In Iceland there are many “exotic” foods. Kevi Kev would be in heaven here with all of the crazy things he could try. Whale, puffin, horse, reindeer and putrid shark. Tonight we snacked on shark bites as an appetizer.

Here are the adjectives we came up with to describe putrid shark:

Smelled like urinal
Tough
Chewy
Full of preservatives
Lingering burn aftertaste
Ammonia-y

This is what Lonely Planet said about the shark:

an animal so inedible that it has to rot away underground for six months before humans can even digest it. Most foreigners find the stench (a cross between ammonia and week-old roadkill) too much to bear, but it actually tastes better than it smells…It’s the aftertaste that really hurts. A shot of brennivin (schnapps) is traditionally administered as an antidote.

I took a couple of chews and then swallowed it whole. I think that helped with the aftertaste because I didn’t notice one. It was pretty disgusting. At least I can say I tried it and I know Kevi Kev would be proud!

The little square bites are the shark!

The little square bites are the shark!