Joel Cusumano's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Leaderboard Highlights
Joel Cusumano's activity rankings
1st
1st
Places added to Palermo, Italy
1st
Places edited in Ravenna, Italy
2nd
Places added to Naples, Italy
2nd
Places edited in East Jerusalem, Israel
2nd
Places edited in Sparta, Greece
3rd
Places edited in Naples, Italy
3rd
Places edited in Valladolid, Mexico
4th
Places edited in Pozzuoli, Italy
Herring Under a Fur Coat
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Herring Under a Fur Coat

The most sobering salad of the Russian Civil War.
Gastro Obscura
Jagua
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Jagua

This fruit makes tattoos, antibiotics, and dessert.
Gastro Obscura
Caciocavallo of the Migrant
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Caciocavallo of the Migrant

To circumvent a meat ban, Italian immigrants hid their soppressata in balls of cheese.
Gastro Obscura
Ñachi
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Ñachi

This Chilean dish turns fresh blood into savory jelly.
Gastro Obscura
Paan
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Paan

This chewable Indian digestive soothes stomachs, freshens breath, and might give you cancer.
Gastro Obscura
Funeral Potatoes
Gastro Obscura
Story

Funeral Potatoes

A casserole of cheesy, corn flake–topped tubers offers comfort to Mormons in mourning.
Gastro Obscura
Bird's Nest Soup
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Bird's Nest Soup

It's expensive, it's gelatinous, it's made from swiftlet spit.
Gastro Obscura
Lampreia de Ovos
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Lampreia de Ovos

With this egg-based Christmas dessert, Portuguese pastelarias celebrate a bloodsucking fish.
Gastro Obscura
Pan de Jamón
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Pan de Jamón

In Venezuela, traditional Christmas bread marries ham, raisins, and olives.
Gastro Obscura
Alheira
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Alheira

This sausage saved Jews' lives in Inquisition-era Portugal.
Gastro Obscura
Kransekake
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Kransekake

For special occasions, Norwegians stack 18 rings of cake into a tower.
Gastro Obscura
Engkala
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Engkala

This creamy, bright pink fruit is known as the "Borneo avocado."
Gastro Obscura
Kholodets
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Kholodets

Savory meat jelly with a dollop of spicy mustard is a customary New Year's dish in Russia.
Gastro Obscura
Cougnou
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Cougnou

This Christmas bread is formed in the shape of the baby Jesus.
Gastro Obscura
Christmas Risengrød
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Christmas Risengrød

This Danish rice pudding appeases wicked elves.
Gastro Obscura
Dragon's Beard Candy
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Dragon's Beard Candy

The ancient confection consists of wispy sugar-strands that look like dragon whiskers.
Gastro Obscura
Chicken of the Woods
Gastro Obscura
Story
Ingredients & Condiments

Chicken of the Woods

This mushroom tastes just like chicken.
Gastro Obscura
Blood Pancakes
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Blood Pancakes

Scandinavians use blood to make dense, dark, savory flapjacks.
Gastro Obscura
Guatita
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Guatita

The Ecuadorian cure for a hangover is beef tripe stew.
Gastro Obscura
Stinking Toe Fruit
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Stinking Toe Fruit

If you can get past the foot odor, its pulp is great in smoothies.
Gastro Obscura
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
Gastro Obscura
Story

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

The birthplace of coffee celebrates community with a sensory feast.
Gastro Obscura
Paiche
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Paiche

This 400-pound fish has fed Amazon tribes for millennia.
Gastro Obscura
Churo Snails
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Churo Snails

Lima chefs love to experiment with this large Amazon river dweller.
Gastro Obscura
Croquembouche
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Croquembouche

This French wedding cake is a caramel-wrapped tower of pastry balls.
Gastro Obscura