History Main / EatingShoes

* German film director Creator/WernerHerzog once made a wager with his friend, documentarian Creator/ErrolMorris, promising that he would eat his shoe if Morris ever completed his full-length film ''Film/GatesOfHeaven''. When Morris did, Herzog used the wager to raise publicity and dined on the footwear at a local restaurant after the premiere. Another filmmaker, Les Blank, recorded the event for the short film [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ''Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe''.]] If you're wondering, he boiled it with soup stock and garlic first. He didn't eat the sole, saying that "one does not eat the bones of the chicken".

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* In ''VideoGame/TheSims2'', an unlucky fisherman can wind up FishingForSole and actually cook this catch (though no Sim will enjoy eating the results).
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', one of the ambient NPC conversations you can hear around Skyhold involves a [[RichesToRags down-on-his-luck nobleman]] that assumes the conclusion of the Orlesian civil war means a change in fortunes. Later, a female NPC challenges him about his supposed riches, pointing out that he's never bought a round at the tavern and probably never will. He then admits to poverty with the following statement: "Yesterday, I ate a pleated leather shoe."

A subtrope of PovertyFood and PovertyForComedy. Not to be confused with a MarshmallowDream, in which a shoe may be eaten by accident (as shown in the Limerick above).

--->"Now it's ''prawns'' all the bloody time!"

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' episode "Citizen Max", a flashback shows then poor Montana Max and Buster Bunny talking about eating a shoe.
* ''WesternAnimation/PetAlien'': Gumper eats everything, including shoes.
* Tom is shipwrecked in the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' cartoon "His Mouse Friday" and starts eating his shoes and shoelaces. It's worth noting that Tom is generally a BarefootCartoonAnimal even when he's wearing clothes in other shorts and he was specifically given shoes for this episode ''just'' for this gag.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', one of the ambient NPC conversations you can hear around Skyhold involves a down-on-his-luck nobleman that assumes the conclusion of the Orlesian civil war means a change in fortunes. Later, a female NPC challenges him about his supposed riches, pointing out that he's never bought a round at the tavern and probably never will. He then admits to poverty with the statement "Yesterday, I ate a pleated leather shoe."

Out of all the unusual things that someone can eat, shoes tend to be the most popular choice in fiction. Probably because they are the type of clothing one misses the least - [[AllWomenLoveShoes if male]]. Also, they tend to be made of leather (which resembles food the most out anything else you'll ever wear).[[note]]Unless, of course you happen to be Music/LadyGaga. Then it's [[IconicOutfit something else.]][[/note]] TropeMaker is probably Creator/CharlieChaplin, who did it first in his classic ''Film/TheGoldRush'' (1925).

* German film director Creator/WernerHerzog once made a wager with his friend, documentarian Creator/ErrolMorris, promising that he would eat his shoe if Morris ever completed his full-length film ''Film/GatesOfHeaven''. When Morris did, Herzog used the wager to raise publicity and dined on the footwear at a local restaurant after the premiere. Another filmmaker, Les Blank, recorded the event for the short film [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ''Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe''.]] If you're wondering, he boiled it with soup stock and garlic first. He didn't eat the sole, saying that "one does not eat the bones of the chicken".

* Dogs chewing on shoes is TruthInTelevision, of course.

** In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'' the manager of the restaurant in Ankh-Morpork, a former chef, is able to make meals out of mud and old boots (after Death steals his food stocks to feed the beggars -- and replacing it with the beggars' own "food") by a combination of skill and "headology" (people will eat anything in a fancy restaurant if the menu is in French... er, Quirmian). In ''Nanny Ogg's Cookbook'' it's noted that mud and old boots-based cuisine eventually caught on across the city's posh restaurants.
** Also, you don't carry [[IndestructibleEdible Dwarf Bread]] to eat. You carry it so that your shoes taste better by comparison. And if you've run out of those, your own feet.

* Tom is shipwrecked in the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' cartoon "His Mouse Friday" and starts eating his shoes and shoelaces.

A subtrope of PovertyFood. Not to be confused with a MarshmallowDream, in which a shoe may be eaten by accident (as shown in the Limerick above).

-->'''Ling''': ({{Beat}}) You don't have Athletes Foot, do you? \\

** In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'' the manager of the restaurant in Ankh-Morpork, a former chef, is able to make meals out of mud and old boots (after Death steals his food stocks to feed the beggars) by a combination of skill and "headology" (people will eat anything in a fancy restaurant if the menu is in French... er, Quirmian). In ''Nanny Ogg's Cookbook'' it's noted that mud and old boots-based cuisine eventually caught on across the city's posh restaurants.

* In ''TheMilagroBeanfieldWar'', Joe remarks about how he and his family are "tired of eating stewed tennis shoes instead of meat".

-->'''Ling''': ({{Beat}}) You don't have Athletes Foot, do you?
-->'''Ed''': MY FOOT IS [[ArtificialLimbs MADE OF METAL]] YOU IDIOT!!

* In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'' the manager of the restaurant in Ankh-Morpork, a former chef, is able to make meals out of mud and old boots (after Death steals his food stocks to feed the beggars) by a combination of skill and 'headology' (people will eat anything in a fancy restaurant if the menu is in French... Er, Quirmian). In ''Nanny Ogg's Cookbook'' it's noted that mud and old boots-based cuisine eventually caught on across the city's posh restaurants.

** One of the wizards mentioned having to eat boots in desperation when, as a student, he and some classmates undertook an expedition to find the UU Library's legendary Lost Reading Room. They didn't find it, but they ''did'' find the remains of the previous year's expedition ... and ate ''their'' boots, too.
* In ''TheMilagroBeanfieldWar'', Joe remarks about how he and his family are "tired of eating stewed tennis shoes instead of meat."

--> ''Eat your shoes''
--> ''Don't forget the strings''
--> ''And socks''
--> ''Even eat the box''
--> ''You've bought 'em in''
--> ''You can eat the truck''
--> ''That brought 'em in''

* In ''VideoGame/TheSims2'', an unlucky fisherman can wind up FishingForSole, and actually cook with it (though no Sim will enjoy eating the results.)

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' episode "Citizen Max," a flashback shows then poor Montana Max and Buster Bunny talking about eating a shoe.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In one scene in "Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes?" Herb Powell is talking to his fellow beggars sitting around a fire. One of them is Charlie Chaplin eating his own shoe.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' episode "[[Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS1E15SleepyTimeSuds Sleepy Time Suds]]", Gary recites a limerick to Spongebob with this as the punchline in Gary's dream. [[ItMakesSenseInContext Long story.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/YogiBear'' at one point when stuck in a cabin in a blizzard, attempted to serve up a pair of old boots for himself, Boo-boo and Ranger Smith as "Chicken Noodle Shoe" and "Fillet of Sole". When neither turned out palatable, he munched down on Ranger Smith's hat.

* The usual sorts of leather that are used to make shoes are actually perfectly edible, if not exactly palatable — the only problem is that to be water resistant and durable, the leather is generally tanned, which often makes it indigestible, if not outright toxic. Rawhide, however, which is tanned using animal grease, remains digestible even after treatment, so in the case of severe hunger [[ReducedToRatburgers rawhide items can be boiled and eaten]], or even nibbled as is. There are many well-documented cases of starving humans surviving on rawhide before getting help.
* German film director Creator/WernerHerzog once made a wager with his friend, documentarian Creator/ErrolMorris, promising that he would eat his shoe if Morris ever completed his full-length film ''Film/GatesOfHeaven''. When Morris did, Herzog used the wager to raise publicity and dined on the footwear at a local restaurant after the premiere. Another filmmaker, Les Blank, recorded the event for the short film [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ''Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe''.]]
** If you're wondering, he boiled it with soup stock and garlic first. He didn't eat the sole, saying "One does not eat the bones of the chicken."
* These two women in New York went shopping during a blizzard. This led to them somehow getting trapped inside their car from the snow. Fortunately, they just went shopping. Unfortunately, it was light shopping, as they spent most of the time buying some boots for the winter season. They were stuck in there for about two days and they ran out of food at some point. So, as a last resort they had to eat the leather from the boots they bought.
** Fortunately, they were able to live long enough through melted snow they were just barely able to get, so, they're still alive.

Out of all the unusual things that someone can eat, shoes tend to be the most popular choice in fiction. Probably because they are the type of clothing one misses the least - [[AllWomenLoveShoes if male]]. Also, they tend to be made of leather (which resembles food the most out anything else you'll ever wear).[[note]]Unless, of course you happen to be Music/LadyGaga. Then it's [[IconicOutfit something else.]][[/note]] TropeMaker is probably Creator/CharlieChaplin, who did it first in his classic ''Film/TheGoldRush'' (1925). A subtrope of PovertyFood.

Not to be confused with a MarshmallowDream, in which a shoe may be eaten by accident (as shown in the Limerick above).

Out of all the unusual things that someone can eat, shoes tend to be the most popular choice in fiction. Probably because they are the type of clothing one misses the least - [[AllWomenLoveShoes if male]]. (It is no accident that the vast majority of last-resort shoe-eaters below are male). Also, they tend to be made of leather (which resembles food the most out anything else you'll ever wear).[[note]]Unless, of course you happen to be Music/LadyGaga. Then it's [[IconicOutfit something else.]][[/note]] TropeMaker is probably Creator/CharlieChaplin, who did it first in his classic ''Film/TheGoldRush'' (1925). A subtrope of PovertyFood.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' episode "[[Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS1E15SleepyTimeSuds Sleepy Time Suds]]", Gary recites a limerick to Spongebob with this as the punchline in Gary's dream. Long story.

Not to be confused with a MarshmallowDream, in which a shoe may be eaten by accident(as shown in the Limerick above).

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', protagonist Edward Elric, at one point, boils a leather shoe for Prince Ling Yao to eat: "When I become the Emperor of Xing, I will have you recorded in the history books as 'the man who fed a shoe to the Emperor.'"

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' episode "Recap/SpongebobSquarepantsS1E15SleepyTimeSuds", Gary recites a limerick to Spongebob with this as the punchline in Gary's dream. Long story.

* German film director Creator/WernerHerzog once made a wager with his friend, documentarian Creator/ErrolMorris, promising that he would eat his shoe if Morris ever completed his full-length film ''GatesOfHeaven''. When Morris did, Herzog used the wager to raise publicity and dined on the footwear at a local restaurant after the premiere. Another filmmaker, Les Blank, recorded the event for the short film [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ''Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe''.]]