Offal or Awful?

[NHHEMI]

So, how many here eat offal of some type or turn their noses up at it in all forms? For those who don't know it is the entrails, organs, brains, etc... I eat some. Not a lot but some.

I like heart( poultry, beef, moose, and deer )the best. Took me a long time to try it but when I did I was like this is the best meat on the animal. Just delicious. I also like chicken and turkey gizzards. Kind of tough and chewy but very good. I can eat tripe depending on how it is cooked. My Mom actually liked it and it was good when she made it. I have had it though where it was not properly cleaned/prepared and tasted awful. So Tripe depends on preparation for me. Not sure they really count as offal but I will eat pig feet and pig ears.

I have tried and hate liver and kidneys. Just nasty to me. I haven't tried nor will I ever try brains, sweetbreads, testicles, spleen, eyes, and intestines/chitterlings( only intestines I will eat are on sausages and hot dogs and only if I don't think about it ). Just no desire for any of it no matter how good others may say they are. Sorry, not interested.

2 things I have not tried that I haven't ruled out completely but have problems trying them based on what they are for some reason. Tongue and Pig Snoots. I know, I will eat hearts but am repulsed by tongues and noses. Just how it is. My brain knows they would taste great but I just haven't been able to do it yet.

 

[CT8]

Parts are parts . Who knows what the fast stuff you eat chains use in their birgers,

 

[EdwardC]

I eat those parts in a lot of different asian dishes. Tripe and intestines are relatively common. Plus coagulated pigs blood. I actually really like chopped liver sandwiches at the deli as well. I've only eaten chicken hearts, they seemed tough, but may have been the preparation method.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I grew up eating beef tripe, and I do like it. Needs to be made spicy though.

I also grew up eating liver, but have never learned to like it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: EdwardC
Plus coagulated pigs blood.

Oh yeah, I do love blood sausage, too.

 

[Recalculating]

Pickled lamb's tongue. Delicious!

 

[CT8]

Parts are parts . Who knows what the fast stuff you eat chains use in their burgers

 

[Leo99]

I ate beef tongue and liver when I was a kid. Don't eat that stuff any more.

A fancy French restaurant in Vegas had a special deal for dinner so my wife and I made reservations. We saw the menu and quickly canceled.

They tried to tempt me with haggis when I was in Edinburgh but I passed on that.

It's more the texture than the taste so if they want to grind it up and put it burgers or hot dogs, I'm fine with that.

 

[bioburner]

No one here for a plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters? I've eaten a lot of strange critters. Would like to try smoked eel.

 

[fdcg27]

All of this stuff is good if properly prepared.
Liver needs to be cooked quickly and not overcooked. Delicious with onions and mashed potatoes.
Kidneys are also good sautéed with some red wine.
Heart is a fine grained and fairly firm meat, as you might expect from a hard-working mass of muscle.
Tripe is very good and brains are okay.
If you've never tried chitterlings, you should. Good and very rich, kind of like chicken cooked in grease.
Almost everything that anyone eats is tasty.
You just have to give it a chance.
It never hurts to try something new.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Sushi and caviar are both disgusting!!

 

[c502cid]

When I started traveling internationally for a living I tried a lot of different things I never thought I'd like. I have one rule with my hosts, don't tell me what it is until after I eat it. I spend a lot of time in China, sometimes I still dont know what it is when they tell me lol

 

[grumpyoldman]

Originally Posted By: bioburner
No one here for a plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters?


I've had them. Breaded and deep fried, they tasted like everything else that's deep fried. Didn't like or dislike them.

 

[SatinSilver]

Here's some various pictures of tongue sandwiches. Some look ok and kind of interesting to see.

 

[HerrStig]

I'm glad I live in an area where good Italian food can be found anywhere.

 

[DBMaster]

When predatory animals kill what do they eat first? Generally, the organs are the most nutrient dense parts. Remember when attention started being paid to dietary cholesterol in the 1980's? It was stated that liver had very high levels of dietary cholesterol, but it was still a recommended dietary inclusion, in moderation, due to its nutrient density.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: EdwardC
Plus coagulated pigs blood.

Oh yeah, I do love blood sausage, too.


Ahh. blood is one I forgot to add. Goes under the no thanks no how list. Now understand I know I have eaten blood before in some amount when eating other things. I am talking about dishes made with huge amounts of it where it is a main ingredient or even THE ingredient. Just not interested.

I am thankful I live in a country where I have choices in what I eat. If something is not appealing to me I can choose something that is and not go hungry. I feel for people who live where they have no choice and have to eat from the limited available items( rats, bugs, etc... ).

I watch Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern all the time. I enjoy the show a lot but I cringe at the things that guy eats at times.

 

[totegoat]

Noticed salmon heads and chicken feet at the store the other day. Passed.........

 

[Shannow]

sheeps liver (Lamb's Fry) sliced thin, floured, fried in butter with salt and pepper on grainy toast is a fave breakfast (one I've not had in a half decade).

Similarly, Lamb's Fry, Bacon and Onion Gravy with mash...can't make it anymore wothout 3/4 of the house inhabitants gagging.

Steak and Kidney (again lamb) is a good stew/pie filling.

Weston Price when he did his review of dentition (and health) around the world found that the kids with the best teeth ate the most traditionally (including the bits that westerners don't eat), attributing it to "factor X" in organ meats and other stuff.

Later, we find that "Factor X" is Vitamin K2, and prevents osteoporosis AND calcification of arteries at the same time as protecting teeth and giving better jaw structure to growing kids.

And one of the highest (not huge) sources is hot dogs...nothing like goose liver pate, but indicative of what's in hot dogs.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: totegoat
Noticed salmon heads and chicken feet at the store the other day. Passed.........


Always more that I didn't think of at 1st...

Chicken feet are actually quite good when prepared in an Asian style. Just have to gnaw around all the bones. The pad sections are actually quite good. They just need to be cleaned well.

Fish heads have never really interested me although I have been known to cut the cheeks out of large fish I catch like Cod or Striped Bass. Those are good fried up. Many cultures have fish head soup but I just can't do it. I don't do well with fish cooked with the heads on either. There is something about eating as the main course looks back at me that creeps me out.

One of the most revolting sounding things I have ever heard of people eating involve Salmon heads. Native Alaskans take a bunch of Salmon heads and bury them in the sand( next to the ocean )in a big burlap bag and let them sit there for days to ROT! They then unbury them, wash them off, and grill them up. Called Stink Heads. Saw it on Bizarre Foods and even Andrew couldn't choke it down. The host tribe's Elders loved it which just goes to show it is what you grow up on. They also did Stink Eggs. Took Salmon eggs and jarred them up and left to ferment/rot too. Again, they loved them and Andrew about puked. I swear I could smell and taste the foulness just watching it on TV.