This is kind of funny, in a really dark way, but I've always found it hilarious that some people can easily develop food or restaurant phobias because of a little upset stomache after eating a new food or at a new restaurant.

With IBS, any change in my eating habits - or sometimes for no reason at all - I can have intense stomache-cramping diarrhea (TMI, but there is a point). But I've had friends say "I'll never eat there (or that) again, I was in the bathroom all night," and I'm thinking heck that ALWAYS happens to me, if I avoided every food and place that preceded my tummy issues there wouldn't be a food on the planet I could eat.

So, when you're not even deterred by intense stomache complaints - what can put you off your feed? (I can tell you, for me almost nothing).

Thanks Dagmar! I tried two local Asian Markets with no luck when looking for them the other day. I did end up with a jack fruit as a consolation prize, offered by a friendly clerk. Haven't tried it yet.

When I head to a nearby larger city later this week I'm going to check out the king of all Asian markets there - if they don't have it no one in my area will. Ah, joys of the Midwest and a girl seeking durian!

The flavor and smell description is what hooked me. Sounds so curiously, yummily, fascinatingly, grossly good. Rotting meat smell, tapioca and onion taste in a disturbing looking fruit? Yeah, I want that. Call me Oscar the Grouch!

kaplods - The entire 2 weeks I spent in China, my stomach had 'issues' and so did my husband. It doesn't stop me from wanting to go back although a few days it did stop me from eating much. I think it was mostly the different spices but could've been anything including the water. It wasn't intense but just constant.

The only restaurant that I get "stomach issues" from is California Pizza Kitchen. Seriously? DH and I went once and we both got sick. Several months later my sister and her husband took us there for dinner and all four of us ended up sick. We've never eaten there again and I refuse to buy their frozen pizza. But I guess that's probably a good thing to stay away from anyway!!

Speaking of durian - check out Youtube, there are some hilarious durian videos (and you'll get to see what it looks like).

I've seen durian in IL and WI in asian markets, but not year-round. I checked online and the durian "season" in Thailand is April through May and in Malaysia June through August. I don't know if the fruit is available year-round through other importers or if you'll just have to wait for spring/summer.

Oh YES! Thanks Kaplods, for feeding my new fascination! I live in sorta Southern IL - I have a good feeling I'll find it in St. Lou this week.

As frightened as I am by durian, I'm not sure that it would turn me off. I used to be turned off by stinky cheeses, and now the aroma smells good because I associate it with the good taste of the stinky cheese (not that I want stinky cheese scented cologne or air freshener).

I'm almost afraid that durian would be the turning point at which no food would be safe (well, except maybe the high-end uber-fermented stinky tofu).

I am just laughing here about all our food likes/dislikes/hangups. Sometimes it's about the texture, other times about the taste or smell or associations. I was thinking about my DH who won't eat avocados because of the texture, or refried beans because of the look of them. He will however stir up the most revolting looking (to me) concoctions with yogurt and all kinds of stuff from the fridge, and eat it happily.

My sister wouldn't drink any kind of carbonated beverage, until she got old enough to try beer. She still lets that get kind of flat though....

This reminds me of my first visit to Krispie Kreme. My sister took us there for a treat--we had never been to one. My son was about four. We stood in line and watched them come off of the conveyor belt and the worker gave one each to my son and daughter. They graciously took them and of course my daughter dove right into hers. My son waited until the worker turned her back and he handed it to me saying "I don't like these." I told him our "rule"--you can't decide you don't like something until you take a bite (and everyone knows that a warm, right out of the oven, Krispie Kreme tastes like heaven). Well, long story short, that doughnut disappeared quickly and he immediately asked for more!

PS, sorry about the food porn!

Oh one thing I don't like is donuts.... go figure. And I didn't even like pizza until a few years ago which is funny since all events in college seemed to include pizza and I was always disappointed. Of course its not just any pizza I like, I only like certain kinds. I'm still convinced that I would've detested the pizza they offered in college.

I "get" to eat a doughnut about once every two years. I guess that's ok.

I hate potato chips of all flavors. But I'll still eat them from time to time. That's not ok.

I won't say I don't like donuts (especially warm Krispy Kreme), but it's the only food item that I believe my lack of appreciation for is due to the foods effect on me.

For as long as I can remember, even as a kid, whenever I would eat sweet foods for breakfast I'd feel queasy and yucky afterward. So I've never been a huge fan of foods like donuts, pop-tarts, pancakes, waffles...

My husband's favorite restaurant serves breakfast all day and they make wonderful pancakes. I had a bite of my husband's and I was so surprised that it was so good. I still can't eat a meal that high in carbs without feeling horrible, but every once in a while I would get one pancake with warm (real) maple syrup as dessert.

I'm with you kaplods. I can't do sweet stuff for breakfast. It makes me feel really icky.

However. A fresh, hot, Krispy Kreme (or Kracky Kreme as Chris Rock calls 'em) doughnut ... right out of the glazing machine ... mouth orgasm on a plate.

I don't like them otherwise. But when they're so hot they burn your fingers just a little ... mmmmmm.

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I don't do sweet for breakfast either. Cheesy, bready, savory, spicy, yes. Save the sweet stuff for afterward dinner (if I still have room). The only thing that I do like that is close to sweet is a good cheese danish or Mimi's Stuffed French Toast (only one slice).

Funny how tastes change too, especially on a weight loss journey. Sweets were never my favorite thing over savory stuff, but I loved Zero candy bars. They're white chocolate over a caramel, dark noughat and almond filling. I never understood why no one else I knew liked them (and some even called them "disgusting").

They were always hard to find, and I can't tell you how amazing I thought they were. So, recently I saw a zero bar, and before even thinking I bought it. Took a bite, and finally realized what everyone else had been saying. It was the nastiest, most vile thing. Uber sweet and greasy, with the taste of oil and sugar overpowering the taste of anything else. I remember clearly the taste I remembered, and this was just NOT it.

But a lot of foods taste different to me now. It's as if my tastebuds have been fine tuned, so what I used to perceive as a delicate whisper is now a blaring fog horn.