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Dyre
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Commentary by Arnold Dyre
I know not when I first ate frog legs. It is just something I do not remember, proving Beverly wrong in saying that I remember everything.
I do; however, remember I was tricked into eating frog legs the first time by being told, “They taste like chicken.”
Not true, of course, because in my opinion frog legs do not taste like chicken. Yet those first frog legs were good enough to make me want more and more, and I frequently bemoan the fact that frog legs are not more readily available. Frog legs are unique and delicious, and I do not believe I have ever quite had my fill of them!
I do remember when I first ate rattlesnake, because I ate it only one time. At least I think I have only eaten it once, for it did taste enough like chicken for someone to pass it off on me as rattlesnake disguised as chicken. Like with frog legs, I was talked into consuming the rattlesnake by being told it was just like chicken. Frankly, it was good, but the idea of eating a snake – especially a rattlesnake – puts me off and I have avoided seconds.
Other ‘Exotics’
They used the same line to get me to eat alligator, and the taste of the fried gator did somewhat resemble chicken. Fortified by beer in New Orleans, I have from time to time repeated the consumption of alligator.
While in the Navy in Olongapo City, Philippines, I ate monkey meat without being told it tasted like chicken. In fact, monkey meat does not taste like chicken – perhaps more like rat or dog. But I am just speculating about the taste of rats or dogs because there has never been enough beer to get me to knowingly eat such. Yet, given the questionable nature of some of the establishments I visited in far away places in my Navy days, I might have eaten a rat or dog or worse.
I have heard that small chunks of shark are often passed off as scallops. The point that I am trying to make is that you really do not know what you are eating.
Got His Goat
My friend, Clovis, tells a story about a fellow who loved the barbecued goat he was eating until he found out it was billy goat.
Old Clovis says, “When in doubt, order a cheese sandwich.”
Clovis says it is hard to mess up a cheese sandwich.
Likewise, it is hard to mess up chicken. There might be restaurants out there with fancy menus offering various kinds of exotic foods. They just disguise a chicken and pass it off as the exotic dish, then charge more than they can get for chicken.
When the waiter tells you that the “exotic” tastes just like chicken, he might not be lying at all. It might be chicken!
adyre@comcast.net
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