Spring is just around the corner

[Dollythehun]

Yeah, Shannon. I know. I couldn't bring myself to respond...

[Subrosa]

Meat is meat. Groundhogs are actually the animal that taught me that. I used to live across the road from a farm where the farmer would often do his initial plowing in the spring with a gorgeous matched team of Shires. When I started working for him and he found out where I lived and that I hunted, he offered me $1 a piece to eliminate groundhogs from his field. One day when I went to collect the bounty on a couple, his hired hand noticed one was head shot, and asked the farmer for it. I asked him what he was going to do and he said "eat it!" One thing led to another and my tastes have broadened widely because of it. I'll eat the muscle of anything that walks, swims, crawls or flies. At least once. For example, don't believe the movies. Rats do not taste like pumpkin pie. Rats are actually edible.

[estación seca]

About 25 years ago the Wall Street Journal had an article on the front page about a restaurant in Shanghai that served nothing but rat.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by estación seca

About 25 years ago the Wall Street Journal had an article on the front page about a restaurant in Shanghai that served nothing but rat.

I believe that's a viable business model, whereas a place selling only pumpkin pie would be certain to fail.

[Dollythehun]

Okay, Subrosa, I'll respectfully decline although, I've eaten my share of seemingly weird stuff (coming from a Polish farming background). But this reminds me of a story, since we are off topic anyway.

Many years ago, before I met the Chief, I had a friend (whom apparently wanted more than a friendship {who knew?}). He used to hunt raccoons and barbecue them. He was known for his delicious (gag) racoon. So, he brought me one. He didn't cut the feet off. Every time I opened the fridge and l lifted the lid, there was that racoon, feet and all. I put the lid down and walked away. After awhile, it went to the trash...that was the last game animal that entered my home (except for the duck that a client gave me). So, thank you but, no, although I'm sure it's tasty.

[rbarata]

Once, in China, I was at a street market and an old woman selling already cooked food, made me a sign to buy something that looked like ribs. Well, it was ribs but I asked her anyway what it was (by gestures as I don't speak chinese). She tried to explain but, after a few unsuccessful tentatives she pointed to a dog passing by.
As it was exposed to the air, cold and with a really bad looking I didn't buy it. Otherwise I would have tried. Why not?

[Dollythehun]

When you marry a Career Navy man, you hear about all manner of food...fruit bat, dogs, etc. I'll just stick to rib eye, thanks. So, your story seems par for the course.

[No-Pro-mwa]

I too am going to stick with my beef and chicken. I can't the ick factor out of my head. I do have a hunting cook book my neighbor gave me many years ago and it has raccoon recipes in it.

[greenpassion]

Just found this thread. I can't even eat venison after I'd prompted a friend to shoot a deer that was dining on my arborvitae hedge. He hung it up in my garage and 'dressed' it. I had to look away each time I went into or out the garage. I know it's true that we really should know where our meat comes from, not just a pretty package in a grocery store, or a presentation on a diner plate, but.. to eat a rat? All those mice I've caught over the past 3 months...If it came down
it, I'd think strongly about going vegetarian. Back to the spring topic, one of the first signs for me here is the sound of chickadees and geese. My heart aches in the fall at the sound of the Canada geese calling to one another as they fly over, and rejoices hearing them again in spring.

[No-Pro-mwa]

They fly out of here half the winter, then start fairly early in the spring. Doesn't seem like I have to many months that we don't see and here them. I too love the sound and to watch them fly.