For the gastronomically adventurous, there’s a world of quirky meals out there, waiting to be devoured. Whether you prefer to walk off the beaten path in your quest for exciting, native meals, or enjoy frequenting high end spots offering delicacies, the choice is truly endless. The Eccentric Gastronomist takes a look at the most exotic, outrageous, extravagant and sometimes questionable meals on offer. Join us as we take you around the world, one wacky plate at a time.

DEEP FRIED BUTTER

United States

Nothing gets us more excited than heart attack inducing grub swathed in oil and raking in the calories. Well… not really. Especially the dripping in oil part, because honestly, that’s just gross, but who are we to say no to fried food? How could we resist the allure of that perfectly fried piece of chicken beckoning us? Or the deep fried butter? Wait, did we say deep fried BUTTER? Yes, we did. While all fried food is typically mouthwatering, this  somewhat questionable ingredient will likely stop us in our tracks.

So how did deep fried butter come to be? Who woke up one morning and decided, “hey, why don’t I deep fry… butter!”? That honour goes to Abel Gonzalez Jr. of Dallas, Texas who also holds the esteemed, proffered-to-him-with-love title “Fried Jesus”. It was first served at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas way back in 2009, while also being awarded the Most Creative Food prize. Abel prepared it using frozen, battered butter that was eventually fried.
This now popular snack food is found at state fairs in the country, especially in the mid west. 

The butter is still prepared similarly to its original recipe - the butter is coated with a batter or breading and is then deep fried. According to makers of this artery clogging “snack”, the butter is said to melt into the mix when fried, and can be prepared using whipped butter which is less dense than your standard butter. By now, you’re probably wondering what it tastes like. Obviously, the flavour is significantly buttery and has been compared to French toast. It’s also been described as tasting like the “most buttery bread you’ve ever eaten”. Yum? Not surprisingly, it makes for messy eating, when you sink your teeth into the fried butter, the liquified butter inside will most certainly ooze onto your face and fingers. 

The deep fried butter seems to have caught on so much that celebrity chef Paula Deen had even published a recipe for fried butter balls. Her version of the recipe uses a blend of cream cheese and butter that is frozen, coated, frozen again, and then deep-fried. It is at state fairs though, that the deep fried butter has been reinvented. From being dipped in a honey and cinnamon flavoured batter and topped with a confectioner’s sugar glaze to being served on sticks, fans of the deep fried butter have seen it take on numerous variations and forms. The snack eventually crossed borders and can now be found in Canada, and in Europe. In Edinburgh, Scotland, a pub serves these beauties referred to as “Braveheart Butter Bombs” that comprises deep-fried butter served with ice cream infused with Irn Bru soda and coulis.

Anyone fancy a heart attack on a stick?