A delicacy is any food that a specific culture considers rare or especially valuable. Often, these foods seem very strange to people in other cultures, and some foods may be considered a treat in one culture, and may be considered commonplace, or even inedible, in another. They may be rare or difficult to prepare in one culture and easily accessible in another, leading to differing opinions about the food.
There are thousands of delicacies found throughout the world, with most cultures having at least one food that it considers particularly special. These may range from relatively common foods, such as Maine lobster in the United States, to fairly rare ones, such as bird’s nest soup, made from the saliva-based nests of the cave swift.
In many cultures, various parts of an animal may be considered special, even if the animal itself is not. This is often due to the limited amount of that part on the animal, although it may also have to do with the difficulty in preparing it. In Spain, the gizzards of chickens are fried and served as mollejas. In Newfoundland, a popular treat is the fried tongue or cheeks of cod. In Indonesia, people can enjoy deep-fried monkey toes, while in Vietnam, they might even find a restaurant that serves the heart of a snake, while it’s still beating.
People in America often find that insects are a strange delicacy, but in many cultures, in fact, they are actually a staple food. They are usually quite high in protein and various vitamins and minerals, and they are often much easier to hunt than larger game. In Australia, the larva of the cossid moth are eaten either cooked or raw, and are usually called witchetty grubs. In Vietnam, scorpion can be found on some menus. In parts of Africa, grasshoppers are served fried, and other locusts, such as the cicada, are also eaten throughout the world. In Cambodia, tarantulas are served in some locales, and chocolate covered ants can be found in specialty markets throughout the world.
Pretty much every animal is eaten somewhere in the world, and if that animal is rare enough, it may be considered a delicacy. Animals that one country considers sacrosanct, such as cats or dogs, might be considered a treat in another country and served at high-class restaurants. Animals that seem exotic and cute to most Americans, such as kangaroos, might be found at the neighborhood butcher in a country like New Zealand or Australia. Sparrows, sea cucumbers, turtles, snails, octopuses, boar, sea urchins, frogs, horses, and abalone are just some of the everyday animals that wind up as dinner in one culture or another.
Westerners in Africa often get a thrill out of eating local big game, as well, although they may simply be a staple in the diet of locals. Animals like warthogs, zebra, porcupine, and wildebeest are all relatively common. Those that it may require special permits to hunt, or may be outright illegal to kill, sometimes have particular status as food. This might include lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and various primates.
Ultimately, anything can be a delicacy, depending on where a person is. To those who live in Northern California, abalone might be just another seafood they eat with friends when it’s in season. For Japanese, however, it's a very expensive and exclusive dish.
