A classic British dish has been called one of the ‘worst rated’ dishes in the world.
Travel guide FlavorAtlas has compiled a list of the 100 meals readers liked least, with results from around the world based on nearly 600,000 reviews.
In last place were ‘blodpalt’ dumplings from Finland, which received only 1.6 out of five stars.
The dumplings, which are associated with northern Sweden and Finland, are made from rye or barley flour mixed with animal blood.
But a British classic was also on the list and was officially declared the fifth worst dish of all time.
East London’s traditional jellied eel scored just 2.1 stars, with foodies turned off by its unusual texture.
Dating back to the 18th century, Cockney street food was a cheap and easy way to prepare a meal – and eel was one of the few fish species at the time that could survive the heavy pollution of the River Thames.
The eel is coated with gelatin, cloves, vinegar, white pepper and salt and is still readily available in many pie and mash shops.
Classic jellied eel from Britain has been named as one of the worst dishes in the world
In second place was the Spanish bocadillo de sardinas, with a score of 1.9.
Although it seems innocent at first glance (it’s just a sandwich), it is filled with canned sardines, possibly combined with peppers, tomatoes, coriander, boiled eggs, mayonnaise and yogurt sauce.
In third place was another Swedish offering, the very high-calorie Calskrove – a calzone pizza filled with burgers and fries.
Spaniard Angulas a la cazuela from the Basque Country finished in fourth place.
Readers were clearly not fans of eel or fish, as the traditional dish is made with angulas (baby eel), garlic, pepper flakes, olive oil and salt.
The rest of the top ten included New York City’s ramen burger, Chapelele (a Chilean bread), faves a la Catalana (beans cooked with sausage), Thorramatur (meat and fish from Iceland, including shark) and Thai sour curry with fish innards.
The rankings were based on the opinions of TasteAtlas’ audience, but the website emphasizes that they should not be seen as “the final global conclusion on food.”
Their website states: ‘Their aim is to promote excellent local food, inspire pride in traditional dishes and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried yet.’
In last place were ‘blodpalt’ dumplings from Finland, which received only 1.6 out of five stars
The rest of the top 10 included the ramen burger from New York City
Thorramatur (a selection of meat and fish from Iceland, including shark) was also on the list
Baby conger eel oven baked in olive oil, served in terracotta dish
Chapelele (a Chilean bread) was in the top 10 worst dishes in the world
People were quick to voice their opinions on the list and were divided on the jellied eel.
They wrote: ‘A list where British ‘cuisine’ can finally have its moment of glory’;
‘I had jellied eels in London a few months ago and I really liked them’;
‘Just one English meal?’;
‘I tried jellied eel and it was the worst thing I’ve ever tried, worse than insects’;
“I don’t know what you mean, it all looks delicious.”
Last month, TasteAtlas unveiled their 100 Best Foods in the World, based on 335,106 reviews for 11,258 dishes in its database.
People were quick to voice their opinions on the list and were divided on the jellied eel
Southern Thai food (Kaeng Tai Pla) – a sour soup consisting of fish organs with vegetables
In second place was the Spanish bocadillo de sardinas, with a score of 1.9
East London’s traditional jellied eel scored just 2.1 stars, with foodies turned off by its unusual texture
But it was bad news for Britain as the roundup did not include British meals, but traditional creations from Germany, America, France, Brazil and Italy, among others.
Taking first place was lechona, a traditional Colombian dish consisting of a whole roasted pig stuffed with various ingredients, such as onions, peas, fresh herbs and spices.
The meal, which is rated 4.78 out of five on the website, is often cooked for celebrations, as one lechona can sometimes make 100 or more servings.
But tourists can also discover the Colombian delicacy in some restaurants in larger cities, according to the guide.
In second place was the Neapolitan pizza. Traditionally, the Italian dish has a relatively thin crust, with the exception of the rim, which puffs up like a small bicycle tire when baked.
It is rigorously made in a wood-fired brick oven and has two classic versions: Marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano and oil) and, the most famous, Margherita (tomato, mozzarella, oil and basil).
According to tradition, Margherita pizza was created in 1889 by a local chef in honor of the Italian Queen Margherita, who was visiting the city. It has the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag.
Picanha, meanwhile, occupies third place, with the Brazilian dish referring to a fresh piece of beef from a specific part of the animal that is often grilled.
From Neapolitan pizza to panang curry, TasteAtlas unveiled its annual roundup of the top-rated foods. First came lechona (photo), a traditional Colombian dish
In second place was the Neapolitan pizza. Traditionally, the Italian dish has a relatively thin crust, except for the edge, which puffs up like a small bicycle tire when baked (stock photo)
In tenth place was tibs – a popular Ethiopian dish of stir-fried meat and vegetables in a flavorful sauce (stock photo)
The guide then presented Rechta, a traditional Algerian dish of flat, fresh noodles served with a savory chicken sauce. It is often served at weddings because it is a festive dish.
In fifth place was a Thai panang curry, which often consists of beef, chicken, duck or pork, served without adding vegetables in the sauce.
While many Thai curries are quite brothy, panang is more of an unassuming sauce that is rich, sweet, salty and nutty with a hint of spice from cumin, coriander and nutmeg.
An asado took sixth place in the guide, with the title referring to a cooking technique and social event in a number of South American countries.
Said to be similar to a barbecue, it is an occasion attended by loved ones and the meats of beef, pork, chicken and chorizo are cooked outdoors on a special stone grill called a parrilla.
Çökertme kebabı – a traditional Turkish kebab consisting of marinated strips of veal, fried potatoes, tomato sauce and yoghurt – took seventh place in the ultimate guide.
Meanwhile, eighth place went to rawon, an Indonesian beef soup known for its dark color due to the spices used.
Ninth place went to Cağ kebabı, a traditional dish said to have its origins in Erzurum province, Turkey.
Lamb is marinated in an onion mixture for at least 24 hours and then piled onto a skewer and grilled over an open fire to prepare the delicious meal.
In tenth place was tibs – a popular Ethiopian dish of stir-fried meat and vegetables in a flavorful sauce.