I don't remember where I first saw this, but it's been bugging me for years.

The challenge is to find three ingredients that, when any 2 are combined, taste good, but when all 3 are combined, taste bad. In other words, A + B, A + C, and B + C are all good, but A + B + C is not.

Obviously this is a subjective question, so to make it clearer, generally, two ingredients are considered to "taste good" together if there is an established recipe which contains both of them, preferably as the emphasis of the dish. However, personal experiences are OK too. (For example, I like to eat bananas wrapped in American cheese, but I can't think of a "real" dish which contains both of those ingredients.)

Personally, I've never been able to come up with a good answer.

Hmm... this one is tough! I will REALLY think this one over.

Hmmm...


pineapple + fried ice cream (yum!)
cream + pineapple (yum!)
cream + fried ice-cream (yum!)

Now... their combination... *not* good!

Or you may replace pineapple by durian, then everything is bad!!!
(even the one that does't have it as ingredient - because of the smell)




Pantazis

Pantazis, I think the addition of Durian to the challenge can be considered cheating

This is a really interesting question. I would imagine with spice blends I could come up with something. I will think this through and post back. I have a feeling it may involve chili...

-d

It is indeed a great puzzle. This one bothered George W. Hart for years... Until the puzzle was aired on the WNYC radio show in New York...

Spoiler alert! Click at your own risk: link 1, link 2, link 3.

Skarabajo.

Why is it bad to have all three? I don't get it. It sounds delicious to me!

Alcohol + sleeping pills + painkillers?

OK, that's not funny.

I think I came up with something. Chocolate, Orange and Chili pepper. They have those chocolate oranges. Chocolate and chili make a mole sauce and orange chili seasoning is good on fish. I wouldn't want to mix all three though.

-d

I think I'd rather enjoy that. Will remember to pick up both the chili chocolate and chocolate orange next time I'm shopping.

Totilla, cream cheese, and beef.

Tortilla and cream cheese make a wrap.

Tortilla and beef make a burrito.

Cream cheese and beef make a...

I have no idea. This is a cool puzzle.

Edt: I don't like the correct answers. If someone doesn't find a better solution, I'm taking back my opinion that this is a cool puzzle.

I've had what's called "meatcake" that my friend's mom makes. It's basically cream cheese and meat, and you eat it on tortilla chips. One of the best party foods I've ever had.

LOL because it is like a Greek salad, which is not really a Greek salad,
but something much worse!!!

Or maybe it is the durian, which by just mentioning it (!) has its smell spread around
this topic. We need to act fast, or else the entire forum will soon smell like durian!!!




Pantazis

I think I might actually know the answer to this riddle...

Fruit + Nuts = Good snack
Nuts + Cake = Good cake when made right
Cake + Fruit = Good cake when made right

Fruit + Nuts + Cake = Nasty Holiday Brick

I have a relative who makes a fruit cake with sliced nuts on top.

-Mark-

You've obviously never had the good homemade stuff!

This is an interesting question. It seems to me that the three foods would have to all work together well, but they have to be distinct enough to be "too much" once combined all together...

I can't think of anything off hand, but I have to say that the fruitcake example made me laugh.

I think I have found the secret to this puzzle . . . . . ricotta cheese!

For those of you who don't know, ricotta is an Italian sweet cheese. Now, on to business:

Cherry Tomatoes + Ricotta = Lasagna filling
Ricotta + Unsweetened Choclate= Italian dessert
Unsweetened Chocolate + Cherry tomatoes = Mayan dessert

All three taste like ass, though.