Some people look for race car driving, roller coaster rides, or bungee jumping for thrills. I look to food for an adventure that stimulates and excites my senses. I am simply curious how things taste in hopes it’ll be pleasant and delicious, novel and delectable, or perhaps foreign and unexpected.

Many traditional exotic foods are no longer acceptable fare because they’re animal based, their harvesting is unsustainable, or they are cruelly made, and we are starting to know better, think foie gras or shark fin soup. Hence, we need to look to the plant world for new food excitement.

Already, I have fallen in love with Chicken of the Woods, a foraged early summer tree mushroom with a surprising meaty texture that is very satisfying. Puffball mushrooms pop up from one day to the next in meadows a bit later in the season. Their creamy and dense texture is a surprise and a delight. The big thick gooey tapioca pearls that have made bubble tea a worldwide phenomenon, are fun to catch through a thick straw while sipping the beverage. Smooth and slightly sweetened cashew cream has been a delectable revelation to me, and then of course there is color. Animal products just don’t cut it when it comes to aesthetic appeal. But cut a watermelon radish open, and surprise! While a sliced starfruit will put a smile on anyone’s face.

All these sensations delight me, excite me, make me want to discover new tastes, textures, consistencies, combinations, and possibilities. Let me know if you have made any thrilling vegetarian discoveries.