Rabbits and hares are adorable. I like them in the form of meat pies and roasted shanks with rosemary sauce.
I would question more on that, but Rabbit I don't believe is considered a main stream type of meat that is eaten commonly and rarely necessarily farmed for food. Same goes for Deer.
Just a question for you guys about the whole animal cruelty sides of food, what about cows/chickens/pigs that are grown in a better, more humane, free-range environment? I know some people use organics just as a label and don't treat the animals different, but what about animals that are allowed to live regular lives that are then just killed for quality meat? The meat in Europe is definitely different than what we have here, what if we were munching on that instead?
I would question more on that, but Rabbit I don't believe is considered a main stream type of meat that is eaten commonly and rarely necessarily farmed for food. Same goes for Deer.
Americans consume 15m rabbits per year. Rabbit eating is a lot more common in Europe; my dad used to go hare hunting with ferrets when he was a kid. They'd loose the ferrets into the burrows, where they'd scare a bunch of dumb rabbits out of the mounds and into nets. Then, they'd put back the babies, females, and a handful of males, and my great-grandmother would clean the rest for stew and paella with a paring knife.
Don't underestimate the human hunger for adorable animals. Reindeer is immensely popular in Alaska.
It's a good thing that the only animals we eat are the ugly animals. :P
Have you ever looked at a jersey cow? Seriously.
Americans consume 15m rabbits per year. Rabbit eating is a lot more common in Europe; my dad used to go hare hunting with ferrets when he was a kid. They'd loose the ferrets into the burrows, where they'd scare a bunch of dumb rabbits out of the mounds and into nets. Then, they'd put back the babies, females, and a handful of males, and my great-grandmother would clean the rest for stew and paella with a paring knife.
Don't underestimate the human hunger for adorable animals. Reindeer is immensely popular in Alaska.
Rabbit hunting and deer hunting does not bother me very much. When I see people doing stuff like that, I think it is a good way to get meat. (Granted, I doubt the rabbits were especially dumb. If a 10 foot tall ferret came into your house, you would probably try to run out the door too.) The thing is, those rabbits lived the same life they would have if a hawk had got them or a fox. Your pop in Spain fulfilled the same niche. Rabbit farms in the US are usually small operations, family farms. What I fear is if rabbit starts becoming a popular livestock, they will end up like industrial egg chickens, mutilated and unable to move in their cages. Fur rabbits already live crappy lives, this would just make things worse.
When I lived in PA I used to to say I was leaving the free world and entering the Socialist Republic of Jersey. Come to think of it, I was the same thing when I leave VA and enter DC.
What I fear is if rabbit starts becoming a popular livestock, they will end up like industrial egg chickens, mutilated and unable to move in their cages. Fur rabbits already live crappy lives, this would just make things worse.
Yeah, luckily, I'm pretty sure the "cuteness vs. food" factor is too ingrained in America to let that happen.
Also, props for making the "paella+Europe=Spain" connection.
Yeah, luckily, I'm pretty sure the "cuteness vs. food" factor is too ingrained in America to let that happen.
The weird thing is that many Americans won't eat things that are too ugly either, like squid and eels.
What's wrong with America? Squid and eels are totally awesome and tasty. Especially if you can get some good unagi sushi, eel has never tasted so delicious.
Yeah, luckily, I'm pretty sure the "cuteness vs. food" factor is too ingrained in America to let that happen.
The weird thing is that many Americans won't eat things that are too ugly either, like squid and eels.
What's wrong with America? Squid and eels are totally awesome and tasty. Especially if you can get some good unagi sushi, eel has never tasted so delicious.
Agreed, both of you.
The first time I had uni sushi, it was like a party in my mouth. Slightly saline, an interesting texture, meaty, incredible. Try getting people in America to eat sea urchin gonads.
Yeah, luckily, I'm pretty sure the "cuteness vs. food" factor is too ingrained in America to let that happen.
The weird thing is that many Americans won't eat things that are too ugly either, like squid and eels.
LOL, wut? Calamari is a fairly popular item, particularly if it is fried. Also, eel is fairly popular in many Asian dishes consumed in the U.S. I don't have figures, but both are items that are easily available in the States.
LOL, wut? Calamari is a fairly popular item, particularly if it is fried. Also, eel is fairly popular in many Asian dishes consumed in the U.S. I don't have figures, but both are items that are easily available in the States.
Emily's probably talking about full-on eels and squid. For squid, stuff like shiokara, adobong pusit, squid sashimi, chipirones en su tinta (mouth watering). For eels, jellied eels, angulas (sauteed elvers; you eat them like spaghetti), and some of the more exotic Chinese and Japanese preparations.
But here's a cute picture of eels in ABS eelhouses:
Yeah, luckily, I'm pretty sure the "cuteness vs. food" factor is too ingrained in America to let that happen.
The weird thing is that many Americans won't eat things that are too ugly either, like squid and eels.
LOL, wut? Calamari is a fairly popular item, particularly if it is fried. Also, eel is fairly popular in many Asian dishes consumed in the U.S. I don't have figures, but both are items that are easily available in the States.
Yeah, we will still eat animals even if they are ugl.. Even if pigs can be made cute, pigs are practically defined as nasty and smelly. We eat tons of them anyway. Squids and eels I think just fall into that category of being "exotic" or too "weird" for normal Americans to try.
LOL, wut? Calamari is a fairly popular item, particularly if it is fried. Also, eel is fairly popular in many Asian dishes consumed in the U.S. I don't have figures, but both are items that are easily available in the States.
Sure it's semi-popular, but I remember friends being freaked out by crispy squid tentacles at a Thai restaurant, and my social studies class made fun of me for liking squid (except the Italian family kids, because - you guessed it - they were used to calamari.) My Aunt won't eat octopus or squid, and most people in Middle America or even in my school district had never set foot in a Japanese restaurant. You are taking our cosmopolitan food tastes for granted. I had friends who had never had Tofu, for crying out loud!
LOL, wut? Calamari is a fairly popular item, particularly if it is fried. Also, eel is fairly popular in many Asian dishes consumed in the U.S. I don't have figures, but both are items that are easily available in the States.
Sure it's semi-popular, but I remember friends being freaked out by crispy squid tentacles at a Thai restaurant, and my social studies class made fun of me for liking squid (except the Italian family kids, because - you guessed it - they were used to calamari.) My Aunt won't eat octopus or squid, and most people in Middle America or even in my school district had never set foot in a Japanese restaurant. You are taking our cosmopolitan food tastes for granted. I had friends who had never had Tofu, for crying out loud!
That was also in the early-to-mid 90's, a group of kids (who probably still didn't eat the crusts on bread), a few acquaintances, and "Middle America" which usually refers to less densely populated communities that doesn't really require many restaurants (limiting the range of cuisine available out to eat) and are less likely to import rarer ingredients rather than the (rather plentiful) local ingredients. In cities, suburbs, and anywhere that has decent Asian and Italian restaurants, those ingredients aren't all that uncommon. Also, not eating squid, eel, or tofu isn't necessarily good or bad. You seem to say it like not enjoying a particular food stuffs is a bad thing.
Having grown up in the midwest, I'd say that the majority of people I knew out there considering the following food items to be exotic and gross:
Squid Octopus Sushi Espresso Most fish (except shredded tuna, excepting Catholics, who'd eat fish fry on Fridays) Game meat (except venison, but even then only the hunters and rural folks ate it) Goat Tofu Anything "Asian" except General Tso's, Chicken Teriyaki and "Mongolian Barbecue" (once a chain opened up)
Most of those items are exotic to Midwest. It isn't locally available, thus it is exotic. Starbucks and coffee shops made Espresso a daily part of the American diet and American cuisine has drastically changed since the early-to-mid 90's.
Also, not eating squid, eel, or tofu isn't necessarily good or bad. You seem to say it like not enjoying a particular food stuffs is a bad thing.
Did I say it was bad? NO! I just said that most Americans (in my experience) are picky eaters who are grossed out by things that they are not used to.
Most people see new/exotic/uncommon food items as gross. I think labeling Americans any more or less picky is just a baseless claim. Consider that there aren't many Japanese restaurants in the LeRoy area. I bet most of those kids had never had an opportunity to even be exposed to squid or eel as a food stuff. To them it was an abstract and they reacted predictably.
Most of those items are exotic to Midwest. It isn't locally available, thus it is exotic
They were available, but people seemed to assume that they were gross short of any actual interaction with them. They discounted anything they'd not already eaten in their lives as gross. Only the "weirdos" went to sushi restaurants or ate any meat but pork, chicken, or beef.
It's not the unfamiliarity that was bad: it's the discounting of the unfamiliar without consideration.
Most of those items are exotic to Midwest. It isn't locally available, thus it is exotic
They were available, but people seemed to assume that they were gross short of any actual interaction with them. They discounted anything they'd not already eaten in their lives as gross. Only the "weirdos" went to sushi restaurants or ate any meat but pork, chicken, or beef.
It's not the unfamiliarity that was bad: it's the discounting of the unfamiliar without consideration.
And this is different from most human behavior how? I don't see how this is any more or less an American trait than it is of any other nation. Also, most of those items were imported, not widely locally available. Obviously it was a foreign cuisine that was only recently introduced to the region and thus it hadn't gained much popularity.
They wouldn't eat trout, either, and there were a ton of those.
Geez Louise, what is it with you and jumping on our case any time we say something about the people in Rural America, or Rochester? We say "Yeah, the kids in my class were picky about many foods!" and you get super defensive. I'm not saying you are bad because you grew up near Rochester.
Most people see new/exotic/uncommon food items as gross. I think labeling Americans any more or less picky is just a baseless claim.
I did not compare them with anybody! I just said many Americans don't eat eels and squid and other food that looks weird!
My point is that that isn't particularly different from any other culture. Newly introduced, foreign cuisine using new ingredients aren't as popular no matter where you go in the world. I don't think it has to be with it being ugly or cute. It is just the relative newness of the particular ingredients.
They wouldn't eat trout, either, and there were a ton of those.
Geez Louise, what is it with you and jumping on our case any time we say something about the people in Rural America, or Rochester? We say "Yeah, the kids in my class were picky about many foods!" and you get super defensive. I'm not saying you are bad because you grew up near Rochester.
I didn't take it as a personal slight. You make sweeping comments (usually negative) about America and Americans (with varying accuracy) and I try to place them in perspective and point out when I think you are wrong. It isn't jumping down your throat, it is simply making my point. I am sorry if it appears that I am targeting you in specific - I am just responding to comments, not targeting you. You just seem to be making more of these types of comments lately.
Comments
Just a question for you guys about the whole animal cruelty sides of food, what about cows/chickens/pigs that are grown in a better, more humane, free-range environment? I know some people use organics just as a label and don't treat the animals different, but what about animals that are allowed to live regular lives that are then just killed for quality meat? The meat in Europe is definitely different than what we have here, what if we were munching on that instead?
Don't underestimate the human hunger for adorable animals. Reindeer is immensely popular in Alaska.
Quote of the day from work:
"New Jersey? Isn't that the big land bridge between the US and New York City?"
Also, props for making the "paella+Europe=Spain" connection.
The first time I had uni sushi, it was like a party in my mouth. Slightly saline, an interesting texture, meaty, incredible. Try getting people in America to eat sea urchin gonads.
But here's a cute picture of eels in ABS eelhouses:
Also, not eating squid, eel, or tofu isn't necessarily good or bad. You seem to say it like not enjoying a particular food stuffs is a bad thing.
Squid
Octopus
Sushi
Espresso
Most fish (except shredded tuna, excepting Catholics, who'd eat fish fry on Fridays)
Game meat (except venison, but even then only the hunters and rural folks ate it)
Goat
Tofu
Anything "Asian" except General Tso's, Chicken Teriyaki and "Mongolian Barbecue" (once a chain opened up)
Consider that there aren't many Japanese restaurants in the LeRoy area. I bet most of those kids had never had an opportunity to even be exposed to squid or eel as a food stuff. To them it was an abstract and they reacted predictably.
It's not the unfamiliarity that was bad: it's the discounting of the unfamiliar without consideration.
Also, most of those items were imported, not widely locally available. Obviously it was a foreign cuisine that was only recently introduced to the region and thus it hadn't gained much popularity.
Geez Louise, what is it with you and jumping on our case any time we say something about the people in Rural America, or Rochester? We say "Yeah, the kids in my class were picky about many foods!" and you get super defensive. I'm not saying you are bad because you grew up near Rochester.
I am sorry if it appears that I am targeting you in specific - I am just responding to comments, not targeting you. You just seem to be making more of these types of comments lately.