See, you CAN learn something new at FoxNews dot com

[Disco Pickle]

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/leisure/2011/08/13/foods-cant-buy-in-united-states/?test=faces#slide=3

The one about Casu Marzu cheese was particularly disgusting.

Wikipedia does a good job explaining: 

Derived from Pecorino, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called lagrima, from the Sardinian for "tears") seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as translucent white worms, about 8 millimetres (0.3 in) long.[1] When disturbed, the larvae can launch themselves for distances up to 15 centimetres (6 in). Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming while others do not.

Doing some link digging about the Ortolan and French habits when eating it was..  enlightening?  I'm not sure that's the correct word.

Once again, help from wikipedia:

You catch the ortolan with a net spread up in the forest canopy. Take it alive. Take it home. Poke out its eyes and put it in a small cage. Force-feed it oats and millet and figs until it has swollen to four times its normal size. Drown it in brandy. Roast it whole, in an oven at high heat, for six to eight minutes. Bring it to the table. Place a cloth—a napkin will do—over your head to hide your cruelty from the sight of God. Put the whole bird into your mouth, with only the beak protruding from your lips. Bite. Put the beak on your plate and begin chewing, gently. You will taste three things: First, the sweetness of the flesh and fat. This is God. Then, the bitterness of the guts will begin to overwhelm you. This is the suffering of Jesus. Finally, as your teeth break the small, delicate bones and they begin to lacerate your gums, you will taste the salt of your own blood, mingling with the richness of the fat and the bitterness of the organs. This is the Holy Spirit, the mystery of the Trinity—three united as one. It is cruel. And beautiful.

— Brendan Kiley

I just..  hmmm    ok.     

the one about Pommac is interesting for anyone who's heard that old "saccharin kills rats" meme that I first heard when I was but a wee lad.  The sweetening additive used in it was part of the study that banned it in the US.  It was at a 10:1 ratio of sodium cyclamate:saccharin that caused all the problems with the Rats of Nimh.  A good read, if you're into reading about stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_cyclamate

The last one is Sea Turtle Soup.  I'd probably try it myself if given the opportunity and that's because I'll eat pretty much anything that lives in the ocean.  I'd never kill one to eat myself.  Did a lot of diving in Mexico and seeing those fuckers swim around was a life changing experience.  Almost as life changing as looking deeply into the eyes of a wolf.

Sorry if this was too American-centric for you Europeans and Australians.  I apologise.   

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

You might also enjoy http://www.cracked.com/article_14979_the-6-most-terrifying-foods-in-world.html

[Elder Iptuous]

I heard a 'This American Life' bit on the Ortolan.
it was fascinating...

[East Coast Hustle]

I've tried Ortolan, though not in the manner described above. If there's a difference between it and squab my palate is not advanced enough to find it.

Sea turtle is fucking disgusting. And eating it is one of the ingrained cultural practices that I wish my fellow islanders would knock the fuck off. It's not meant to taste good, it's meant to give you the ability to produce a 4-day long massive erection. I've heard enough anecdotal evidence of it working for me not to discount it completely but jesus, people, we have pharmacies now and there are PILLS FOR THAT.

[Triple Zero]

LOL you banned Kinder Surprise Eggs? that's sad ... some of the toys in them are amazing.

And I never heard about Pommac. If you want an interesting (and delicious!) European soft drink, try Bionade, it's organic and carbonated using fermentation (like ginger ale) and comes in very unique flavours (which are all pretty good, IMO).

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I can think of two stores here off the top of my head where you can buy Kinder Surprise... technically they're banned I guess, but I think that for some reason it's still legal to sell them in import stores.

Or they're selling them illegally.

[Triple Zero]

Illegal Kinder Surprise eggs are the best kind!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Illegal Kinder Surprise eggs are the best kind!

ONLY TERRORISTS BUY ILLEGAL CANDY WITH TOY SURPRISE!

[Nephew Twiddleton]

You might also enjoy http://www.cracked.com/article_14979_the-6-most-terrifying-foods-in-world.html

Seriously, I don't know why I read that... I had a lot to drink last night.

[Disco Pickle]

You might also enjoy http://www.cracked.com/article_14979_the-6-most-terrifying-foods-in-world.html

Seriously, I don't know why I read that... I had a lot to drink last night.

ugh, Balut.  Had a friend from the Philippines explain that one to me a few years ago.  I'm a pretty adventurous eater and I think even that would be a bit too much.

[East Coast Hustle]

Yep. I'll eat almost anything. Hell, I fuckin' LOVE durian. But I draw the line at balut.

[Elder Iptuous]

i just took the kiddos to the asian market yesterday, and they had some balut on display, and they started saying, EGGS! we need more eggs!
i told them that those were not the droids they were looking for and attempted to explain what balut was.
i was afraid that i ruined the concept of eggs in general for them.  but, after about 30 seconds of trying to comprehend what i was saying at them, they both decided that i was just bullshitting them again, and asked to go to the fish tanks again...

[Triple Zero]

Yep. I'll eat almost anything. Hell, I fuckin' LOVE durian. But I draw the line at balut.

I'm not sure. I wouldn't like to eat either, but I anticipate lutefisk tasting more horrible than balut. With balut it's more the idea that is horrible.

i just took the kiddos to the asian market yesterday, and they had some balut on display, and they started saying, EGGS! we need more eggs!
i told them that those were not the droids they were looking for and attempted to explain what balut was.
i was afraid that i ruined the concept of eggs in general for them.  but, after about 30 seconds of trying to comprehend what i was saying at them, they both decided that i was just bullshitting them again, and asked to go to the fish tanks again...

[East Coast Hustle]

I've actually tried lutefisk. And by "tried", I mean "tried to actually get my hand to put the lutefisk in my own mouth and failed utterly".

That shit is WAY the fuck past the line that I draw at balut. I mean, if I was hungry enough, I would eat balut. I'd eat whoever was trying to get me to eat lutefisk before I'd actually eat the lutefisk.

[Triple Zero]

yeah totally. I mean, if you're hungry, I bet lutefisk isn't going to do much good*, while balut would most probably sort of satiate your hunger.

*unless you count regurgitating your previous meal