the Nzers call white bait. They look very different to what I have eaten as the same in UK

michelle · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:27 am Post subject:

Hey Moorf

You try them in Raro, I will leave you to do the tasting sessions ! I will patent the "secret sauce" we could be onto a winner. If Paul Newman can do it so can we!

Michelle