Pass the naan please!

I love trying new food and this past weekend I really got into Indian food. For her mom's 60th surprise birthday party at our house on Saturday, Swati ordered a complete Indian smorgasbord from the restaurant called, Gate of India. It's voted best Indian restaurant in Hollywood. Now I've had Indian food but nothing like this before-it was incredible! I found myself actually enjoying spicy food which is very rare for me. Usually it's not so much a party in my mouth but this food was so yummy and flavorful that I didn't mind the spicyness at all. We had yummy samosas that came with two great dipping sauces, a fresh vegetable salad, a delicious spinach dish, amazing flavored chicken and plenty of rice and naan. I am happy that we've still got lots of leftovers filling our fridge!

I found this article interesting and fitting for this post, it's from Askmen.com:

Here's a scene you've probably encountered: You're out with a group of friends and new acquaintances for dim sum, thinking about how great the shrimp dumplings look -- what a great hangover food, this is gonna be ace! -- when the cute blond gal across the table decides to just order for everyone because, heck, she picked up a little Mandarin on summer vacation. Then, the chicken feet come out, followed by tripe, and things begin to look pretty grim. You like what you know, what tastes good, what's reliable.

Don't get labeled a wuss

First the bad news: Your reluctance to try strange, even unsettling foods makes you look like a baby. Sure, the recession ushered in the designer burger and brick oven pizza back into popularity in some of the country's trendiest restaurants, but that doesn't give you the green light to skip the weird stuff when it's on the menu, even if that means eating a bird’s nest or a whale anus. The truth hurts, and yeah, it might hurt your intestines for an hour or two, but you’ll live.

The first and most fundamental reason to try new foods is the thrill of the unknown. When it comes to eating, it's basically a low-risk and high-reward scenario: The worst that happens is you eat something disgusting and feel like you may vomit; more likely, you enjoy something new and share an adventure with your friends. You also build up a tolerance for surprise and sensory shock -- you prepare yourself for that unexpected situation when you don't have the luxury to choose what you eat, like on an exotic vacation or if your plane crashes.

The food poisoning argument

Don't bother with the food poisoning argument -- it's a total cop-out. Foodborne illness is typically a result of unhygienic conditions or improper handling, which is more likely to occur in a fast food joint where employees don't have a stake in the cuisine than in a family-owned hole-in-the-wall in Chinatown. What we’re saying is, the chances of getting sick from steer testicles are probably no greater than eating your average cut of steak. Besides, if you're a strapping AM reader who exercises and takes care of himself, a minor case of food poisoning will make you violently ill for a few days and you'll be tougher for it.

It's time to grow up

Being flexible and adventurous in what you eat is a mark of maturity and adaptability. Children are particular about what they eat and might lie about having allergies to foods they don't like; a man doesn’t do that. And think about the older men you know: They start to get set in their ways as time goes on, sticking to the same routines and eating the same things. That may be you one day, so embrace your prime years by saying yes to everything. (And not just food. Say yes to going out with people you don't know, to places you've never been and to trying things you’ve been told are lame or dangerous.) Women -- the kind of women you want -- are attracted to guys with a sense of adventure, so, don't wait for somebody else to suggest the kidney special.

New Food is just the beginning

It's not just about the food. The risks you take at the dinner table are extensions of the way you live. If you're uncomfortable trying new foods -- if you're not excited at the prospect, even -- then it probably says something about your sense of adventure and comfort with danger. We all had that buddy in college who ate a heaping spoonful of mayo (the kind that didn't need refrigeration) on a dare. Don't be that guy: It's not about doing something crazy at the drop of a hat. However, real men aren't afraid to put their gastronomical comfort on the line to try something new. Plus, you can always celebrate the conquest with shots.