OK, so I am no Bourdain but, do share some of his same attitudes.
I was in Venice this summer on my honeymoon. We were strolling up and down the alleys looking for a descent non tourista restaurant.
We finally found one. We go in and order - I wanted the mix of Adriatic fish. I figured go with the local fish market like Tony might. Well no mix - all sold out. So, I pick the next thing another fish dish.. cuttle-fish. We have our bruchetta, mozzarella and some vino.. then dinner...
This BIG BLACK GOB of GOO lands in front of me... “what the **$ is this”... I have no idea!!! It looked burned and on top of polenta (which I didn’t know what polenta was but I did ask the waiter about that before I ordered)... I decide well Tony would eat it –right?... So I start.....Bite after bite I try to describe what I am eating to my new wife.. who is grossed out to no end – I smile at her with all the ink in my teeth – she won’t even look at me.
Finally I do finish my meal and the waiter comes... I have to ask him what in the world cuttle-fish is. I thought it was some sort of local fish.... He smiles, starts chuckling and says octopus.. with squid ink... I was like WHAT – I thought it was fish!!.... he started laughing hysterically so was my wife. I was a bit embarrassed but thought is was extremely funny too... the waiter turned and walked with my new wife watching him; with my back to him .....Walking like an Octopus LAUGHING all the way to the wait staff to let them know of the newcomer to cuttle-fish...