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Author Topic:   Brain is Food, but what isn't?
Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 31 of 59 (271706)
12-22-2005 11:53 AM
Reply to: Message 30 by FliesOnly
12-22-2005 11:38 AM


I have also tried testicles (from bulls) and at a Christmas Party a few years back, we had boiled muskrat (it wasn't bad, I must admit).
Descriptors please. What was the experience like, and how would you describe the taste, smell, texture of the items?
Are these things you would eat again?

holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 30 by FliesOnly, posted 12-22-2005 11:38 AM FliesOnly has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 35 by Coragyps, posted 12-22-2005 12:59 PM Silent H has replied
 Message 37 by FliesOnly, posted 12-22-2005 2:10 PM Silent H has replied

  
nator
Member (Idle past 2169 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 32 of 59 (271712)
12-22-2005 12:33 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Silent H
12-20-2005 6:19 AM


A college classmate of my husband's once gave him, as a joke, a can of sheep's brains in milk gravy.
A southern boy, he was, I believe.
I've never eaten brains but I would in Paris or someplace else where organ meats are celebrated and they know how to make them good.
From what I know, brains are delicate in flavor and texture and can be easily overcooked.
Some things I've eaten that would be considered unusual by many people in the US:
strips of fried pig's ears
raw fish, fish eggs, and shellfish of all sorts, including octopus
calf's kidneys
candied whole tiny fish
bugs
This message has been edited by schrafinator, 12-22-2005 12:38 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Silent H, posted 12-20-2005 6:19 AM Silent H has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 33 by Silent H, posted 12-22-2005 12:53 PM nator has not replied
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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 33 of 59 (271717)
12-22-2005 12:53 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by nator
12-22-2005 12:33 PM


brains are delicate in flavor
Have an idea what kind of flavor? As I said since I read it is supposed to be mainly fat I kind of got the idea it might be sweetish (like many fats).
bugs
What kind and how was it?

holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

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Omnivorous
Member
Posts: 3978
From: Adirondackia
Joined: 07-21-2005
Member Rating: 7.3


Message 34 of 59 (271718)
12-22-2005 12:54 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by nator
12-22-2005 12:33 PM


schrafinator writes:
candied whole tiny fish
That's just wrong.
bugs
On purpose?

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Coragyps
Member (Idle past 734 days)
Posts: 5553
From: Snyder, Texas, USA
Joined: 11-12-2002


Message 35 of 59 (271719)
12-22-2005 12:59 PM
Reply to: Message 31 by Silent H
12-22-2005 11:53 AM


Mountain oysters = calf fries = young bull nads when sliced and fried in the Oklahoma/Texas style have just a very rich meaty flavor and a tender/crispy meaty texture. They need to be fresh out of the Fry Daddy, I would think, or they'd taste "greasy." I wouldn't try them boiled on a fifty-dollar bet, and I don't think I could eat them if I had to slice them up first. (Beer in abundance might help...)
I'm working up the courage to try tripas, which apparently is cow udder. Various other Mexican meat by-products, like chicharrones and menudo, can be pretty tasty if you know and trust the cook. Barbacoa, or the meat scraped off a cow head, is one of Nature's six most devine meals, except that I have to take extra Lipitor for my cholesterol if I even think about eating it too much.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 31 by Silent H, posted 12-22-2005 11:53 AM Silent H has replied

Replies to this message:
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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 36 of 59 (271723)
12-22-2005 1:06 PM
Reply to: Message 35 by Coragyps
12-22-2005 12:59 PM


Okay testicles, maybe, but...
menudo, can be pretty tasty if you know and trust the cook
... who'd want to eat a boy band?
Seriously, thanks for the vivid description.

holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 35 by Coragyps, posted 12-22-2005 12:59 PM Coragyps has not replied

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FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4144 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 37 of 59 (271745)
12-22-2005 2:10 PM
Reply to: Message 31 by Silent H
12-22-2005 11:53 AM


Holmes writes:
Descriptors please. What was the experience like, and how would you describe the taste, smell, texture of the items?
Hmmm, descriptions. Well let's see, as for the testicles...they were sliced and then fried I believe. The texture, as I remember was like something from a lesser cut of meat, say a shoulder roast or similar cuts. Not too chewy by any means, but since they were sliced rather thin (1/4 - 1/3 inch or so), that may have been the reason. Flavor wise...ummm...that's a bit tougher. I knew what they were and therefore had a prejudiced attitude and assumed that I was not going to like the taste. That turned out not to be that case however, but again, that may have been due to what they where fried in and with (which I do not know).
Maybe this helps . when I first saw them, I thought that they were sliced and breaded mushrooms. We actually told a couple people that that’s what they were. These individuals only seemed revolted AFTER they ate them and we informed them what they truly were. In other words, while they were still under the notion that they had just eaten a mushroom, they were ok with it. All-in-all, I would not describe the flavor as “bad” and I certainly would not avoid eating them again. That is to say, while I won't necessarily go looking for them, I won’t avoid them either.
Boiled muskrat is most similar in taste to squirrel. I like squirrel, which has a velvety smooth texture and a soft, non-gaming flavor (as opposed to rabbit, which always seemed to smell terrible when I cleaned them (kind of like a stale sock)) and always had a more pungent taste. But I digress...back to the muskrat. I imagine that the primary reason it was not tough and chewy was that it had been boiled in salt water for a relatively long period of time (here's an interesting side note...on a bet, my boss (at that time) drank quite a bit of the water in which this rodent had been boiling for a couple hours. But keep in mind that this was also the same guy that once drank an full pitcher of beer into which we had added salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, and the contents of an ashtray, minus only the actual butts)). They are a bit fatty (not too surprising), and wild game fat is not as tasty as domesticated animals. Actually, it's quite bad. We added no spices, herbs, or anything other than salt to the water cuz we really wanted to get a true taste of the meat. I really have nothing to compare it to, other than its similarity to the squirrel, as I’ve already mentioned.
In summary, if given a choice between Bull testicles and muskrat . I’d choose the testicles . but just barely.
Remember though, we’re a wild game kinda family (my wife and I). In addition to the already mentioned stuff, I’ve also had wild pheasant, dove, quail, grouse, woodcock, duck, goose, and turkey. Plus, I’ve had moose, elk, caribou, bear, alligator, pronghorn, and boar. Wild . not the stuff you get in restaurants (well, except for the alligator . kinda, but it was not a restaurant one either. It was a “school” gator that we needed to put down).
ABE: I've also had (and enjoyed) chocolate covered bees, grasshoppers, and ants.
This message has been edited by FliesOnly, 12-22-2005 02:12 PM

This message is a reply to:
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babelfish
Inactive Member


Message 38 of 59 (271750)
12-22-2005 2:20 PM
Reply to: Message 35 by Coragyps
12-22-2005 12:59 PM


quote:
Barbacoa, or the meat scraped off a cow head, is one of Nature's six most devine meals,...
mmmmmmmmmm... face meat! Can't have a descent breakfast taco without a good serving of face meat.
Was put off of it at first when I heard what it was... but, started to enjoy it after I got over myself. Kind of like eating the overdone bits of a well cooked brisket.
- Babelfish

The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."
"But," says Man, "the Babelfish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED."
"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.
"Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets killed on the next zebra crossing.

This message is a reply to:
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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 39 of 59 (271752)
12-22-2005 2:31 PM
Reply to: Message 37 by FliesOnly
12-22-2005 2:10 PM


In addition to the already mentioned stuff, I’ve also had wild pheasant, dove, quail, grouse, woodcock, duck, goose, and turkey. Plus, I’ve had moose, elk, caribou, bear, alligator, pronghorn, and boar. Wild . not the stuff you get in restaurants (well, except for the alligator . kinda, but it was not a restaurant one either. It was a “school” gator that we needed to put down)... I've also had (and enjoyed) chocolate covered bees, grasshoppers, and ants.
I think the wrong guy is named omniverous. Highly interesting!

holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 37 by FliesOnly, posted 12-22-2005 2:10 PM FliesOnly has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 40 by Parasomnium, posted 12-22-2005 3:48 PM Silent H has replied
 Message 44 by Omnivorous, posted 12-22-2005 7:59 PM Silent H has replied

  
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 40 of 59 (271774)
12-22-2005 3:48 PM
Reply to: Message 39 by Silent H
12-22-2005 2:31 PM


holmes writes:
I think the wrong guy is named omniverous. Highly interesting!
And the irony is in what he calls himself: FliesOnly.
Anyway, when I was in Hungary many years ago, I had something for diner one night that I later suspected to have been brain. Although it did taste slightly sweet, not bad at all really, I don't think I would have chosen it, had I known.
I do like fruits-de-mer, with recognizable little octopi, tentacles with suction cups and everything, shrimps that stare up at you with their beady little eyes, all kinds of squishy animals that live in shells, snails and such, but... I too have my limits. Brain is one of them. And insects and grubs.
{Edited for spelling. Snails are lot more palatable than nails.}
This message has been edited by Parasomnium, 22-Dec-2005 10:49 PM

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 39 by Silent H, posted 12-22-2005 2:31 PM Silent H has replied

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nator
Member (Idle past 2169 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 41 of 59 (271798)
12-22-2005 5:47 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by nator
12-22-2005 12:33 PM


I can't really say what sort of flavor, but I would suspect a sweetness to be present, as you do.
I ate a roasted cricket once.
crunchy with a little squishy bit. It was OK, but not that exciting, nor gross.
Oh, and I've had turtle and tripe, as well.
Love both of those.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 32 by nator, posted 12-22-2005 12:33 PM nator has not replied

  
nator
Member (Idle past 2169 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 42 of 59 (271801)
12-22-2005 6:04 PM


To actually reply to the topic title...
I believe that the only things that are not considered food by humans universally are hair and fur. There may be one more thing but I can't remember and the book they are in is currently packed (The Man Who Are Everything by Jeffery Steingarten---I highly recommend it to everyone)
Anyway, we are taught almost all of our food prejudices and picky eaters are made, not born.

Replies to this message:
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Asgara
Member (Idle past 2302 days)
Posts: 1783
From: Wisconsin, USA
Joined: 05-10-2003


Message 43 of 59 (271822)
12-22-2005 7:29 PM
Reply to: Message 36 by Silent H
12-22-2005 1:06 PM


I had rocky mountain oyster once. I was at a big company barbeque down in Dallas. I saw what I thought were breaded chicken livers. I ate one before learning that it was a breaded and (I believe)deepfried testicle. It wasn't hot anymore and tasted a lot like chicken fat to me, with the same type of texture. This wasn't sliced and fried like others are describing, it seemed to be a whole calf testicle.
Was it terrible? No, will I eat them again? Probably not.

Asgara
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"
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This message is a reply to:
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Omnivorous
Member
Posts: 3978
From: Adirondackia
Joined: 07-21-2005
Member Rating: 7.3


Message 44 of 59 (271825)
12-22-2005 7:59 PM
Reply to: Message 39 by Silent H
12-22-2005 2:31 PM


On Refusing to Mourn Tripe Tricked Out by Burning
Omnivore I am, from head cheese to spam.
I've gnoshed dog and snake, yak milk, green ham--
I wolfed down long buried eggs with elan.
Omnivorous I am, but blood-pudding I ban:
I've dined there and ate that, but now if not meet,
I won't choke it down, just to compete.
Sure Rocky and Bunny impress; no doubt they taste great.
But I've paid my Omni-dues. Give me a steak.

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This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 47 by Silent H, posted 12-23-2005 5:34 AM Omnivorous has replied
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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 45 of 59 (271930)
12-23-2005 5:15 AM
Reply to: Message 40 by Parasomnium
12-22-2005 3:48 PM


I do like fruits-de-mer
Ahhhhhhh yes. Every time I see that at Albert Hein I feel like I'm encountering something from a lovecraft nightmare.
I actually stare at it for a few moments (every time), mesmerized, trying to make out all the different life forms.

holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

This message is a reply to:
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