DAILY DIRT: Bon voyage, Cuisine Week, grab a snack on the way out

Daily Dirt for Sunday, June 8, 2025

Somebody grab me a hot fudge sundae, please. And I prefer it minus any wasabi  … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,309 of The Daily Dirt

1. Today we bid adieu to The Daily Dirt’s first Cuisine Week with a look at five of the most popular snacks in the world, outside the U.S.A.

For the record, I have absolutely no interest in trying any of the following:

1. Wasabi ice cream, Japan: Found mostly in Japanese convenience stores, this style of ice cream blends the burning heat of wasabi with the sweetness of soft serve. The first bite is creamy and mild, but within seconds the wasabi kicks in with its nose-burning sensation. Just give me some Dairy Queen.   

2. Ketchup chips, Canada: The Canadians are all in on ketchup-flavored chips, which are dusted with a bright red seasoning that carries the flavor of tangy ketchup, vinegar and salt. Sounds just great, Canada. I’m telling Trump about this.

3. Durian-flavored candies and ice cream, southeast Asia: Despite a pungent smell, durian-flavored sweets are a beloved delicacy in this part of the world. Local stores offer a wide variety of items with durian flavoring, which is described as tasting like cheese, almonds, garlic, and caramel all at once. Ditch the garlic, and I might be interested.

4. Salted egg yoke fish skin chips, Singapore: These chips are crispy fish skins coated in rich, cream egg yoke sauce. They have a creamy umami flavor with a hint of spice from curry leaves and chili. They are now popular across most of Asia. This is the lone entry I might actually give a chance. “Might” is the key word.

5. Fermented soybeans, Japan: The fermented soybeans, called natto, are known for their strong smell and sticky texture. The beans are naturally slimy and have a stringy, stretchy texture due the fermentation process. Nope. Not a chance.

2. Did you know (Part 389)

• That the words “racecar,” “kayak” and “level” are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (PUBLISHER’S NOTE: They’re called “palindromes”, Steve. JRG).
• That there are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
• That there are only four words in the English language that end in “dous”: tremendous, stupendous, horrendous and hazardous.
• That there are no Betty Rubbles in the Flintstones Chewable Vitamins.
• That rubber bands last longer when they are refrigerated.

3. Some of the world’s most notable countries/regions were not always known by their current names. For example:

• Iran was formerly known as Persia.
• Palestine was originally known as Canaan.
• France was formerly known as Gaul.
• Tunisia was once known as Carthage.
• Iraq was formerly known as Babylon.
• India was once called Bharat.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — If you glue a mosquito to your hand, you can slap anyone you want and act like you saved them.

Steve Eighigner writes daily for Muddy River News. He still learns something new every day.