If you thought ortolan was bad - look what I found at work today

After the discussion we had about the sweet little ortolan which is of course fattened in the dark and killed by being drowned in brandy, I thought I would share what I found at work today for a dish which is going on the menu.

There are a ton of things people won't put in their mouth. People can be grossed out by even the most tame dishes. But this is a good one. This is one that you guys are going to hate.

Veal brain Fricassé

It's going with potato salad, pickled egg, preserved lemon, Tbecha (white beans) Harissa (North African chili pepper paste), and cilantro in a butter croissant.



Thoughts ATS friends?

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

I would try it. One of my favorites is a deer heart cooked in a crock pot for hours. Second would be beef liver, but only cooked in a certain manner.

Have you tried brain? What is it like?

a reply to: JinMI

They have a nice creamy umami flavor. Better to stuff it in your mouth and not think about to much

I haven't tried the sandwich yet though. Harissa is amazing however.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

Odd food is not of much bother. The thing that gets me is when the smell is bad, so bad that it creeps into your nose through your mouth! Cauliflower does that.....hate that albino broccoli thing!

a reply to: JinMI

When I was a boy I grew up eating califlower in a béchamel sauce. That is the bomb.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

To each their own. My mother loves the stuff.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

As long as it's not bad for you, and doesn't have 2 eyes looking back at you while you eat it, I'm game.

I love cauliflower raw.

My only reservation about brains would be the possibility of prion disease. Otherwise, I am there to try that. Bu then, I've watched enough Bizarre Foods that chili-fried tarantulas have started to look appealing.

a reply to: knowledgehunter0986

I agree. I'm all about it. My dream is a wild game restaurant. I want to serve up a whole roast pheasant or goose to a table. That would be outstanding.

a reply to: ketsuko

I'm all about that. That would be rad to drink some beer and eat some chili tarantula.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

I've had sweet bread twice and enjoyed them both times. The last time it was in a vodka/prune sauce. The consistency is much different than I expected.

I was getting a coffee at a small shop in Boston last Friday and struck up a conversation with the owner, who happens to be Australian. We began speaking of food and he was a huge fan of brains. Not sure if it's an Aussie thing or not, but they don't call them sweet breads.

I like liver and heart, but do not care for brains or kidney. I have had sweetbread but really do not care for that much either.

Chicken gizzards are good if made right.

Keep the brains, I am not lacking in brains so I don't need to eat them.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

Roasted cauliflower with pistachios, sounds simple but is great. Also cauliflower puree, if done right, is a great replacement for potato or other starches.

a reply to: TobyFlenderson

Sweet breads are the thymus gland.

a reply to: rickymouse

A couple of Christmases ago, we roasted a piglet in the oven. Beside the cheeks, the kidneys were the best part, really earthy and creamy. Other than that I've only had chicken kidneys which are just meh. Chicken livers are outstanding though.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

I've only ever had brains and eggs, that fine southern dish, made with whatever critter's brain was available. I still get pork brains from a local farmer. I believe there are bison brains available from the local growers too but haven't looked into it.

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

Actually I think it's a generic term that can refer to many of the less sought after pieces of meat. I believe it can even refer to testicles and ovaries at times. In my experience, the two times I've seen them on menus in my area, they referred to brains, specifically veal brain. Whatever you call the brain, it be tasty.

a reply to: TobyFlenderson

I thought sweet breads were the thymus glands?

originally posted by: rickymouse
I like liver and heart, but do not care for brains or kidney. I have had sweetbread but really do not care for that much either.

Chicken gizzards are good if made right.

Keep the brains, I am not lacking in brains so I don't need to eat them.

I like heart, any animal. I am not partial to liver straight up, but I love using it to flavor things like broth and a bit in a meatloaf goes a long way (also good for fish bait). I also enjoy hog maws when done correctly.

originally posted by: JinMI
a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

Odd food is not of much bother. The thing that gets me is when the smell is bad, so bad that it creeps into your nose through your mouth! Cauliflower does that.....hate that albino broccoli thing!

Lol Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and a few others, are all the same family of vegetable; Brassica oleracea.

You can't bag out the cauliflower. Steamed, boiled, fried, ground into a grain and used as fake rice, creamed.. It's delicious !!

And OP, I'd never eat something that another thing used to think with... that gives me the creeps. Same with tongue.. not touching something that used to taste other things. Oo