Monday, February 18, 2008

Romanesco really freaks me out.

Okay, some of you know that I have a day job: I'm a field biologist working in natural resources consulting. I grew up watching a lot of David Attenborough programs. I have seen a lot of crazy shit in my life (truth really is stranger than fiction).

So of course, the first thing I think of when I see Romanesco is "oh man, that looks just like that fucked-up snail with the parasite that makes its antennae go all green and insane, dunnit?"

You're staring at me blankly right now, aren't you. Well look at this and tell me I'm not right.

Romanesco:























Crazy, fucked-up snail with liver fluke parasite:
















Amirite? Well the animated gif really does illustrate it perfectly, I think. I dunno. Romanesco just freaks me out.

20 comments:

Toni said...

Sorry, but I prefer the romanesco to the crazy fucked up snail. But my brother is a field biologist, and I have seen some pretty wierd looking frogs out there with him. Got any veggies that look like frogs? ;-)!

Soukyan said...

That snail freaks me out. And really, it looks more like the heart attack on a plate below. I just lost my appetite. :(

Syd said...

Ok, that's gross. But, you have a point.

Heather said...

Toni - I bet a Google Image Search could turn something up!

Soukyan, how dare you say my delicious coronary burger looks like a liver fluked snail? If your blog was current I'd poke fun at you on it. :P

Heather said...

Oh shit, you snuck in all quick-like, syd! I know, right? Romanesco is scary-looking. Oh, I'd still hit that, but still.

Judy@nofearentertaining said...

Oh crap...is that all??? You had me ready to force vomit everyone in the house???!!!

Yeah it does look weird but it tasted great...probably even tasted better than that snail would and I would much rather see the Romanesco on my counter than the snail!!!

Peter M said...

Ya bunch of Suzies...snails taste far better than Romanesco.

The uggo foods always taste better.

Emily said...

EW! That freaks me out too. It's so perfect...it's creepy.
So bumpy looking.

Heather said...

Judy - Oh god, put away the ipecac! I never met a brassica I didn't like, so I'm sure I would really like eating romanesco. It's just so....liver fluke-y looking.

Peter - who's callin' who a Suzy? I do love ugly things, but if you ever saw this bad acid trip you'd change your mind.

Emiline - doesn't it look like those Magic Eye pictures? I could never see the secret picture no matter how hard I crossed my eyes.

Ben - Hey, I know I'm funny - but looks aren't everything. :P

Nikki @ NikSnacks said...

This is my 1st time looking at your blog. I like it (and you). It's the shit. I'm scared to eat the food you make and blog about. Well...I'm scared to admit I make and eat the food you blog about. :)

Heather said...

Nikki - Don't be afraid of the dark side! Guilty pleasures are the best kind. :)

Anonymous said...

that's a thing we're supposed to eat? really? cuz i'm pretty sure it's supposed to be a succulent in a desert rock garden, and not on my plate.

i read the title of this post as "romesco freaks me out" and i was like, aw, why? romesco is good shit.

glamah16 said...

The snail freaks me out more.Although Romanesco is strang looking. You know what freaks me out more though. Geoducks.

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

Thanks for that, Heather. As in NOT.

Núria said...

I was going to tell you I liked the Romanesco picture... but I continued reading the post and... You have strange brain associations, ok, they might look a bit similar... but that snail thing is ahsshhhghghhghgwwww! Discusting :(
I don't know if I'll be able to eat a romanesco again without viewing that snail and the bugg moving... ahhshhghghhg!

Heather said...

Don't blame me! Blame the liver fluke life cycle charts that are burned into my skull from years of biology classes.

Okay, here's what you can do: pretend Romanesco is a trippy fractal instead. Science can be fun instead of grody!

KristiB said...

OK that snail picture is just gross!! I love your blog btw and have tagged you.
http://theglobalkitchen.blogspot.com/

JoAnn said...

I came to find out what you're so freaked about the romanesco, now I get it. Does look like the snail.
Actually, if you stare at the romanesco long enough, you don't need the acid trip!

Thistlemoon said...

Nature is amazing!

Anonymous said...

I would eat that snail with enough persillade butter on it! It tickles your throat, it's fun!

I heard Romanesco is an ancient vegetable that has been brought back in the spotlight and not an hybrid thingy. Don't ask me, i don't know squak!