52 Food Adventures! A 2012 Challenge

Would you like to join me in a challenge for 2012?

Not sure?

It involves eating...

Are you in?

The challenge, if you choose to accept it,

is to try 52 new foods this year.

That's right, we're going to try something new every week.
If the challenge sounds too, well challenging, don't you fret,
scroll down for tons of ideas on how you can have 52 food adventures this year.

~WHY~

Why not is a better question.

-You know that B and I love to try new things and

we also want Peanut to try new things.

-Well, because food should never be boring.  Ever.

-For new experiences, new flavors and lots of fun.

~WHEN~
There are exactly 52 Tuesdays in 2012 which sounds like a given but there could be more.
For instance there are 53 Mondays and 2012 is a leap year, giving it 366 days instead of the normal 365... am I rambling?
Anyway, I'm going to report back here every Tuesday starting with January 3rd.
So try something new on New Years Eve!
I'll accept cocktails for the kick off :)

~WHO~
Anyone can participate, make it a personal goal or do it with the whole family!

~WHERE~
Have your food adventure wherever you please and report back here on Tuesdays!
If you miss a few weeks don't worry, just pick up where you left off.
I'll come up with a prize for the 3 people that participate the most.
Some kind of foodie package that I'll send to you.
It'll be something good that I promise you'll like!

Just comment on the Tuesday 52 Food Adventures post
OR
post on your own blog and link back here.
It'll be a lot of fun to see what everyone is eating.
As a blog post or comment you could include a recipe, a review,
a simple picture, a traumatic story, a few sentences or just a link back here
to see what kind of adventures we had.

~HOW~

I'm not saying you need to go to some exotic restaurant and 

try something un-pronounceable that may or may not still be alive

(although B undoubtably will at some point during the year).

Here are lots of ways to have 52 food adventures this year:

*Order outside the box 

In every place you eat there are are variety of items that you always choose from.

This is not the entire menu but those dishes that you normally look order.

Get something different.  

Do you always get french toast?  Try huevos rancheros.

*Bring the restaurant home

Make something at home that you have only ever had in a restaurant.

Maybe you aren't trying a completely new food but you are trying something different

and that counts as a food adventure.
OR you could try making on your own, something that someone else always cooks.
Let's see if your grandma's cake tastes the same when you make it.

*Just one bite

Sound familiar? Whatever it is that you are unsure about, just try one bite.

You may like it, you may love it, you may hate it.

It doesn't matter because at least you tried.

*Leap before you look

Also known as try now, ask later.

I've used this many times, especially at ethnic restaurants or get-togethers.

If you're not quite sure, sometimes it's better to let your mouth decide if you like it

before you brain decides for you.

*The change-up

Take your favorite dish and change it up!
You can make it healthier or gluten free.
You can change the ingredients, i.e. eggs benedict with pulled pork and bbq hollandaise
(that does sound good, doesn't it)
or add a new element or twist to it.

*Burst your bubble

Travel to different areas (outside your normal bubble) to find new stores or markets.

Maybe they'll have something you haven't tried before.

Ethnic stores are especially good for this.

*Just google it

Ever see something at the store and think, 

"I have no idea what I would do with that"

Well that is what the internet is for.

Buy the food and look up a recipe or description for it when it.

*Opposites attract

Take 2 things you are familiar with and try them together.

Dare I say bacon and chocolate?  

*Come on baby, gimme a second chance
So you say you hate that food, and maybe you do,
but when was the last time you tried it?

If you haven't tried the dreaded brussels sprouts since 2nd grade,
give them a second chance.

*When in Rome
Whether you are traveling to foreign land, eating at a new restaurant,
or celebrating a special occasion,
make sure to try what they are known for, what is regional and fresh,
or what is traditionally eaten.
This is especially true when traveling.  Be adventurous!

*Menu Roulette
This doesn't happen often but there have been times when we really don't recognize anything.
Maybe it's in a different language or it might just be a unique menu.
So close your eyes and put your finger down.
Wherever it lands is what you order.  Yes, we have done this.


*One for you, One for me
Order something new and something that is a favorite and share.
This way you are bound to like something.
The more people eating out, the more things you can try
without feeling like you need to finish a whole dish!

*The Adventure Seeker
Look through a menu and order whatever it is you've never had (or maybe even heard of)




*The Hybrid
Does this all sound like way too much?
Remember that you don't have to order live baby octopus to try something new.
Have you looked at the fruits and veggies in the market lately?
You could spend the whole year trying out things like pluots and grapples and broccoflower.

*That's very Pinteresting
Perhaps this year you could focus on making it through just 52
 of the one million recipes you've repinned on Pinterest.
Or is it just me?

*Around the world, in 52 weeks
Take a few of the weeks out of the year to find something of a specific ethnicity or area.
Try Indian, Chinese, English, Greek, African, Egyptian, Russian or Peruvian.
Eat at a restaurant or look up a recipe.

Still here?  What are you waiting for?  Get out there and try something new!


Join the 52 Food Adventures Community Board on Pinterest!