Let’s kick it off with this:
Now that’s…that’s…unique. And a little strange.
I was a fan of Jack Palance on Ripley’s Believe It…Or Not…and you learned about a host of unique or strange things that were out there. My weirdest, strangest one I learned about…
The french tradition of eating the Ortolan Bunting.
As I’ve heard it, the French prefer to catch these little guys in nets during their migratory period to Africa, drown them in brandy, then roast them whole for about 8 minutes a side…then eat them…whole. Diners cover their faces with napkins, I’m assuming here to prevent others from being nauseated by seeing someone eating a whole bird filled with brandy. I’m not kidding you…
They are then kept in covered cages or boxes. They are then force-fed grain, usually millet seed, until they double their bulk. They are then suspended upside down over a container of Armagnac, and by dipping, made to drown, and then marinated in the brandy.[14][15]
The birds are then plucked, salted and peppered and cooked in their own fat for seven minutes. Many consumers of this dish then place the bird feet first into their mouth while holding onto the bird’s head. They eat the ortolan whole, with or without the head, and some may spit out the larger bones, while others eat the whole bird head, bones and all. The traditional way French gourmands eat ortolans is to cover their heads and face with a large napkin or towel while consuming the bird. The purpose of the towel is debated. Some claim it is to retain the maximum aroma with the flavour as they consume the entire bird at once, while according to The Daily Telegraph, “Tradition dictates that [the towel] is to shield – from God’s eyes – the shame of such a decadent and disgraceful act”,[14] and others have suggested the towel simply hides the consumers spitting out bones.[16] This use of the towel was begun by a priest, a friend of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.[17]
I don’t want to hear anyone say a damn thing about eating pig’s feet or gizzards, you hear me?
Anyway, what’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned about…and be sure to share for the class.