In The Real Housewives of Orange County episode “An Unexpected Thaw,” the ladies travel to Iceland. They hike glaciers, wear Nordic hats with horns, and throw restaurant menus at each other. (It’s Lydia McLaughlin who tosses a menu across the table at Tamara Judge who says she was just trying to apologize.)
But the real dramatic scene takes place outdoors with a native Icelander who teaches the women about the traditional Icelandic pairing of fermented shark and shots of Black Death (Brennivín*). He serves small pieces of fermented shark to the American ladies and explains: “You put it in your mouth. When you can’t stand it anymore, you swallow it with Black Death.” Peggy Sulahian is the first to gag. Kelly Dodd and Vicki Gunvalson follow. They’re not the only Americans to have complained about the so-called shark delicacy. Anthony Bourdain once said it was “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing” he’s ever eaten. The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Mondays at 9pm on Bravo.
* Brennivín is an unsweetened schnapps made out of potato mash and herbs native to Iceland
