Restaurants

50 Crazy Fermented Foods, From Tea Leaves to Salmon Tails

Chefs from across the country shared their fermentation experiments with us, and things got funky.
Image may contain Plant Food Fruit Raspberry and Vegetable
Photo by Danny Kim

It’s not just your standard issue sauerkrauts and pickles anymore. Chefs are experimenting with fermenting everything under the sun—turning briny squid into fish sauce, delicate ramp greens into kimchi, and foraged garlic blossoms into salty capers. Take a look at the 50 most bizarre and inspiring ferments at restaurants right now. Then check out the complete list of 178 ferments we gathered from all over the country, featured in our February issue.

  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Bean Sprout and Sprout
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Garlic Scapes

    Shed in Healdsburg, CA

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    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Chow Chow

    Chow chow (vegetable relish) High Street on Market in Philadelphia

  • Image may contain Food Pasta Ravioli Plant Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Shiitake in Its Natural “Soy”

    Shiitake mushrooms fermented in its own juices The Loyalist in Chicago

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    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Pickled Milkweed Buds

    Milkweed (a wild bitter flower) Upton 43 in Minneapolis

  • This image may contain Food Dessert Chocolate Cookie Biscuit Brownie Plant Fudge Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Squid Garum

    Squid garum (fish sauce made from squid) Catbird Seat in Nashville

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    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Carrots

    Vie in Western Springs, IL

  • Image may contain Confectionery Food Sweets Dessert Chocolate and Fudge
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Black Garlic

    Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Plant Vegetable Food and Corn
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Corn on the Cob

    Mission Chinese in NYC

  • Image may contain Confectionery Food and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
    9/51

    Tomato Conserva

    Tomato conserva (preserved in oil and salt) Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Plant Food Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
    10/51

    Hibiscus

    Bar Tartine in San Francisco

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    11/51

    Tea Leaves

    Burma Love in San Francisco

  • Image may contain Food Confectionery Sweets Diaper Dessert Creme Ice Cream Cream Egg Plant Pasta and Ravioli
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Brined Hakurei Radishes

    Catbird Seat in Nashville

  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Plant Bowl Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
    13/51

    Ramp-chi

    Ramp-chi (kimchi made from ramp greens) Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore

  • Image may contain Food Dessert Cream Ice Cream Creme Confectionery Sweets Chocolate Biscuit and Cookie
    Photo by Danny Kim
    14/51

    Seaweed with Carob Root

    Baroo in L.A.

  • Image may contain Plant Food Creme Cream Dessert and Ice Cream
    Photo by Danny Kim
    15/51

    Purple Daikon in Nukazuke

    Purple daikon in nukazuke (fermented grain mash) Emmer & Rye in Austin

  • Image may contain Food Dessert Creme Cream and Chocolate
    Photo by Danny Kim
    16/51

    Dehydrated Black Garlic

    Baroo in L.A.

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    17/51

    Kabocha Squash in Aspergillus Oryzae

    Kabocha squash in Aspergillus oryzae (a mold spore) Emmer & Rye in Austin

  • Image may contain Plant Food Creme Dessert Cream Ice Cream and Produce
    Photo by Danny Kim
    18/51

    Brine Pickled Fries

    Al’s Place in San Francisco

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    19/51

    Pickled Mustard Seeds

    Mission Chinese in NYC

  • Image may contain Food Pasta Pizza Ravioli and Lasagna
    Photo by Danny Kim
    20/51

    Quince Skin Chee

    Quince skin chee (kimchi made from quince fruit skin) Al’s Place in San Francisco

  • Image may contain Plant Food Hot Dog and Vegetable
    Photo by Danny Kim
    21/51

    Ramp Bulbs

    Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore

  • Image may contain Bowl Ice Cream Cream Food Dessert Creme Plant and Curry
    Photo by Danny Kim
    22/51

    Perilla

    Perilla (a plant related to mint and shiso) Momofuku Ko in NYC

  • Image may contain Diaper Food and Pasta
    Photo by Danny Kim
    23/51

    Pine Pollen Honey

    The Loyalist in Chicago

  • Image may contain Food and Dessert
    Photo by Danny Kim
    24/51

    Wasabi Greens and Rhizomes

    Wasabi greens and rhizomes (roots) Bar Tartine in San Francisco

  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Sprout Vegetable and Bean Sprout
    Photo by Danny Kim
    25/51

    Sea Beans

    Sea beans (a succulent sea vegetable) Momofuku Ko in NYC

  • Image may contain Purse Bag Handbag Accessories Accessory Plant Food Seasoning Sesame Vegetable and Produce
    Photo by Danny Kim
    26/51

    Okra Seed "Caviar"

    Okra seeds coated in sticky okra stock Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Confectionery Food and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
    27/51

    Fuki

    Fuki (Japanese rhubarb) Momofuku Ko in NYC

  • Image may contain Food Confectionery Sweets Ice Cream Cream Dessert Creme Chocolate Dish and Meal
    Photo by Danny Kim
    28/51

    Candy Cap Mushrooms

    Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Food Tin Creme Dessert Cream and Ice Cream
    Photo by Danny Kim
    29/51

    Wood Ear Mushroom

    Upton 43 in Minneapolis

  • Image may contain Food Dessert Ice Cream Creme Cream Drink Lemonade and Beverage
    Photo by Danny Kim
    30/51

    Shio Koji Egg Yolk

    Shio Koji Egg Yolk (egg yolk cured with fermented rice paste) The Loyalist in Chicago

  • Image may contain Food Confectionery Sweets Dish Meal Dessert Creme Ice Cream Cream and Bowl
    Photo by Danny Kim
    31/51

    Koji Tallow

    Koji tallow (beef fat cured with ferment rice powder) Mission Chinese in NYC

  • Image may contain Food Dessert Plant Ice Cream Creme and Cream
    Photo by Danny Kim
    32/51

    Beet Cured Salmon Tail

    High Street on Market in Philadelphia

  • Image may contain Ice Cream Creme Cream Food Dessert Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Lardo

    Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Bluefin tuna belly garum Catbird Seat in Nashville
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Bluefin Tuna Belly Garum

    Bluefin tuna belly garum (fish sauce) Catbird Seat in Nashville

  • Image may contain Diaper Food Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
    35/51

    Wild Allium Capers in Whey

    Wild allium capers (foraged "meadow garlic") in whey Emmer & Rye in Austin

  • Image may contain Food Dessert Chocolate Confectionery Sweets Plant Biscuit and Cookie
    Photo by Danny Kim
    36/51

    Black Apples

    Black apples (preserved in the style of black garlic) Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Food Ketchup Plant Produce and Relish
    Photo by Danny Kim
    37/51

    Salmon Roe

    Mission Chinese in NYC

  • Image may contain Plant Fruit Food Produce and Apricot
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Cantaloupe

    Momofuku Ko in NYC

  • Image may contain Food Creme Dessert Cream Ice Cream Breakfast Confectionery and Sweets
    Photo by Danny Kim
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    Koji

    Koji (inoculated rice grains) Catbird Seat in Nashville

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    40/51

    Acorn Miso

    Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Plant Food Nut Vegetable and Almond
    Photo by Danny Kim
    41/51

    Braised Peanuts

    Mission Chinese in NYC

  • Image may contain Plant Fruit Food and Cherry
    Photo by Danny Kim
    42/51

    Umeboshi Plum Cherries

    Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    43/51

    Reduced Whey

    The Loyalist in Chicago

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    44/51

    Green Almonds

    High Street on Market in Philadelphia

  • Image may contain Confectionery Food Sweets Plant Jar and Tin
    Photo by Danny Kim
    45/51

    Ground Cherries

    Upton 43 in Minneapolis

  • Image may contain Food Confectionery Sweets Dessert Pastry Bread and Bun
    Photo by Danny Kim
    46/51

    Black Limes

    Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa

  • Image may contain Diaper Plant and Food
    Photo by Danny Kim
    47/51

    Wild Mustang Grapes in Olive Brine

    Wild mustang grapes (foraged grapes) in olive brine Emmer & Rye in Austin

  • Image may contain Plastic Wrap
    Photo by Danny Kim
    48/51

    Liptauer

    Liptauer (a spicy Hungarian cheese spread) Bar Tartine in San Francisco

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    49/51

    Scallop Bushi

    Scallop bushi (scallops dried in salt and rice) The Dabney in Washington D.C.

  • Image may contain Animal Seafood Food Lobster and Sea Life
    Photo by Danny Kim
    50/51

    Spanish Morcilla Achorizada

    Spanish Morcilla Achorizada (blood sausage) Morcilla in Pittsburgh

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    Photo by Danny Kim
    51/51

    Dehydrated Watermelon

    High Street on Market in Philadelphia